Lazaro Mathayo

Lazaro Mathayo is a Maasai junior elder who was born and raised in Ngorongoro district, specifically in the Ngorongoro conservation area, Oloirobi village. He grew up heading livestock with no knowledge about school. Oloirobi is a small, remote Maasai village at the base of heart of Ngorongoro Conservation areas (NCA), in northern Tanzania. While he loves cows and his traditions, he also found fantastic prospects in Western culture and formal education. He wanted to be a successful and a proud cow herder, since it is a prestige of all Maasai, regardless of their education. Lazaro had a dream of being a successful livestock businessman with the aim of facilitating investment and employing youth and women in his community. He is among the Maasai youth who managed to attain formal education at a time when education is not taken as a priority. Through his education, he was supported by strangers, people who have the heart to help without expecting anything in return. He was supported by one American who went to Tanzania as a tourist and was moved to support him has become a longtime friend.

Lazaro’s parents are livestock keepers living inside Ngorongoro Conservation areas (a multiple land use area). The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is in northern Tanzania, and it is home to the vast, volcanic Ngorongoro Crater and “big 5” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino). Selling livestock to pay school fees has always been a challenge as many livestock keepers prefer the quantity of livestock more than quality (ALMASI works to promote the quality). Lazaro is a well-motivated business and community development expert with demonstrated strengths in leadership, problem solving, and streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. He has 14 years of success working with local government, local NGOs, and international organizations in the areas of community economic empowerment, food security, human wildlife conflicts and small-scale farming in different settings. He worked with Ngorongoro district council as a community development officer and thereafter joined Dutch Orkonerei Social Initiative Ltd, a social business entity, as a General Manager. He also joined Trias East Africa, which is an international organization, as a program manager managing a multi-sector food security program with a local name Maisha Bora (better life), targeting pastoralists in both Arusha and Manyara regions.

He attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa pursuing business management and thereafter joined the development world, supporting communities to sustainably transform their livelihood. After gaining work experience, Lazaro decided to seek higher education, so he joined ESAMI to pursue an Executive MBA. Also, Lazaro joined Northern Illinois University in Illinois, USA to pursue his master’s in business administration. He was privileged to have such an opportunity sponsored by his great friend. He is married with two children, and he enjoys running, reading, and exploring the world in his free time.

Yassi Moringe

Yassi Moringe was born and raised in Ngorongoro district, Loliondo. She was among the Maasai girls who managed to get an opportunity to attain a formal education to the university level. She went through all struggles and perseverance breaking cultural barriers to be an example in her community. Being an expert in law and development, she works on different community development projects. In 2010, she joined the Archdiocese of Arusha Integrated Development and Relief Office (AAIDRO), where she worked as the Women in Development/Gender and Development Program Coordinator, focusing on Maasai women empowerment economically and socially. She is well known for her strong belief in women empowerment, lobby, and advocacy and for promoting income generating strategies as the best way to confront poverty and its challenges

As part of her development career, she also moved to the horticulture industry when she joined Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA) to manage a USAID/USDA program, “Horticulture Sector Transformation Initiatives (HOSTI), aimed at Strengthening TAHA’s capacity to continue upscaling innovations and best practices for enhanced horticultural industry competitiveness, sustainable inclusive growth, improved nutrition, and profitability across the value chains. She brings to ALMASI extensive community development experience, strong skills, and tremendous expertise gained through working with international projects. Yassi had a dream to become a lawyer after seeing some injustices targeting women in the Maasai community. She thus joined Tumaini University-Iringa to pursue Law, which she completed successfully, and later joined St. Paul’s University in Kenya to pursue her master’s in development studies and thereafter embarked to the development world.

She is married and has two wonderful children, one handsome boy called Saruni (which means “savior” in the Maasai language) and a beautiful daughter, Nosim (which means “comfort” in the Maasai language). She uses most of her free time to take care of her family through household chores.

Her hobbies include cooking, reading books, and physical exercise, especially aerobics and walking.

