Alina Rudya Photography

While visiting the Maasai Marain Kenya I again shifted my focus not only to the incredible wildlife, but also to the local community. 👩🏿‍🦱👩🏾

We visited a workshop for Maasai women organized by and it was one of the most meaningful experiences of this journey.

At the workshop, local women are learning practical skills — creating traditional beaded accessories and souvenirs that they can sell directly to tourists, as well as making reusable period pads. Through this initiative, women who previously had no access to their own income are given the opportunity to work, create, and move toward certain financial independence.

As the director of the foundation shared with us, many traditional Maasai families still choose not to educate their daughters. As a result, many of these women speak only the Maasai language — because English & Swahili are taught in school, which they don’t attend — which greatly limits their opportunities outside of housework and childbearing. This lack of choice affects not only financial independence, but also mental well-being.

This workshop gives them something powerful:
– a space to communicate
– to learn new skills
– to create something of their own
– and to feel seen and valued

As someone who strongly supports women’s rights and women empowerment, seeing how local initiatives like this can truly change lives deeply moved me. Small changes can create real transformation.

And I have to say — I’m absolutely in awe of their beautiful traditional clothing, the bold colors of their everyday wear, and the stunning beaded bracelets they make themselves. After the all-black Berlin for someone who loves color, this was truly a feast for my eyes.

So grateful to visit Oliveseed Foundation and wishing them all the best in their mission to empower women 💪🏾💪🏿

Feel free to DONATE to the foundation on their website