Meet the Team

Project Coordination Team - Australia

Kristy Thomson, Director

Kristy is a wildlife ecologist with 27+ years field experience. Kristy leads the day to day operation of The Maarifa Foundation and runs the Australian office of Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini Camps. As Director, she also leads the annual small group Maarifa Safari to Kenya each year.

Alex Penn, Director

Alex is an Environmental Officer with a background in ecological consulting. With experience ranging from the Kenya Study Tour with Griffith University to ongoing work with the Maarifa Foundation, Alex’s commitment deepens within the government sector, enhancing land management and advocating sustainable practices.

Prof Darryl Jones, Director

Alex is an Environmental Officer with a background in ecological consulting. With experience ranging from the Kenya Study Tour with Griffith University to ongoing work with the Maarifa Foundation, Alex’s commitment deepens within the government sector, enhancing land management and advocating sustainable practices.

Elyssa McLeod, Director

Alex is an Environmental Officer with a background in ecological consulting. With experience ranging from the Kenya Study Tour with Griffith University to ongoing work with the Maarifa Foundation, Alex’s commitment deepens within the government sector, enhancing land management and advocating sustainable practices.

David Taylor, Committee

Retired after a long career in advertising and media management and sales working in newspapers and advertising agencies. Passion for bird and wildlife photography, music and African safaris. Experienced traveller on the African continent including Kenya and thrilled to be able to give back supporting education for Maasai kids.

Project Coordination Team - Kenya

Ben Tongoyo

Joyce Sente Silonkoi is a maasai girl from a humble background with all sort of Africans culture and traditions. Her father was polygamous  with majority of his  kids used to look after cows and were not able to get education due to financial shortages. She is the second last in a family of 15 and attended primary school  and secondary school before working with Green Teachers as an adults education teacher, then as a Nursery teacher. In 2020 Joyce was employed by The Maarifa foundation as our very first educator, teaching at Illoireo Primary School.

Daniel Mamai

Joyce Sente Silonkoi is a maasai girl from a humble background with all sort of Africans culture and traditions. Her father was polygamous  with majority of his  kids used to look after cows and were not able to get education due to financial shortages. She is the second last in a family of 15 and attended primary school  and secondary school before working with Green Teachers as an adults education teacher, then as a Nursery teacher. In 2020 Joyce was employed by The Maarifa foundation as our very first educator, teaching at Illoireo Primary School.

Maarifa Educators

Joyce Sente

Joyce Sente Silonkoi is a maasai girl from a humble background with all sort of Africans culture and traditions. Her father was polygamous  with majority of his  kids used to look after cows and were not able to get education due to financial shortages. She is the second last in a family of 15 and attended primary school  and secondary school before working with Green Teachers as an adults education teacher, then as a Nursery teacher. In 2020 Joyce was employed by The Maarifa foundation as our very first educator, teaching at Illoireo Primary School.

Angella Setek

Angella is a teacher of 15 years, and the last 6 years at Kishermoruak Primary School. Angella is from the local Narok North community and is a valued member of the Maarifa family since 2023.

Danson Shololo

Shololo Danson is a dedicated teacher at Oloibormurt Primary School, where he also leads the Mazingira Club, focusing on environmental conservation. He hails from the border of Olkinyei Conservancy and has a deep passion for nature, actively working to promote and preserve the environment.

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Masai Advisory Committees

Maasai Advisory Committees are established at each school, chaired by our Project Coordinators and represented by representative men and women of the school community.

Inclusion is a cornerstone of our philosophy and is integral to our success. Our work is always driven from within the community. 

Education Bursaries