The Elgeyo Marakwet Story
The Elgeyo Marakwet Foundation was set up Joan Kantu Kamya Else in order to stream line and bring focus to all the various charitable ventures that she has been involved in and seek out for the benefit of local communities, especially children's welfare and education.
The Elgeyo Marakwet Foundation operates as the vehicle through which philanthropic efforts can be brought together and harmonised and, with the aid of carefully selected trustees, will oversee, the disbursement of funds to ensure that they are being used in the best possible way and have the desired impact.
The Elgeyo Markawet foundation's focus is predominantly to support, children, young people and women. The founder has In the past has been a frequent contributor of food and school fees to orphans.
Marakwet Organic Farm
The Marakwet Organic Farm is a 150-acre property situated on the Rift Valley escarpment overlooking the Semliki Valley. The topography of the land mainly consists of gentle rolling hills and valleys in keeping with the area. On a clear day, Lake Albert and the rainforests of eastern Congo beyond can be seen.
Just 20 miles north of Fort Portal where the founder was born, the farm marks a full circle as she returns to her roots. The farm is in its infancy at the moment but there are big plans to see it develop into a major employer in the area, giving local people an opportunity to gain steady employment and income which will in turn have a direct effect on the community
Omutoma Tree Project
The Marakwet Omutoma project will work together with the Bukomansimbi Organic Tree Farmers Association (BOFTA) to plant a fifty acre Omutoma plantation and teach the local farm labourers proper arboricultural methods. An exchange programme between the two organisations will be initiated, and over time this will help to transfer bark harvesting and cloth production techniques to a new generation of young practitioners, preserving this ancient tradition for future generations. Matuba trees are known as the source of bark cloth and are widely grown in central Uganda where large plantations have been cultivated for over 300 years and still thrive.
Community Projects
Masongora School
Masongora School was originally established in 2005. In 2016 President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni visited the area and provided funds to rebuild the school and in 2018 the school start the PLE. Since then The Elgeyo Marakwet Foundation has assisted in the building of new classrooms and a toilet block as well as sponsoring children to go to the school. In the future we hope to be able to contribute towards providing clean water, a school nurse and a school library.
Supporting babies homes
The Elegeyo Marakwet Foundation continually donates to two babies homes and recently has supported 2 in particular. Sanyu Babies Home in Kampala and Toro Babies Home in Fort Portal. The donations are in the form of babies clothing, books, toys and shoes. In the future we hope to be able to partner long terms with these organisations to help them continue to provide assistance to the babies and the wider community.
