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My
name is Emmanuel Chui, and I used to be
a notorious wildlife
poacher.
I did it to feed
my family, but now my life's turned
around.
A few years ago,
Avaaz members helped my community create
'Nashulai', the world's first
Maasai-led conservation area. Now I work as a
wildlife ranger, helping to protect the animals
I once hunted.
At Nashulai, we can
earn a living, educate our children, and are
building a vibrant community that lives
alongside abundant wildlife. We've cleaned the
rivers, and revived an ancient elephant birthing
ground -- 25 baby elephants were born
last year!
But I'm
writing because now it's all under
threat.
Costs are soaring and
tourism hasn't recovered since the pandemic. Yet
we're blocked from most conservation
funds because they're reserved for
traditional, human-free wildlife parks. These
reserves displace my people, pushing us into
slums and shanty towns. Without funds, we face
the same future -- some of us already work
temporarily without pay.
Avaaz members
were pivotal before -- now we're humbly asking
again.
Your donation will keep
our beautiful conservancy alive, supporting
wildlife, and thousands of Maasai
families, like mine. It would help pay
our rangers, fund nature restoration, and
provide community healthcare. You'll also be
powering Avaaz campaigns for Indigenous rights
around the world.
We, Maasai, are the
guardians of vanishing grasslands, rivers, and
wildlife. But we can't do it alone.
Please donate what you can now:
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