Economically empower more than 5,000 Maasai women

Dear Friends,

Thank you for continuing to support the Orkonerei Dairy and the hundreds of Maasai women who rely on it as a source of independent income.

Over the past few months, the dairy has continued operating despite ongoing challenges with ageing equipment and limited resources. Every litre of milk processed represents more than just a product—it represents income earned directly by women, helping them provide for their families and strengthening their role within their households and communities.

The dairy remains one of the few places where Maasai women can sell surplus milk locally, transforming a traditional household resource into a reliable source of income. By purchasing milk directly from women and processing it into products such as yoghurt, cheese and ghee, the dairy continues to create economic opportunities that simply did not exist before.

While operations have continued, our ageing processing equipment still requires frequent maintenance and occasional repairs. These interruptions reduce the amount of milk that can be processed and increase operating costs, particularly during periods when milk production is at its highest. Every day that equipment is unavailable represents lost income for women who have travelled to sell their milk.

Alongside maintaining production, we continue developing plans to strengthen the dairy's long-term sustainability. Future improvements include upgrading key processing equipment, improving efficiency and establishing additional milk collection points closer to remote villages. These collection points would make it much easier for women to sell their milk without travelling long distances, enabling even more families to benefit from the dairy.

Although fundraising has remained slower than we had hoped, we remain committed to supporting this remarkable social enterprise. Every improvement we make helps build a stronger, more reliable business that is capable of serving the community for many years to come.

Your support is about much more than repairing equipment. It is helping women gain financial independence, invest in their children's education, improve household wellbeing and build greater confidence within their communities. Together, we are creating opportunities that extend far beyond the dairy itself.

Thank you for standing with the women of Terat and helping create a future where their hard work is recognised, rewarded and sustainable.

With sincere thanks,

Leigh