Elephant Matriarchs - Perfect Role Models

Elephant matriarch project helps mothers claim their futures as matriarchs by preparing them for leadership and meaningful careers protecting africa's elephants

Support the Project Our Mission

The Story Behind the Project

In rural Kenya and throughout Africa, teenage pregnancy is rampant. This means loss of access to careers, income, and independence.

At the same time, every day numbers of majestic elephants of Africa face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.

The Elephant Matriarch Project exists because these two problems share one solution.

A New Future For Matriarchs - Both Human and Elephant

Elephant Matriarch Project helps young matriarchs reclaim their futures through education, mentorship, and conservation training, so they can grow into the strong matriarchs they are meant to be. They will be enabled to participate in and lead the growing effort to save Africa's wildife.

Thus, in the village of Kajire, Kenya, on the edge of Tsavo National Park, two futures are being rewritten: students who once believed their education had ended are preparing for meaningful careers protecting Africa's elephants. Like the elephants they help to protect, they also become strong leaders and role models. And elephants experience a higher level of protection and respect from locals.

The mission of the Elephant Matriarch Project: is to enable a future where young mothers become both powerful matriarchs and local leaders fighting for their future and for those of the majestic elephants.

The Elephant Matriarch Learning Center

Our Learning Center is built and ready. We're now preparing to welcome our first class of students. This is where the work happens. We enable matriarchs to continue their education, and in the process learn about careers protecting the elephants.

Wildlife experts and conservation professionals transfer their knowledge, skills and confidence needed for our students to become the next generation of environmental and community leaders.

Building Careers that Protect Elephants

Every student follows a path based on her unique strengths and interests, but every path leads toward protecting elephants.

Graduates can become wildlife rangers who guide and protect elephants in the field. Or they will educate local communities, support conservation research, work as docents for tourists, all while advocating to protect wildlife.

By preparing matriarchs for meaningful careers, we're creating a growing network of active environmentalists helping to protect Africa's elephants.

A Strong Future For Women. A Strong Future For Elephants.

When mothers are given the oppprtunity to succeed, entire communities become stronger. When local communities lead conservation, elephants have an excellent chance to thrive.

The Founders

Georja Umano

American animal activist and award-winning writer Georga Umano discovered the reality of many African rural girls' lives being upended while elephants simultaneously lose their lives and ancestral homes. 1+1 = new possibilites for both.

Read Georja's SPARK Magazine Feature

Roseline Mwake

Elephant lover, administrator and mother of three, Roseline Mwake, enlisted village leaders - her grandparents - to donate land for the first EMP school in Kenya.

Hari Rama

Director of the Africa Child charity for unwed mothers and high-level government engineer Hari Rama have helped establish and guide the school building project plans, using local talent.

Amos Karbolo

Masai warrior Amos Karbolo, esteemed head teacher at Mara Girls Leadership School, and others relish reaching out to help more students become conservationists while uplifting elephants.

Abdoulrahman Farouk

Abdoulrahman Farouk is a well-respected local animal and environmental activist who often leads his community in dedicating his knowledge and skills to Elephant Matriarch Project, while also uplifting elephants.