Empowering Maasai children through quality early childhood education, nutritious meals, and community-led development.
At Nasaru Child Foundation, we believe every child deserves the chance to learn, grow and imagine what their future could hold.
Nasaru was founded by Marina Laizer, a member of the local Maasai community, in Oltukai Village, Monduli District, Arusha Region, Tanzania.
Marina saw that many children in her community were missing out on education because of barriers such as poverty, long distances to school and limited access to early learning. For some children, this means starting primary school much later, while others may miss out on school altogether.
Nasaru was created to help change this.
We provide a safe and welcoming place where children aged approximately two to ten can learn, play, receive a nutritious meal and develop important skills during their early years.
Our work also extends beyond the classroom. We work alongside parents, families and community members to strengthen understanding of early childhood education, children’s wellbeing and child protection.
Nasaru is proudly community-led. By working together, we hope to create lasting change that benefits children, families and the wider community.
Nasaru is already making a difference.
With the support of our local community, we currently use a community-provided learning space where 15 children come together with one volunteer teacher to learn, play and receive a nutritious daily meal.
This space has allowed us to begin our work, but as Nasaru grows, we need a dedicated early childhood learning centre with the facilities, resources and support needed to welcome more children.
Beyond the classroom, we are working alongside families and community members to strengthen understanding of the importance of the early years and the difference education can make in a child’s life.
What exists today is just the beginning of what Nasaru hopes to achieve.
Counting with stones outside. Classes run wherever there is space.
For many children in Oltukai and surrounding Maasai communities, accessing education can be difficult.
Poverty, long distances to school, overcrowded classrooms and limited access to early childhood education can mean some children do not begin primary school until they are eight to ten years old.
The early years are an important time in a child’s development. They are when children begin developing communication and social skills, confidence, curiosity and a readiness to learn.
Starting school later can make it harder for children to adjust to the classroom and catch up with learning. For families experiencing financial hardship, children may also take on work or other responsibilities to help support their families. Without accessible education close to home, some children may miss out altogether.
Nasaru is working to address these barriers by bringing early learning closer to home and giving children the chance to begin their education earlier.
When children have the chance to learn, they have more choices for what their future can become.
Nasaru’s vision is to create a dedicated early childhood learning centre in Oltukai Village where more children can begin their education close to home.
With the support of donors and the local community, we hope to build permanent, well-equipped classrooms and child-friendly toilets, support teachers trained in early childhood education, and create a sustainable learning environment that can serve children for years to come.
But Nasaru is about more than building classrooms. We want to create something that can continue to serve children, families and the wider community for years to come.
As Nasaru grows, our goal is to welcome more than 100 children from Oltukai and surrounding communities while strengthening our child protection and community programs.
Our long-term dream is to establish a primary school, allowing children to continue their education within their own community as they grow.
From one small learning space, we hope to build something that will benefit children and families for generations to come.
“A better foundation builds a better future.”
Marina Laizer, FounderEverything we do at Nasaru is centred around the education, wellbeing and development of children.
We provide early learning for children aged approximately two to ten, helping prepare them for primary school.
We provide a welcoming environment for young children while working towards permanent classrooms and child-friendly facilities.
Every child who attends Nasaru receives nutritious porridge to support their wellbeing and encourage regular attendance.
We work alongside parents, families and local leaders to strengthen understanding of the importance of the early years.
Through play, reading, storytelling and creative activities, children develop confidence, curiosity, communication and social skills.
We work with families and the wider community to promote children’s safety, wellbeing and protection.
Nasaru has started with what we have — a community-provided learning space, one volunteer teacher and a commitment to the children and families of Oltukai.
Now, we need your help to give our children more of the resources they need to learn.
Funds raised through our current campaign will help strengthen Nasaru’s early childhood education program and improve the children’s everyday learning environment.
Donations will help us provide:
Nasaru does not yet have established funders, which means every contribution — large or small — can make a meaningful difference.
We are committed to using donations carefully and transparently and sharing updates with our supporters so they can see how funds have been used and what their generosity has helped provide.
