To help empower women in the Maasai plains of Tanzania, a dairy was established as a social enterprise in Terat, Tanzania in 2009, paying women for the milk from their cattle and producing marketable products (yoghurt, cheese, ghee etc) out of it. The dairy has fallen into disuse, but has recently re-started. This project seeks to support OMASI as they re-start the dairy, putting money and power directly back into hands of Maasai women, transforming their lives and status in their communities.
In Maasai culture women have the responsibility to raise children and run the home. It is often difficult for them to have their own income and be independent as the men typically control the finances. The one thing they do have responsibility for is cows. Cows have very high value in Maasai culture so they are the men's property. However, the milk they produce is seen as low value -as there is no market for it.
This is where the dairy comes in. This is very unique in the area. At the dairy, OMASI turns milk sold by the Maasai women into cheese and yogurt to be sold in the main city (Arusha) over 2 hours away. The challenge is bringing yogurt, cheese and milk to the city and being able to store it so it can be sold at a profit and to benefit the women of the community.
The dairy runs as a social enterprise, focused on financial sustainability and capacity building for women in the Maasai community. Our business model for it is fully sustainable, once re-start-up costs and essential repairs are addressed. The long term impact for 5000 Maasai women who could supply the milk is that they become the family members with cash in their pockets, and therefore command more respect in their families, communities, and can become economically independent
