Organisational History
1997 PWC founded by nine Maasai women, including Executive Director Maanda Ngoitiko.
1998 First Women’s Solidarity Boma founded in Mondorosi village, Loliondo
2000 Women’s Action Groups raise funds to start microcredit activities in two villages in Loliondo
2002 PWC organises first community fundraiser to support girls education leading to five primary schools being built in Loliondo
2006 72 traditional leaders ask PWC to take over the management of Emanyata Secondary School, Loliondo
2009 Economic Empowerment programme expands to four villages in Longido district benefiting 3,000 women
2012 Expansion of Education and Rights programmes into Ngorongoro Conservation Area
2014 Education project expanded to 10 schools in Monduli District reaching 2,000 students
2015 PWC working in 90 villages in three districts
1998 First Women’s Solidarity Boma founded in Mondorosi village, Loliondo
2000 Women’s Action Groups raise funds to start microcredit activities in two villages in Loliondo
2002 PWC organises first community fundraiser to support girls education leading to five primary schools being built in Loliondo
2006 72 traditional leaders ask PWC to take over the management of Emanyata Secondary School, Loliondo
2009 Economic Empowerment programme expands to four villages in Longido district benefiting 3,000 women
2012 Expansion of Education and Rights programmes into Ngorongoro Conservation Area
2014 Education project expanded to 10 schools in Monduli District reaching 2,000 students
2015 PWC working in 90 villages in three districts
Maanda's Story
Maanda Ngoitiko is a Maasai from the remote Ngorongoro region of Northern Tanzania. Her family are traditional pastoralists and Maanda grew up moving around with the family cattle. When she was 12 years old her parents told her she must leave school and get married. Despite her young age Maanda successfully refused them and was allowed to continue her education until she completed primary school.
At the age of 15 Maanda ran away in order to gain a secondary school education. She was helped by the first pastoralist organisation in Tanzania, Kipoc. She completed her secondary education in Dar Es Salaam and continued to study for a diploma for two years. The Irish Embassy then sponsored her to go to Ireland and study for a further diploma in Development Studies.
After completing her studies in Ireland she returned to Northern Tanzania to work for a Maasai community organisation. Although she enjoyed her work, Maanda realised that there was an urgent need for an organisation led and managed by Maasai women, dedicated to addressing their strategic and practical needs. She wanted to assist girls in the same situation as she herself had once been, desperate for an education but unable to access one. In 1997, at a meeting with nine other women, she founded Pastoral Women’s Council and has led the organisation since then.
In the last few years Maanda attended Kenyatta University in Nairobi and fulfilled her dream of gaining a degree in Environmental Studies. In 2009 the Paul K. Feyerabend Foundation awarded her the “Paul K. Feyerabend Prize - A World of Solidarity is Possible”. The prize acknowledges and encourages remarkable accomplishments, which represent true sources of inspiration.
In 2013 Maanda was one of the nominees for The Guardian International Development Achievement Award which aims to recognise the unsung heroes of international development. These are people whose work is or has made a profound contribution to the alleviation of poverty, working above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference.
In 2016 Maanda was a nominated finalist for a Front Line Defenders Human Rights Defenders at Risk award which honours human rights defenders who contribute to the promotion and protection of their communities, often at great personal risk.
At the age of 15 Maanda ran away in order to gain a secondary school education. She was helped by the first pastoralist organisation in Tanzania, Kipoc. She completed her secondary education in Dar Es Salaam and continued to study for a diploma for two years. The Irish Embassy then sponsored her to go to Ireland and study for a further diploma in Development Studies.
After completing her studies in Ireland she returned to Northern Tanzania to work for a Maasai community organisation. Although she enjoyed her work, Maanda realised that there was an urgent need for an organisation led and managed by Maasai women, dedicated to addressing their strategic and practical needs. She wanted to assist girls in the same situation as she herself had once been, desperate for an education but unable to access one. In 1997, at a meeting with nine other women, she founded Pastoral Women’s Council and has led the organisation since then.
In the last few years Maanda attended Kenyatta University in Nairobi and fulfilled her dream of gaining a degree in Environmental Studies. In 2009 the Paul K. Feyerabend Foundation awarded her the “Paul K. Feyerabend Prize - A World of Solidarity is Possible”. The prize acknowledges and encourages remarkable accomplishments, which represent true sources of inspiration.
In 2013 Maanda was one of the nominees for The Guardian International Development Achievement Award which aims to recognise the unsung heroes of international development. These are people whose work is or has made a profound contribution to the alleviation of poverty, working above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference.
In 2016 Maanda was a nominated finalist for a Front Line Defenders Human Rights Defenders at Risk award which honours human rights defenders who contribute to the promotion and protection of their communities, often at great personal risk.
Copyright 2021 – Pastoral Women’s Council (PWC). PWC is a Tanzanian registered charity SO.no.10180
