Asante Africa Foundation Hosts Maasai in Pleasanton

Pleasanton, CA - On October 11th, a “Meet the Maasai” family-oriented interactive event will be held at the Masonic Center on Hopyard Road.

Perhaps she’s raised chump change compared to Oprah, but Livermore resident Erna Grasz is making her mark by helping to shape the future of an African village one child at a time. In a few weeks, Grasz and her organization, which includes Pleasanton board member, will build a cultural bridge between the Maasai and the east bay, as many of Asante Africa’s projects benefit the Maasai community.

Erna founded Asante Africa Foundation in the fall of 2006 after returning from a safari in Tanzania. There, in the soaring heat, she met a woman teaching class under a tree to girls who couldn’t afford to attend school – and Erna walked away determined to help in any way she could. Today, Asante Africa Foundation has funded more than $150,000 towards projects dedicated to building quality education in Tanzania and Kenya.

On October 11th, a “Meet the Maasai” family-oriented interactive event will be held at the Masonic Center on Hopyard Road. Maasai tribal warrior and elder advisor Sabore Ole Oyie and tribeswoman Hellen Nkuraiya, former school principal and current teacher, will be featured with Maasai and Swahili singing, dancing, vertical leaping, learning to apply traditional red ocher war paint, vocalizations of animal calls, bow and arrow techniques, and native crafts and jewelry. This event is open to the public. Several bay area schools are also sponsoring Maasai assemblies during the Kenyans visit as a cultural exchange which focuses on the value of education in our community and across the ocean.

To learn more about Asante Africa, please visit www.asanteafrica.org. If you would be interested in meeting Erna and our Maasai visitors, please contact me at 925-998-3869 or k.yolton@comcast.net.

Best,

Karen Yolton

Asante is the Swahili word for thank you.