“As a steward of the Masai Mara ecosystem I dream of a community that is dedicated to conservation efforts and wildlife protection”, says Ellyn. “l hope to see initiatives that focus on preserving the natural habitats, biodiversity, and wildlife population that make our region so special, ensuring they can thrive for generations to come.”

Ellyn lives on the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya) – famous for its stunning biodiversity – whose grasslands and riverine forests span 1,510 square kilometres and border Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Her people, the Maasai, are a semi-nomadic and pastoral tribe indigenous to parts of northern, central and southern Kenya, as well as areas of northern Tanzania. Their homes (known as ‘manyatta’) are made of mud, cow dung, sticks, and grass, and built by the women, while the men build the fencing around the village to protect the community and its cattle from the wildlife.

“In my community, education to the highest level is a challenge”, she narrates. Living in a remote area and insufficient financial resources means most members of the community struggle to pursue higher education. “My journey is to gain knowledge and experience to transform my community with positive impact.”

The second-born of five children, Ellyn is the first in her family to have access to tertiary studies, thanks to Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL) and the Ecotourism programme – a six-month short-cycle tertiary programme accredited (in English) by the Jesuit institute IQS Ramon Llull in Barcelona.

“I believe it is important”, she shares, “because it [ecotourism] focuses on minimising the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, wildlife, and local communities, while also providing economic benefits and supporting conservation efforts, by creating long-lasting and positive impact on the environment and society, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy and benefit from the natural resources of our planet.”

Some of the main challenges faced by her community include exploitation and not receiving an equitable share of tourism-generated income in their area, frequently leading to tensions and conflict and also, as she points out, “hinder the overall success and sustainability of the ecotourism initiative”.

Her solution? Ellyn proposes to implement “a more transparent and inclusive revenue-sharing model” which could involve “setting up community-owned businesses, cooperative or social enterprises that are directly involved in tourism operations and profit-sharing mechanisms”.

“Overall, the implementation of an Ecotourism programme in the Masai Mara community can bring about a range of benefits,” she concludes. “These benefits can help create a more sustainable and resilient community that values its natural resources and work towards their long-term protections and preservation.”

In 2023, having heard about JWL through a contact at the Jesuit Eastern Africa Province, Maasai leadership in Nkoilale approached the organisation and expressed great interest in collaboration to bring higher education to the community. The Ecotourism programme launched later that same year, followed by the Certificate in Liberal Studies – a one-year certificate programme accredited by XIM University Bhubaneswar – in 2025, so that learners may build their knowledge and set the foundations to progress to a degree programme.

Eleven students graduated from the Ecotourism programme in Spring 2024. Many of them went on to find employment in the tourism sector or in conservation, which inspired the community’s youth to enrol in larger numbers – 35 students graduates in September 2025. Thirty-one students are currently enrolled in the Certificate in Liberal Studies.

Students from both the Ecotourism and Certificate in Liberal Studies form a solid learning community and engage in activities to serve their community and environment, such as the clean-up and tree-planting day they organised last July. “Participating in this environmental clean-up and tree-planting activity has been a transformative experience for me”, says Raen, a Certificate in Liberal Studies student. “It has deepened my understanding of the importance of sustainable practices and how our actions can make a positive impact on our community and the planet. I feel empowered to continue advocating for environmental conservation in my future career and to inspire others to do the same.”

There is great community support for and interest in building on these opportunities. Earlier this Fall, JWL signed an agreement directly with the local Maasai community in which the latter commits to leading efforts at the local level for day-to-day programme delivery, as well as to explore extending the programme offer to additional communities in the area.

For Rachel (who graduated in 2024), the Ecotourism programme opened up opportunities she once thought were out of reach. Being a young, single mother has been challenging but after graduating from the programme, she found employment in the tourism sector. “You people have brought a lot of impact in our community”, Rachel tells. “There are also – parents are very happy because... not all families have the money to take their child to university. But you guys have brought us that...”

Rachel’s employment enables her to initiate tourists to the wonders of the land, while also caring for her family. In fact, Rachel now supports her son and her sister’s educational journey by covering their tuition fees.