Though local Masai women are making hard efforts to generate extra income by making Masai crafts, beads, and handicrafts and selling these products in tourist markets, their working style lacks a refined degree of professionalism. In addition, most Masai women are uneducated and need both help and leadership. As a result, there are many areas where volunteers can involve themselves

• If you are artist or professional with skills pertaining to crafts, beads, ornaments, and handicrafts, you can teach them the recent techniques/designs trends which will ensure improved products resulting in the successful selling of their products in various markets.
• If you are non-professional simply wanting to work and support these Masai women, you can work with them learning how to make Masai crafts, beads, ornaments. It would indeed be quite a wonderful experience to work with one of the native tribes which respect foreigners.
• The Masai women's group also need volunteers to assist in learn/teaching English which will give these women the advantage of speaking with tourists and selling their products directly. Volunteers can also run an informal English language class for the Masai women.
• If you have knowledge and skills about marketing, these skills can help the Masai women to develop marketing strategies, helping them to sell their products in both national and international market.
• Besides the women's group, you can run English language classes for Masai children and local youth (with little English knowledge, the Masai youth can work as tourist guides making additional income contributions to the family).

There is no need for specific qualifications to join the women's support project. If volunteers possess skills with crafts, beads, and arts, this would prove highly useful. Volunteers can support local Masai women in various ways on various levels. Volunteers working in this project should be interested in native women and their culture.

Rustic arranges room, food, and supervision for volunteer from the start to the end of program. Volunteers stay with a host family. We arrange a separate room and shared bath for volunteers both in host family and in the residential orphanage settings or hostel. You can find the details of the room/food accommodations in the placement sheets. Rustic main office is in Dar es Salaam , the director of the local project will be the immediate contact for volunteers.

This project is about 7 KM north of Arusha, a major tourist city of Tanzania . The project is located at the base of Mt. Meru . The village is picturesque and beautiful. You will be living in the middle of Masai community. This project would be perfect if you love rural placement and Masai people.