In 2014, Friends of Kilayo co-founder, Dawn DeCourcey, visited the Oloolaimutia School in the Masai Mara. There she met Kilayo, an energetic 13-year-old who was a leader among her peers. A middle child in a large family, Kilayo lived in a manyatta (mud hut village) with her own siblings and the children of her father’s other wives. Kilayo was fortunate. Not all of her siblings have had the privilege of attending school.

Kilayo dreamed of becoming a teacher but needed support to stay in school. With the support of Dawn and her friends, Kilayo was sponsored through grades seven and eight, and then on to high school. Despite setbacks in her personal life, Kilayo never lost her drive to become a teacher. Thanks to the many “friends of Kilayo” from far away Canada, she is currently finishing her diploma in Early Childhood Education.

When Dawn visited the Oloolaimutia School in 2014, she made a promise to enlist support for Kilayo to continue her education and realize her dream of becoming a teacher. Just one girl...how hard could that be!? When Dawn shared Kilayo’s story, she gained interest from friends. And then from friends of friends. The increase in support provided an opportunity to help keep more girls in school.

Over the years, the commitment to girls’ education has grown. Today, thanks to donations made to the Masai Mara Project, over a dozen young Masai women have been given the opportunity to stay in school and plan for a better future.

Originally, The Masai Mara Project operated as part of a small New Brunswick based charity called the Fundy Peace Foundation. It grew into Friends of Kilayo, which became a registered Canadian charity in September 2022. With a greater online presence and ease of donation, Friends of Kilayo will continue to grow while assisting students and providing support to more Masai women and girls. Kilayo is proud to associate her name with an organization that empowers Masai women and girls, and that brings prosperity to their families, villages, and country.