Scope/Coverage: Tanzania, East Africa

Marco Ole-Keiya

Marco is a Maasai born and raised in Ngorongoro Conservation Area. He grew up grazing livestock as the main duty before he was taken to school. He pursued secondary education successfully and later joined the university. He studied and graduated Law from Tumaini University Makumira in 2010. His personality is diverse according to how he presents himself before his friends and the community. Marco is a change agent whose personal traits defines his professional character as a leader.

Marco is married with one wife and three beautiful children namely Nosim, Nadupoi and Naserian. These beautiful Angels contributed the passion of their father to stand right defending interest of other girls in the community with his total affection to transform the lives of vulnerable women and girls in the community.

Marco is an activist and an advocate for human rights in general. Apart from being an activist, Marco worked with different human rights organizations as the coordinator in different projects and has been an asset for sustainability especially on women and children rights. His experience expanded from here where he become result-oriented person majoring leadership, communication, risk management, conflict management, negotiation as key elements that defines the application of Monitoring & Evaluation methods to attest whether project have met the indented goals as planned.

Through his entire professional career, Marco left some remarkable achievements by taking his position addressing the right of a children to school in traditional Maasai community especially a Girl child. He upheld gender equality as a solution for problems underpinning both girl and women leading them to vulnerability. Marco have become a role model to conduct various campaigns against girl/women discrimination where he led women/girl’s projects as the platform to address gender equality in the traditional Maasai society in Ngorongoro and Longido Districts in Arusha Region. He successfully rescues 700 girls from early marriages and advocate the importance of education for Girl child.

Marco is among of the founders for Traditional Ecosystem Survival Tanzania – TEST, Working on traditional conservation enhancement and application of traditional knowledge in ecosystem survival. As the general Manager for TEST, he stands addressing ecosystem challenges through harmonious understanding of nature itself (nature treats itself) by placing traditional community at the epicenter as natural conservators. From this side Marco playing a greater role in ensuring that traditional knowledge is recognized by government actor as proper tool to be used for sustainable conservation initiative and that culture is a cornerstone for ecosystem restoration in Africa, and traditional societies and the conservation bare traditional ties inseparable from nature.

Marco will bring a diverse and direct experience to ALMASI believing that equality is considered by every individual as human rights component and a respect of human dignity in attaining sustainable development. He eager to see a society where every person is self-determined to express his/her opinion without being intimidated by status related to sex, race or religion affiliation. He envisages a society where women/girl rights are mainstreamed into traditional cultures to make awareness persuading the community on women/girl’s rights.

Withstanding to his professionalism above, Marco likes sports, and he is an Athlete. He won several medals across different local and international marathons where he inspires other youth for more physical exercises to make their health better.

Ololotu Munka

Ololotu is a young man born and grew up in Ngorongoro district at Loliondo Village and received his primary education at Loliondo Primary School. After that he joined Makumira Secondary School in Arumeru District in Arusha Region for his secondary Education. He was selected to join Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro to pursue a Bachelor of Rural Development and successfully graduate in 2014.

OlolotuMunka has done various jobs related to his profession. He worked as a Program Officer implementing a big Programme funded by Belgian government focusing on ensuring food security in Longido District. He then joined Korongoro People’s Lion Initiatives (KopeLion Inc.) Ngorongoro as Programs Coordinator.

In addition, he has also worked as a consultant serving different corporate clients like World Vison Tanzania, Compassion and SNV Tanzania in all spheres of Training and Facilitation as well as Research.

Adv. Lengai Merinyo

Advocate Lengai Merinyo is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and subordinates’ courts thereto. He was born in Arusha, Northern part of Tanzania where the Maasai ethnic group is rooted.

He is experienced lawyer and a patriot in serving the community in legal aid issues. He is now working with the chambers of Nelson S. Merinyo – Advocates.

