School days, 'golden rule' days. . . . . . . . . .

Being welcomed to the community school was an overwhelming and

beautiful African experience.  

Due to our friend Paula's work here through her foundation in memory

of her late husband Sterling, we were given such a grand welcome.

 As well as being draped in colorful Maasai traditional blankets, which we had to

 keep and bring home, we were given upholstered chairs to sit on whilst being

 recited to, and sung and danced to by the amazing 650 plus students. 

Several parents joined in the celebration, along with the school board, teachers

 and Maasai elders.

 Bob and I were invited to speak to all those people about our relationship

 with Paula (our 55 years of friendship coming up in December), and of Sterling
 whom we loved and miss so much.

The welcome committee!

Here we were visiting the new classrooms for grades 6 thru 8 - Paula's recent 
project which has helped the overcrowding issue the many older children were
 faced with.

Also built recently, a small building to house several teachers who have to live
 on the school premises. Thrilled to have a little room of their own with
 lighting (solar powered as is everything, no electricity available), they
 can now prepare lessons, mark papers etc. in the dark evenings.

Visiting the 8th grade - all interested in learning where we came from.

Note the desks - all handmade and funded through the foundation -

 the 'school system' apparently unable to supply them.

Next will be computers, world globes and large wall maps - all the students want 

to learn more about our planet and the location of countries etc.

I chatted with these boys who were delightful - and showed them where

 North Carolina was located on a tiny world map in their shared text book.

Many of these children board at the school. All were exceptionally polite.
They live in scattered villages across the Mara and have no way to make
 the daily journey to the school, except to walk miles through areas where wild
 animals, especially lions, are omnipresent.

Paula's foundation has purchased mattresses and sheets for the girls and boys

 dormitories - the children had been sleeping on bare bed springs with one blanket - 

 two children have to share a small twin-size bed but they seem to manage.

All work and no play, as we know only too well, is not the way to live

a real life. Paula's foundation has also managed to give these children

a great playground to enjoy after school hours.

There is also a trampoline which they enjoy - Paula is purchasing 

two more - that news brought happy smiles.

I loved talking to the girls - they were interested in my manicured gel nails 

with glitter added to my ring finger, never having seen anything such as that!

I loved their comfy uniforms, probably made to allow for a couple of years of growth - Maasai people are tall.

This group of girls recited a very long 'poem' written in honor of Paula.

All she has done has helped make their school a very special place. . . . 

 and has given them the opportunity of an education.

These students, girls and boys, performed an amazing tribal dance. 

They had no instrumental accompaniment (Maasai do not have musical

 instruments), but made amazing vocal sounds which were melodic and

 really beautiful.

When we were invited into the school principal's tiny office, 

many others squeezed in too as these lovely girls arrived

with a basin of soap and water for hand washing. . . . . it was 

celebratory goat eating time! You may know I'm a non-meat eater of any

kind so was permitted to pass on the delicacy, whereas you see Bob 

went along with a small piece. I've just asked him again what it tasted 

like - and again he said it must have been goat as he didn't recognize it 

as anything else, but it was chewy!

Bob and Tirian chowing down.

This was such a memorable part of a very special day in the Maasai Mara.

You can read more about the Sterling Hammack Foundation HERE     

The Maasai Community. . . . . . . .

Tirian Koya of the Maasai tribe. . . . . a truly lovely man.

Guide and driver at one of Kenya's top camps for many years.

Husband, father, son, and friend to all in his community, and to many

 here in the USA since his visits arranged by my friend Paula.

Tirian in colorful traditional Maasai garments, shuka, blanket and tribal jewelry,

 which he wears most days. . . . . and his fascinating, to me, sandals which

 he crafts from old tires.

We visited his Maasai community, a rough, bouncy two hour drive away on a cloudy

 day, with a thunderstorm and rain on the return which was interesting. 

Muddy tracks swimming in water, but thankfully Tirian's Land Cruiser made it

 back to camp for dinner.

Tirian holding Eunice and Sapawoi's little girl from his family - the little girl who

 screamed bloody murder when Paula, Bob and I tried to get close to her!

Eunice and her son, who didn't seem scared by our pale faces. . . . .and her mother.

Sapawoi, a most delightful gentleman and Tirian's uncle, Paula holding his son.

Beautiful Eunice.

Smiling children of the Maasai community.

Bob tried to teach them how to make the NC State Wolfpack sign when he

 noticed the boy's t-shirt!

Paula is hidden in this photo!  She had the attention of the village men, 

crammed into the living room when she whipped out the laptop and

 shared photos and videos from Tirian's visit to the States.

1 is Tirian's father, 2 is Moses, our guard from the camp who saved me

from those big hippos around the tent at night, and drove to the community with us.

Tirian's lovely mother, Nariku-Nkerra, who presented us with stunning handmade

 beaded jewelry gifts.

Mothers and children from the community - all who welcomed us in such a 

lovely way.

Tirian, Mary, Tirian's mother, Bob

I'll be sharing more on the Maasai community which Paula is supporting in many

 special ways. Also, in later posts, our visit to the school, and to the clinic now
 under construction. Many wonderful projects are being funded by the foundation which
 was set up in Paula's late husband (and our very dear friend) Sterling's memory. 

To learn more about how Paula runs the foundation, and to read the
 incredible story of what has been done to date, and the plans for the future,
 please go here ~

Sterling Hammack Foundation