Welcome to the Savanna Sisterhood!

Several years ago, our family had the opportunity to visit Serengeti National Park and meet with local Maasai tribes in Tanzania. We got to learn about women’s roles in Maasai culture, African wildlife, and current conservation efforts.

 

We also witnessed challenges faced by wildlife in Tanzania such as habitat loss, poaching, and conflicts between humans and wildlife. With the expanding human population and the conversion of land for agriculture and infrastructure development to meet human needs, urbanization poses a dire threat to the natural habitats of wildlife because it reduces the available space for wildlife to roam freely and disrupts ecosystems. With this loss of natural habitat for wildlife and the expansion of human populations, conflicts between humans and wildlife escalate. Elephants, for example, occasionally raid crops, leading to conflicts with farmers whose livelihoods depend on agriculture. Predatory species like lions can also pose a threat to livestock, sometimes leading to retaliatory killings by communities. In addition, individuals turn to poaching as a way to escape poverty and receive an income. According to a 2015 study conducted in Tanzania, 96% of villagers said they would stop poaching if they received enough income through other means. For example, elephants are targeted for their ivory tusks and rhinos are hunted for their horns because these body parts are highly valued in the illegal wildlife trade. 

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Back in California, my sister and I had previously founded a free tennis camp for youth that focuses on female empowerment. In addition to teaching children the fundamentals of tennis, we introduced the concept of female empowerment by featuring female collegiate tennis players as guest lecturers. We were already making an impact in terms of gender equality at the local level but wanted to expand our reach on a greater scale.

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Motivated by our experiences in Tanzania, we established a mission-driven company with the goal of strengthening Maasai communities by focusing on female empowerment and wildlife conservation. By supporting female-owned businesses within local Maasai communities and anti-poaching efforts in Kenya through partnerships with Love Is Project and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and as a proud sponsor of Team Lioness–an all-female ranger unit of Maasai women dedicated to protecting wildlife–at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, we aimed to create sustainable economic opportunities that alleviate poverty and reduce the incentive for poaching. Our mission is fueled by the belief that empowering women and preserving wildlife go hand in hand. By addressing the needs of both communities and wildlife, we strive to create a harmonious coexistence where sustainable development and conservation efforts can thrive.

 

Our latest initiative at Savanna Sisterhood focuses on providing sanitary pads for girls in need. We recognize the vital importance of menstrual hygiene management in enabling girls to attend school regularly and pursue their education without interruption. Through this initiative, we aim to address the challenges faced by girls who lack access to proper menstrual products, empowering them to stay in school and reach their full potential.