Before, he worked with Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), a prominent NGO in the country and well acquainted with skills and ability to deal with social economic issues in support of the community surrounding him. He was employed at the department of Legal Aid as Assistant Litigant and Head of Land Unit Department.

He is alumni of Iringa University where he pursued LLB Degree before he joined the University of Dar es Salaam for Post graduate diploma in legal practice (the law school of Tanzania).

ALMASI is proud to have him among its members, an esteemed and experienced fellow like this in operating the vehicle geared towards attaining ALMASI Vision & Mission.His hobbies include Traveling, Sports (football) & drama.

Lazaro Mathayo

Lazaro Mathayo is a Maasai junior elder who was born and raised in Ngorongoro district, specifically in the Ngorongoro conservation area, Oloirobi village. He grew up heading livestock with no knowledge about school. Oloirobi is a small, remote Maasai village at the base of heart of Ngorongoro Conservation areas (NCA), in northern Tanzania. While he loves cows and his traditions, he also found fantastic prospects in Western culture and formal education. He wanted to be a successful and a proud cow herder, since it is a prestige of all Maasai, regardless of their education. Lazaro had a dream of being a successful livestock businessman with the aim of facilitating investment and employing youth and women in his community. He is among the Maasai youth who managed to attain formal education at a time when education is not taken as a priority. Through his education, he was supported by strangers, people who have the heart to help without expecting anything in return. He was supported by one American who went to Tanzania as a tourist and was moved to support him has become a longtime friend.

Lazaro’s parents are livestock keepers living inside Ngorongoro Conservation areas (a multiple land use area). The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is in northern Tanzania, and it is home to the vast, volcanic Ngorongoro Crater and “big 5” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino). Selling livestock to pay school fees has always been a challenge as many livestock keepers prefer the quantity of livestock more than quality (ALMASI works to promote the quality). Lazaro is a well-motivated business and community development expert with demonstrated strengths in leadership, problem solving, and streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. He has 14 years of success working with local government, local NGOs, and international organizations in the areas of community economic empowerment, food security, human wildlife conflicts and small-scale farming in different settings. He worked with Ngorongoro district council as a community development officer and thereafter joined Dutch Orkonerei Social Initiative Ltd, a social business entity, as a General Manager. He also joined Trias East Africa, which is an international organization, as a program manager managing a multi-sector food security program with a local name Maisha Bora (better life), targeting pastoralists in both Arusha and Manyara regions.

He attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa pursuing business management and thereafter joined the development world, supporting communities to sustainably transform their livelihood. After gaining work experience, Lazaro decided to seek higher education, so he joined ESAMI to pursue an Executive MBA. Also, Lazaro joined Northern Illinois University in Illinois, USA to pursue his master’s in business administration. He was privileged to have such an opportunity sponsored by his great friend. He is married with two children, and he enjoys running, reading, and exploring the world in his free time.

Yassi Moringe

Yassi Moringe was born and raised in Ngorongoro district, Loliondo. She was among the Maasai girls who managed to get an opportunity to attain a formal education to the university level. She went through all struggles and perseverance breaking cultural barriers to be an example in her community. Being an expert in law and development, she works on different community development projects. In 2010, she joined the Archdiocese of Arusha Integrated Development and Relief Office (AAIDRO), where she worked as the Women in Development/Gender and Development Program Coordinator, focusing on Maasai women empowerment economically and socially. She is well known for her strong belief in women empowerment, lobby, and advocacy and for promoting income generating strategies as the best way to confront poverty and its challenges

As part of her development career, she also moved to the horticulture industry when she joined Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA) to manage a USAID/USDA program, “Horticulture Sector Transformation Initiatives (HOSTI), aimed at Strengthening TAHA’s capacity to continue upscaling innovations and best practices for enhanced horticultural industry competitiveness, sustainable inclusive growth, improved nutrition, and profitability across the value chains. She brings to ALMASI extensive community development experience, strong skills, and tremendous expertise gained through working with international projects. Yassi had a dream to become a lawyer after seeing some injustices targeting women in the Maasai community. She thus joined Tumaini University-Iringa to pursue Law, which she completed successfully, and later joined St. Paul’s University in Kenya to pursue her master’s in development studies and thereafter embarked to the development world.

