What is happening at OMOM.
Grants won. Partners engaged. Girls succeed. Stay updated with our latest news.
LATEST NEWS
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May 2025
Partners Visit OMOM
Meaningful partnerships are built through trust, shared learning and a deep understanding of the communities we serve. OMOM Maasai Community Foundation welcomed representatives from the Trevor Noah Foundation and YALI Regional Leadership Centre East Africa for a community visit to experience our programmes and meet the children, families and leaders at the heart of our work. During the visit, our partners engaged with students, parents, teachers and community members who shared their experiences and the changes they have witnessed through increased access to education. The visit provided an opportunity to better understand the challenges facing Indigenous Maasai girls including barriers that prevent many children from continuing their education. It also highlighted the strength, resilience and determination of communities working together to create better futures for their children. Seeing our work directly within the communities reminded us that education is not only about classrooms and schools. It is about families, hopes, dreams and the collective responsibility to ensure every child has the chance to succeed. The visit strengthened our partnership and renewed our shared commitment to advancing inclusive education and creating opportunities for Indigenous children to learn, lead and thrive.
January 2026
Celebrating the 2026 OMOM Stars
Every child carries a dream and sometimes all they need is someone to believe in them. In 2026, OMOM Maasai Community Foundation proudly welcomed a new cohort of OMOM Stars, students who successfully transitioned to secondary education through our education programme. Coming from villages across the Manyara Region, these young students have taken an important step towards achieving their dreams. Behind every school placement is a story of determination, family sacrifice and communities choosing education as the pathway to a brighter future. For many of our students, this journey represents a historic opportunity as they become among the first in their families to access secondary education. As they begin this new chapter, OMOM will continue walking alongside them through mentorship, educational support and guidance to help them overcome challenges and reach their full potential. We believe these young people are not only students but future teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, community leaders and advocates who will create change within their communities.
April 2026
Leading the Funding Conversation
Grassroots organisations often understand community challenges most deeply, yet many struggle to access the resources needed to expand their impact. OMOM Maasai Community Foundation was honoured to participate in the launch of the Renewed Women Voices and Leadership Programme hosted by Msichana Initiative in partnership with Cuso International and Women Fund Tanzania. During the event, OMOM’s Executive Director Naomi Emanuel Koinase joined a panel of feminist leaders to discuss the importance of creating funding systems that recognise and support women led organisations working directly with underserved communities. Naomi shared OMOM’s experience as an Indigenous women led organisation and highlighted the need for funding approaches that are flexible, accessible and built around trust. The conversation reinforced a powerful message that communities should not only be seen as beneficiaries of development but should also be recognised as leaders and decision makers shaping their own futures. At OMOM, we continue advocating for a world where Indigenous women and girls have the resources, platforms and opportunities to lead meaningful change.
November 2025
Community Voices Inspire Change
What began as a small community dialogue became a powerful gathering of voices, stories and renewed commitment to girls’ education. During an Olosho Voices community forum, OMOM planned a dialogue for approximately 30 participants. However, the conversation attracted more than 300 community members including parents, elders, young people and local leaders who came together to discuss the importance of education and the need to protect children’s futures. Among the most memorable moments was the story of a father who openly shared his personal transformation. He once believed that educating girls was unnecessary and that marriage was the expected path for daughters. Through conversations, awareness and witnessing the impact of education, his perspective changed. Today, he is one of the strongest advocates for girls’ education in his community. His own daughter is supported through OMOM and he now encourages other parents to allow their daughters to remain in school and pursue their dreams. His story reminds us that lasting change happens when communities themselves become champions for a better future. At OMOM, we believe every voice matters and every changed heart can change a generation.
