From 2016 thru 2017 I had the privilege of doing my PhD research  in Sinya, located in the plains between Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru in Tanzania.  Sinya, with a population of 4285 Maasai, is isolated from centres of development and with limited access to schools, health facilities and water.  Historically Maasai women delivered babies at home with the help of traditional birth attendants yet this often leads to high infant and maternal mortality. Over the 16 months of my research it became apparent that Maasai women acknowledge home deliveries are not safe and they are willing to go to health facilities for delivery.  The challenge though is the lack of privacy in the one room health centre.  Again and again women requested that I help them advocate for a private maternity room to facilitate safer deliveries.  

The funds raised will be used to build an extension onto the existing one room health center (as shown in the photo).  This will become a room dedicated for women's health.  This project has been discussed with community leaders, the district commissioner and the residents of Sinya who all agree on the importance of this issue and the need for an extension.  

This beautiful community welcomed me, trusted me and provided a lot more than answers to my research questions.  They shared their perspectives and values that have dramatically changed how I see myself and the world we live in.  This small gesture of providing them with privacy for safe deliveries is just a small token of appreciation to my dear friends of Sinya.