Your support can help put books in children’s hands, provide the materials they need to learn, and give Nasaru the resources to reach more children.
There are many ways you can help Nasaru grow. Whether you give your time, share your skills, build a partnership or raise funds, your support can help us reach more children in Oltukai.
Above all, we welcome people who respect Maasai culture, value community-led change and are willing to work alongside local people.
We welcome volunteers who can contribute their experience, knowledge, time or enthusiasm.
We are particularly interested in support with:
You don’t need professional expertise to contribute. We also welcome people who are willing to share their time, creativity and ideas.
We would love to build long-term partnerships with schools, businesses, NGOs, foundations, education organisations and professionals who share our vision.
Partnerships may include expertise, educational resources, materials, funding or ongoing support. We believe the strongest partnerships begin by listening to what the community needs and working together towards shared goals.
You can support Nasaru by organising a fundraiser through your school, workplace, community group or network, or simply by sharing our story with others.
We will share photographs and updates from Nasaru so you and the people supporting your fundraiser can see the difference your contribution is helping to make.
Nasaru is built on community, connection and a shared belief in what children can achieve when they are given the chance to learn.
Marina’s connection to Oltukai began long before Nasaru.
At sixteen, while still in secondary school, Marina visited the village where her mother was born. She saw first-hand that many children were not attending school and that educational opportunities were particularly limited for girls.
The experience stayed with her.
Years later, Marina returned while studying Early Childhood Development Education. After completing her diploma, she became a teacher, gaining the knowledge and experience that would eventually help her turn an idea she had carried for years into something real.
Each time she returned to the community, she found herself asking the same question:
“How can I help my community?”
Nasaru became her answer.
As a Maasai woman, educator and member of the community, Marina understands both the barriers families face and the potential she sees in the children around her.
Today, she is building Nasaru alongside her community — creating a place where children can learn, feel supported, develop confidence and discover what they are capable of.
For Marina, Nasaru is more than an early learning centre. It is a way of investing in her community and creating possibilities for the next generation of Maasai children.
Nasaru is at the beginning of an exciting journey. What started as a vision to give more children access to early education is now growing into something that can create lasting opportunities for children and families in Oltukai.
Inspired by her experiences in Oltukai and her background in early childhood education, Marina turns her vision into action and establishes Nasaru Child Foundation. Classes begin in a community-provided learning space with 15 children and one volunteer teacher, creating the first foundations for Nasaru’s future.
Nasaru introduces its daily porridge program, providing a nutritious meal for every child who attends. Our first fundraising campaign is launched to help improve the learning environment, provide teaching and learning materials, classroom furniture and stationery, and continue growing our programs.
Our next stage is focused on strengthening our early childhood education program, improving learning facilities and resources, and building the support Nasaru needs to welcome more children.
Our vision is to create permanent, well-equipped learning facilities and eventually welcome more than 100 children from Oltukai and surrounding communities. As Nasaru grows, we hope to train and support more teachers, strengthen child protection and community programs, and continue working alongside families to make education more accessible.
Our long-term dream is to establish a primary school where children can continue their education in a safe and supportive environment close to home.
What began with 15 children is the first step towards creating educational opportunities for generations to come.
We want everyone who supports Nasaru to feel connected to the children, the community and the progress we are making. Marina shares regular updates from Oltukai, giving you a glimpse into everyday life at Nasaru and showing how your support is helping us grow.
See our daily porridge program in action and follow how your support helps us provide a nutritious meal for every child who attends.
Follow the children as they learn through numbers, reading, play and everyday activities — often making creative use of the simple resources available around them.
Hear directly from Marina about why she created Nasaru, why early childhood education matters to her community and her hopes for the children and the future of the foundation.
Every donation, partnership and act of support becomes part of Nasaru’s journey. Through our updates, you can see the difference we are creating together.
Whether you would like to volunteer, partner with Nasaru, make a donation or simply learn more about our work, Marina would love to hear from you.
When you contact Nasaru, you’ll be speaking directly with the person leading the work in Oltukai.