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Ed Pycraft joined CHASE Africa as a Trustee in October 2020. In this blog, he explores his motivations and experience of working with remote, rural communities in Kenya.

In 2019, I was presented with the opportunity to lead an ethnographic baseline study into the lives of one of the most emblematic tribes in the world, the Maasai.

Equipped with a camera, drone, clipboards, pens and a voice recorder – nothing could prepare us for the 2 weeks that lay ahead and the learning that would follow. Nestled under the majestic, yet imposing Mt Kilimanjaro, straddled like a horseshoe around Amboseli National Park, lies an area the size of London, circa 1,500 km². With its tongue-twisting name, Olgulului Ololarashi Group Ranch, swiftly shortened to OOGR, we braised ourselves for a bumpy 4×4 excursion into the interior of this conservancy.

Upon arrival we were met with our local guide who led us to the first boma, a Maasai village built in circles, fortified by cow dung and acacia branches. What immediately struck me was our hosts’ ease towards visitors, and almost altruistic hospitality. Within a few minutes, we had settled into a traditional feast and local delicacy, goat, attended by the village elders. After a gluttonous episode, we were led to an ornate display of handcrafted beaded jewellery created by local women.

These particular settlements, named ‘cultural bomas’ are strategically positioned to pick up tourist traffic from 5* star hotels and safaris exploring Amboseli National Park. Here was a tribe, long heralded for their survival instinct, adapting their livelihoods from traditional pastoralism to tourism.

The weeks that followed were spent working our way towards the heart of this ancient land. Stopping in villages to interview women, morans (young warriors), children, teachers and chiefs, we started to build a picture of the rich Maasai history. As a fearless nomadic tribe, widely known for hunting East Africa’s plains, the Maasai would travel vast distances in search of fresh pastures, once a renewable resource. Their livestock, thread in a delicate balance with wildlife and nature, were part of a balanced ecosystem. As a symbol of wealth and serving as a critical insurance policy, large families were carefully curated leaving a rich tapestry of human life across the savannahs. Now, with land subdivided and cut off by parcels of privately-owned land, increasing population, livestock numbers and climate shocks, life is becoming more difficult.

Shuffle forward to present day. My Amboseli trip has opened a floodgate of learning and in particular, an exciting new appointment as a Trustee of CHASE Africa. As a charity, their development approach supports and promotes community-led family planning, sexual health education and natural resource management in rural communities. Realising that positive impact is best achieved by local organisations who are embedded within and trusted by the local community, they are able to unlock huge potential. Currently, CHASE Africa provides funding and services to 9 local NGOs across Kenya and Uganda working towards a shared vision.

By equipping and empowering the most vulnerable in society we can create permanent change. This model of development is a step away from creating a dependency culture, towards greater autonomy. Enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution are the rights to free education, information sharing and basic health services – yet so often, we see examples where these are threatened.

As I read through CHASE Africa’s partner reports, I was overwhelmed with positivity. Here are real-life examples of marginalised communities overcoming life-changing issues, in the backdrop of a pandemic that brings developed nations and their societies to a halt. It is a clear testament to the strategy and hard work of CHASE Africa and their partners. Operating through the outreach of Community Health Workers (CHWs), locally appointed and trained by the Ministry of Health, we have seen mobile and even motorbike clinics continue to provide locals with primary healthcare, family planning services and information about environmental conservation and natural resource management.

Sadly, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown up new challenges in Amboseli. With tourism grinding to a halt, livelihoods as well as the health of communities and their environment is threatened.

As I reflect on my time with the Maasai, it is their readiness and capacity to make change that has a lasting impression. Adopting this predisposition is our only chance for survival in these uncertain times. We have a lot to learn here, in particular how to live within our means and take care of nature around us. The clock is ticking, we need to act fast if we want to continue co-habiting our planet with fellow species. The question is, are we ready to make necessary changes to our behaviour? Greed and self-interest govern too much space. I thank CHASE Africa for presenting me with the prospect of continued learning and helping make positive change.

Image below: CHASE Africa’s partner ‘Big Life Foundation’ community health awareness raising. 