She is married and has two wonderful children, one handsome boy called Saruni (which means “savior” in the Maasai language) and a beautiful daughter, Nosim (which means “comfort” in the Maasai language). She uses most of her free time to take care of her family through household chores.

Her hobbies include cooking, reading books, and physical exercise, especially aerobics and walking.

Scope/Coverage: Tanzania, East Africa

Dr. Ruby L. Owiny

Dr. Ruby L. Owiny is an Assistant Professor of Special Education with over 25 years in education, including teaching students with and without disabilities, pre-service teachers, and leading training for in-service teachers. She is married to David, a Tanzanian, and together they have three children.

Ruby is honored to serve on the ALMASIboard as a means of giving back to her husband’s homeland, which has become a dear place to her as well.

Elizabeth Blasko

Elizabeth Blasko is a storyteller. As a public affairs coordinator for Advocate Health Care, she crafts and shares stories about patients, providers, and teammates. Prior to this role, Elizabeth led communications and partner relations at Bernie’s Book Bank, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality books for underserved children throughout Chicagoland.

Elizabeth is a follower of Christ and member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Gurnee. At Bethel she has served as congregation president, a confirmation lay coach and Sunday school teacher.

A proud graduate of Western Michigan University, Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with minors in Nonprofit Leadership, Event Management and Psychology. Additionally, she earned her Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance in 2016.

Elizabeth enjoys reading, traveling, walking her dog, and watching auto racing. She has a passion for mission-driven work and is grateful for the opportunity to support and empower the Maasai people with ALMASI.

Jeff Eichner

Jeff Eichner was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. He graduated from the University of Evansville, with a Bachelor of Science in Business and earned his CPA in the State of Illinois.

Jeff worked for Sears, Roebuck and Co., Sears Holdings and Transformco. He held various accounting and finance staff and managerial positions within the retail and corporate reporting segments.

Recently retired, Jeff enjoys researching genealogy, biking, pickleball, yoga and cross-country skiing. He serves on the Bethel Lutheran Church property board and is a member of the Bethel treasury team. Jeff serves as treasurer on the ALMASI Board of Directors to facilitate the attainment of a brighter future for the Maasai community.

Diane Boehm

Diane Boehm is a lifelong educator. She was born and raised on a Wisconsin dairy farm in Dodge County, Wisconsin.(Her book, Farm Life, traces the history of her family, beginning with emigration from Pomerania in 1843 to the family farm today).

She received her BA from Concordia College, River Forest, IL, and her MA from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.Having taught at colleges and universities in Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota, she established the University Writing Program at Saginaw Valley State University in MI, which she directed for 18.5 years. Upon retirement, she and her husband moved to Libertyville, IL, where she gardens, volunteers in the butterfly house at the Chicago Botanic Garden, serves on the Board for her condo association, and volunteers as a writing coach for college students in the Waukegan to College (W2C) program.

Diane has long been a lead donor for Lutheran World Relief. She serves on the Board of Directors for ALMASI because it is mission outreach with a personal connection, bringing God’s love through ministry to and with the Maasai people.

David Ross

David Ross holds a Doctorate in Counseling and served at the College of Lake County Counseling Department for 35 years; his specialties included adult development, career counseling and test and speech anxiety reduction.

A member of Bethel Lutheran Church since 1975, David is a long-time singer in the church choir. He has served in many leadership positions including youth leader, Sunday school teacher and committees. Additionally, David previously served as a board member and board president for Christian Outreach of Lutherans (COOL) Ministries. David is married to Cheryl and has three adult children and two grandchildren. His hobbies include cooking, fitness, and gardening.

David heard the story of the Maasai as told by Lazaro Mathayo and felt moved to support ALMASI.