I spent the summer of 2009 in a masaai community in Il Ngwesi, Kenya. I was drawn to the region because of the beautiful landscape and warm welcoming people that struck me when I visited the area on safari several months earlier. But other than that I knew nothing of the people or their tradition. I was offered a teaching position in a small masaai community for the sumer and accepted, knowing nothing of what I was getting myself into. Throughout my stay, I learned more and more about the culture and the conflict of interests between the traditional masaai people and the modern world around them and saw first-hand the difficulties which stemmed from that. I also formed strong ties with many of the individuals and upon leaving, saw that I was no longer a visitor but had forged a role in the community.
Providing a marketable outlet for the masaai's craft of beading is my way of not only giving back to a community that gave so much to me during my stay but also of sustaining a culture and a people that I strongly believe in.