Mama Masai Philanthropy Projects
For nearly a decade, Skal International Monaco members, together with a Scandinavian Foundation, have stood alongside the Maasai Community and School in Amboseli, Kenya—bringing education, opportunity, and hope to hundreds of children.
In 2023, their support reached 1000+primary school children, covering 55% of annual school fees (USD 60 each) and funding the annual salaries of 13 teachers, along with a cook, handyman, and groundsman. Beyond classrooms, they celebrated graduation milestones, rewarded high achievers, reconditioned 55 tablets, and introduced WiFi access for the entire school and wider community. Partial scholarships also supported 36 secondary school students in their learning journeys.
This year, a groundbreaking initiative expanded the vision to higher education—with 4 students pursuing bachelor’s degrees and 2 students enrolling in diploma programs. Each receives a modest stipend while working at the primary school during holidays and a new laptop, which becomes theirs upon successfully completing their studies. The Principal of Esiteti Primary School continues to oversee both their progress and welfare, ensuring accountability and growth.
Looking ahead to 2024, the community itself has chosen to share the responsibility—agreeing to reduce primary school fee support by USD 20 per child, as a contribution toward building a brighter future. This shift opens the door for 5–6 new university students to join the program each year, nurturing the next generation of teachers, nurses, and doctors who will one day serve the Maasai community.
What AADO is Doing for Rural Women
The Afghan Australian Development Association (AADO) continues to transform lives by funding literacy courses for rural women in Afghanistan. Even during the difficult years of 2021–2022 under Taliban rule, AADO ensured that learning never stopped—offering 10–12 month programs in village homes, where groups of 20 women gathered to study. Upon graduation, participants were gifted the sewing machines they had trained with, empowering them to earn a livelihood through tailoring and garment repairs.
In response to strong demand from local authorities, a new program began in May 2023, reaching 100 women across five villages in Qara Bagh District, Kabul Province, and running until February 2024. Due to reduced donations, this course did not include sewing machines, though the women have expressed a heartfelt request to reintroduce tailoring skills alongside literacy training in future programs. Skal International Monaco has previously supported a project for 20 women, enabling every participant to graduate with her own sewing machine.
Looking ahead to 2024, AADO is also preparing to launch an exciting new project—introducing solar systems for agriculture, coupled with hands-on training in installation and maintenance, helping rural communities achieve greater self-reliance and sustainability.
Florimond Volckaert Fund
Administered by two Past International Presidents of Skal International, the Florimond Volckaert Fund (FVF) was created to support Skal members facing hardship due to unexpected illness or natural disasters. We are now in the final stages of fundraising, with donations being matched to achieve the FVF 90th Birthday Gift goal of €90,000.