September 2024
Strengthening Local Leadership
At OMOM, we believe that lasting change begins with investing in people and leadership. Our Executive Director Naomi Emanuel Koinase was awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship funded by the United Kingdom Government to pursue a Master’s degree in Gender and Development at the University of Sussex. The experience strengthened OMOM’s work far beyond academic learning. Through international exposure, research and engagement with global leaders, Naomi gained new knowledge and perspectives that continue to shape OMOM’s approach to education, gender equality and Indigenous rights. Her research and learning have helped strengthen OMOM’s advocacy and deepen our understanding of the barriers facing Indigenous Maasai girls while ensuring that our solutions remain connected to the realities of the communities we serve. For OMOM, leadership development is not about one individual. It is about building knowledge, confidence and capacity that can be shared with communities and future generations. By investing in local leaders, we are strengthening a movement led by Indigenous voices and creating pathways for more girls to learn, lead and transform their communities.
May 2025
OMOM Receives Stawi Lab Grant
OMOM Maasai Community Foundation has received an unrestricted grant from Stawi Lab Tanzania, marking an important milestone in our journey as a growing Indigenous women led organisation. The grant follows our successful completion of a year long organisational strengthening programme that equipped our team with practical skills in governance, leadership, financial management, strategic planning and institutional sustainability. For grassroots organisations like OMOM, flexible funding is more than financial support. It is an investment in the systems, people and ideas that make lasting change possible. This support will enable us to strengthen our internal structures, respond more effectively to community needs and continue expanding programmes that improve access to education for Indigenous Maasai girls. Beyond the funding itself, this recognition represents trust in the vision we are building with our communities. It acknowledges that locally led organisations have the knowledge and commitment needed to create meaningful solutions. As OMOM continues to grow, this partnership will help us strengthen our foundation, reach more children and move closer to our vision of a future where every Maasai child has the opportunity to learn, lead and thrive.
May 2025
OMOM at Education World Forum
In 2025, OMOM Maasai Community Foundation proudly represented Tanzania at the Education World Forum in London, the world’s largest gathering of education ministers, policymakers and education leaders. The forum created an opportunity for OMOM to share our grassroots approach to improving access to education for Indigenous Maasai girls and contribute to global discussions on inclusive and equitable education. From village communities in northern Tanzania to an international education platform in London, OMOM demonstrated that solutions created at the local level can offer valuable lessons for the wider world. Our participation highlighted the importance of listening to communities, recognising Indigenous knowledge and ensuring that those closest to challenges are included in creating solutions. Standing on an international stage was a proud moment for OMOM and a moment of representation for Maasai girls who deserve to see their experiences, dreams and voices recognised globally. We believe that every community has knowledge to share and every child deserves the opportunity to learn.
May 2025
OMOM Featured in The Citizen
The journey of OMOM Maasai Community Foundation and our work supporting Indigenous Maasai girls was recognised through a feature in The Citizen, one of Tanzania’s leading newspapers. The story highlighted OMOM’s community driven approach to expanding educational opportunities and addressing the barriers that prevent many Indigenous girls from continuing their studies. The feature also shared the journey of our Executive Director Naomi Emanuel Koinase whose experience with education challenges and determination to create change inspired the establishment of OMOM. Through this recognition, more people gained insight into both the challenges facing Indigenous communities and the possibilities that emerge when communities are supported to create their own solutions. For OMOM, this recognition is not only about our organisation. It is about amplifying the voices of girls, families and communities who have long been overlooked. It is a reminder that Indigenous girls’ stories matter, their dreams matter and their futures deserve investment.
July 2024
The Grant That Changed Our Journey
Every organisation has a moment that changes its direction. For OMOM Maasai Community Foundation, that moment came when we received our first international grant. After our Executive Director Naomi Emanuel Koinase was selected to participate in the Trevor Noah Foundation Education Changemakers Programme in Nairobi, Kenya, OMOM successfully secured its first international grant of USD 5,000 through a competitive pitching process. This was more than funding. It was a turning point that allowed OMOM to strengthen its organisational foundation, improve governance systems and develop programmes that continue to support Indigenous Maasai children and girls. What began as a grassroots effort to ensure children could continue their education grew into a structured organisation with stronger systems, clearer programmes and a wider community impact. Following the successful implementation of the programme, OMOM received an additional USD 5,000 to accelerate our work. These early investments helped lay the foundation for our education initiatives, leadership programmes and long term commitment to supporting girls across northern Tanzania. Behind every organisation is a story of someone believing in the possibility before others could see it. This was one of those important moments for OMOM.
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