Honor Your Loved Ones by Planting a Legacy Tree in Olmoti, Kenya

Click here to view total funds raised to date.
(Visit this page if you wish to donate less than $50).

About This Program

Supported by over 400 individual donors, the Global Linkages Water Project brought a deep borehole well to Olmoti, a Maasai community near Amboseli, Kenya. This community was affected by a 3-year drought which decimated livestock herds and pushed water points farther away.

In 2023, a partnership was formed between Global Linkages and Water is Life Kenya, a US-based nonprofit that has been supporting Maasai communities in this region for over 18 years. Since then, a dedicated group of Global Linkages Fundraising Ambassadors have mobilized their friends, families, and networks to support the project.

In total, this effort has raised over $102,000!

This borehole is now providing a sustainable, reliable water supply to Olmoti, and is helping them plan for the future. To learn more about this project, visit the campaign page at https://waterislifekenya.org/global.

An Olmoti resident planting a tree as a part of Olmoti's re-greening effort.

Introducing the Global Linkages Legacy Garden

With water now available, the Olmoti community has been dreaming of how to use the water to re-green their environment. To make this possible, Global Linkages, Water is Life Kenya, and Olmoti have established the Global Linkages Legacy Garden.

This garden will have two features:

1. Legacy Trees: Individuals can honor their loved ones by donating trees which will be planted in the garden. A dedication ceremony will be held when Global Linkages travelers visit in October 2025.
2. Maasai History: The garden will harbor medicinal trees, carefully chosen by Maasai elders experienced in traditional medicine. This garden will keep their history alive, creating a local attraction for Kenyan travelers.

Every donation will receive an honorary postcard to recognize that a tree will be planted. Each tree will be dedicated to one person, either living or deceased, and honoree name(s) will be displayed in the garden. Please share your loved one's name(s) in the Donor Scroll box when making your donation (additional space available after clicking "Donate").

Acacia trees are popular trees in this region. They provide shade to people, homes for birds, and food for giraffes. Full of medicinal benefits, these native trees are cherished by the Maasai.

Olmoti's Ambitious Tree-Planting Initiative

Throughout Kenya, re-greening efforts have taken effect as communities do their part to mitigate the effects of climate change, drought, and deforestation. With the borehole water, Olmoti plans to sustain thousands of trees around their surrounding area. This initiative will quell the negative effects of climate change and restore Olmoti's natural environment.

The grove will also give Maasai elders a chance to pass on their knowledge about the planted trees and their medicinal properties. It will represent and follow Maasai healing practices in an effort to keep them alive. In this way, the grove will benefit the community both now and in the future.

Ways to Donate

• Click "Donate" on this web page.
• Donate via PayPal by clicking here.
  • If using PayPal, please allow us to see your name and email so we can acknowledge you.
• Send an ACH wire transfer (contact us).
• Send us a check with your honoree names to our mailing address:
  
  Water is Life Kenya
  314 E. Main St.
  Kelway Plaza, Suite 2
  Newark, DE 19711

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the trees be planted?

The trees will be planted in the Global Linkages Legacy Garden, a designated plot of land near the Olmoti Community Borehole. Olmoti is located just south of Amboseli National Park in Kenya, East Africa.

What will the garden look like?
The garden will have an entrance, a welcome sign listing supporters, and a walking path that will pass through to the groves of legacy trees. At each grove, a sign will indicate the individuals honored.

Who will take care of the trees?
The trees will be cared for by members of the Olmoti community. The Water Management Committee, mothers, and their children will determine who is responsible for which trees.

What kind of trees will be planted?
The Olmoti community will decide which types of trees will be planted. They know best which trees will help their community and the local environment.

How will the trees be dedicated?
A formal Global Linkages dedication ceremony will be held in October of 2025. Honoree names will be displayed at the site of the well. Each tree will be dedicated to one person.