Embracing Motherhood - At Home in the Masai Mara

“Project NIA” supports young women before and after childbirth—through education, care, and community support.
Because motherhood doesn’t begin with childbirth—it begins with the decision to consciously and confidently embark on life with a child.
NIA stands for “destiny”—our goal is to create a space where this destiny can be empowered.

Every mother deserves to feel safe—for herself and her baby

In the Masai Mara, childbirth is often fraught with danger—due to early pregnancies, a lack of education, and long distances to clinics. The maternal mortality rate in Kenya is nearly 15 times higher than in Germany.
With NIA, we are creating a place that combines education, respect, and safety surrounding childbirth and the postpartum period.

The basic requirements are not always met

Unfortunately, conditions in the manyattas are often not ideal for meeting the women’s needs and ensuring safety during childbirth. Fresh water, lighting, and medical equipment are often unavailable. This, combined with the fact that there is usually no other option, makes childbirth unsafe.

We support pregnant women—just as we always have

In Maasai villages, known as manyattas, there are doulas and midwives who have acquired their knowledge over many years and are highly valued by their communities. Our research has shown that pregnant women in the manyattas wish to give birth with these very birth attendants—at home in their familiar surroundings.

The “NIA Care Unit” as a safe solution for childbirth in the manyattas

Together with our local project team, we are working on the “NIA Care Unit”—a mobile unit that has been specially equipped to provide on-site care for women during pregnancy and childbirth. The “NIA Care Unit” is made available on call to the midwives in the manyattas to support safe care before and after childbirth.

The NIA Hub as a long-term solution

In the near future, we plan to expand our project to include the “NIA Hub.” The NIA Hub will offer in-depth training for Manyatta midwives and doulas, a safe space for counseling on sex education and family planning for young people and families, and a platform for young people to host events, workshops, and discussions.