Maasai Warriors. Credit: Christina Lauterbach

Empuaan – Entegel Enkishon (Survival – Choose Life)

HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention among the Maasai

As HIV continues to spread it poses an increasing threat to the survival of indigenous cultures. In East Africa the Maasai are now experiencing the early stages of what is likely to be a catastrophic epidemic. To the Maasai HIV is a ‘new’ disease and a new threat, and most remain uninformed, unprotected and without support. Without the implementation of an energetic and effective intervention the future looks increasingly bleak.

Empuaan, which means ‘survival’ in Maasai, is an innovative HIV prevention programme which recognises and respects specific Maasai understandings of sexuality, health and illness. Using local Maasai frameworks for information sharing and debate, Empuaan aims to provide long-term and sustainable solutions by working with the community to create an environment in which individuals and groups can make informed choices and turn those choices into action in their fight against AIDS.

Our Vision

A world in which good sexual and reproductive health is enjoyed by all.

Our Purpose

To develop and provide culturally-appropriate interventions to enable the Maasai and other East African peoples to protect themselves and their communities from the transmission and consequences of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and AIDS.

Our Mission

• To work with communities to create educational programmes and resources that can empower individuals and groups to make informed choices and adopt realistic, culturally and socially acceptable behaviour changes that can effectively reduce their risk of HIV and AIDS.
• To provide up-to-date and accessible information in a culturally-appropriate way.
• To provide forums for critical thinking and discussion that can lead to behaviour change.
• To provide practical training in condom use.
• To provide a link between people and locally-available health services.
• To promote the well-being of people living with or affected by HIV by providing information and links to services, and by addressing the fear, stigma and prejudice that surround HIV and AIDS.
• To provide health services with information and materials that can help them with their work.

Our Values

• We have respect for local people, their opinions and their customs.
• We value diversity and work without prejudice.
• We do not tell people what to do.

Our Beliefs

• We believe in the importance of culturally-appropriate HIV/AIDS education.
• We believe in building dialogue, participation and empowerment.
• We believe in equal access to information, services and support.

Empuaan’s projects are designed around the realities and priorities of Maasai life, but are accessible to all who live in Maasai areas, whatever their ethnicity.

We are putting our plans into action with these projects.

You can help us to continue pioneering new approaches to tackling HIV among the Maasai by making a donation.

For a detailed analysis of the social, cultural and demographic factors of HIV transmission dynamics among the Maasai, see Empuaan: Situation Analysis.