Last month, we reached a fantastic milestone in our history. CHASE Africa and our local partner organisations have now delivered over one million healthcare and family planning services across East Africa, improving the lives of rural families who often face insurmountable barriers to leading healthy lives. This has only been made possible with the support of many generous supporters, our sincere thanks goes out to you!

1,000,000 is a huge number. But what is more impressive is that behind each and every individual service is a personal story.

Our Community Health Workers, recruited from and based within marginalised communities, help to inform and share information in local languages and culturally sensitive ways. And by adapting a range of mobile health strategies (which has developed and grown over the years), we are now breaking down barriers to accessing healthcare and family planning in 16 counties in Kenya and Uganda.

But there’s something else missing from this data too. Alongside our healthcare and family planning services, CHASE Africa is also working to support the restoration and sustainable management of natural resources and habitats.

Could you help us reach more people via digital channels through engaging storytelling? CHASE Africa is looking for short-term support to increase our online presence and engage existing and new supporters in our work.

If this could be you, download the full details below and send us your CV and cover letter by October 7th.

Club members have also planted over 11,000 trees to meet their basic needs and provide future income. The species planted will provide timber and fruits, improving nutrition and reducing the distance women habitually walk in search of firewood. By combining environmental protection with fuel conservation and family planning support, the project is holistically addressing the key challenges facing families and the environment.

The past six months have also presented challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the mobile health and family planning outreaches we had planned. Strict government measures are keeping communities safer, but unfortunately mean that the large gathering attracted to our clinics are not currently possible. In the autumn these will hopefully resume, giving women in the area the chance to learn about family planning and start using a modern contraception. This will prevent unwanted pregnancies and allow families to space their births, which is more healthy for the mother and child.

We are very grateful to the Paul Hodges Trust for supporting this project, and look forwards to bringing you further updates during the year.

Come out of Lockdown and Act for Nature

Through the pandemic, it has become clear that our planet is not a healthy one. Nature is sending us a message.

This is why we believe that increasing tree cover is so important. Trees store vast quantities of carbon and play a vital role in the world’s carbon cycle. Planting trees is one of the cheapest and most effective ways for us to mitigate global warming.

CHASE Africa have been supporting tree planting in Kenya for over a decade. But this year, the global lockdown coincided with the long rainy season, when planting normally takes place. Despite restrictions, planting continued with shoestring budgets and dedicated teams.

We have also partnered with the Trillion Trees Campaign. Run by the NGO Plant for the Planet, it connects those who want to fund tree planting with projects worldwide. So far, projects under the campaign have planted almost 14 billion trees – including some in our projects with Watersheds Ecosystem Conservation and the Mount Kenya Trust. You can find our projects at the Trillion Trees webpage by clicking ‘donate trees’ and searching for ‘community health’.

One thing is for sure, the world needs more trees. Not only to soak up our CO₂ emissions, but also to sustain the diversity of species that live in our forests. For World Environment Day this year, we’re asking you to donate for nature and support our tree planting projects!

So what are CHASE Africa and partners doing to ensure that services continue? We are doing our best to ensure our dedicated Community Health Workers continue to go door to door during lockdown to provide essential advice, support and services to women at this time when they need it most. Our COVID-19 appeal enables each partner to purchase personal protective equipment so they can sustain their essential household visits. We are still welcoming new donations to the appeal – please click here now.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join CHASE Africa for a period of maternity cover. If you are an experienced project manager with a passion for international development, please read on.

Programme Coordinator and Institutional Fundraiser Maternity Cover, August 2020 to May 2021.

4 to 5 days per week. Salary £25 – 30,000 pa (pro rata if not full-time) based near Frome, Somerset, with some travel to East Africa required.

To apply:

• Please apply with your CV and a one page cover letter explaining why you want the job and how you meet the job description and person specification. Applications should be sent via email to Georgia Burford georgiaburford@chaseafrica.org.uk
• Closing date 9 am Monday 18^th May.
• Interviews (remotely as appropriate) on Tuesday 26^th May.