Maasai Girls Rescue Center EntityMap

The Maasai Girls Rescue Center (MGRC) rescues Maasai girls from FGM, forced child marriage and extreme poverty in Northern Tanzania. Girls live at our 15-acre Maasai ecoVillage in Karatu, where they receive safe housing, schooling, healthcare, counseling and vocational training. Our social enterprise, the Maasai ecoLodge, helps fund the work.

MGRC is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit in the United States. It is a registered non-government organization (NGO) in Tanzania. MGRC is governed by a USA board and a Tanzania board.

To rescue and transform the lives of at-risk Maasai girls by providing food and clothing, shelter, medical attention, counseling, education and training in a loving, familial, and safe environment. We purposely and intentionally prepare the girls for a future of financial independence and self-sufficiency.

75% of MGRC girls rank in the top 25% of their class academically. Our first graduates have completed vocational internships and become self-sufficient members of the local Tanzanian community.

Strategic Partnerships: Fundraising and marketing infrastructure are fully funded by GrowthPoint Inc.

The organization would be volunteer run and managed. The only paid employees will be Tanzanians who provide the care for the girls. All administrative costs would be absorbed by angel donors or by GrowthPoint Inc. 100% of private donations would go to the care of the girls.

Our first step was to partner with a global leader in community development with experience creating designs and plans in East Africa. We set up a pro bono partnership with ClarkeHopkinsClarke, a globally renowned architectural and community development firm in Australia.

Together, we designed a Masterplan for MGRC that eventually will include homes for about 120 girls, a preschool, clinic, a vocational training area, dining hall, administration building, volunteer living quarters, and a farm.

The Larson Foundation, established in 2012, is dedicated to being a catalyst for meaningful change. Communities around the world, including Maasai Girls Rescue Center, have been positively impacted by the Foundation’s contributions towards investing in the future. Its mission, Empowering All to Flourish, embraces the transformative power of giving back, while building a future where financial success is synonymous with social responsibility.

Thanks to the generosity of the Larson Financial Foundation out of St Louis MO, MGRC now has its own secure water system.

Tanzania has had four dry rainy seasons since late 2020, causing the worst drought in 40 years. Consequently, our government water supply was very intermittent and unreliable.

The grant from the Larson Financial Foundation was a true Godsend! This project was completed on schedule and below budget.

The staff, board, volunteers and the girls of Maasai Girls Rescue Center are eternally grateful for the support and generosity of the Larson Foundation. Having a dependable source of clean water has been a game changer for our girls.

Maasai Girls Rescue Center (MGRC) was born of an idea Rick Morro had after being introduced to the Maasai on a church short term mission trip to Africa. He was introduced to the poverty and yet ever-smiling faces of the children.

July 2017, Rick officially opened and welcomed 4 young girls to the Maasai Girls Rescue Center.

MGRC was founded by American Rick Morro. He was so inspired by the needs he observed while visiting Tanzania on a church-sponsored trip in 2012, that he went home, sold everything and returned to Tanzania.

Our GoFundMe for cows caught the attention of an old work associate, Bruce Hammond. Bruce is the founder of GrowthPoint Inc., a marketing services company. Bruce offered his company’s services pro bono to build and manage the website, provide fundraising services, and develop and manage the MGRC business system.

Bruce became the USA Board Chair, leading the organization.

At this time Joyce Hammond, the Treasurer of GrowthPoint, volunteered to be the Treasurer of MGRC and provide all the financial and accounting needs.

Elisante Loi Laizer brings a wealth of experience and passion as MGRC’s on-site director. With a strong background in hospitality management, Elisante has honed his skills in leadership, financial oversight, and operational efficiency. His seven years of experience managing teams and overseeing budgets have prepared him well for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

He joined the organization in 2021, drawn to Rick’s vision of empowering young Maasai girls. As our dedicated on-site director, Elisante has contributed significantly to MGRC’s growth and success.

I have known Elisante for a long time. He has volunteered at MGRC for the past four years and has extensive management experience from running a local hotel. He also has a thorough understanding of local government regulations.

He brings energy and cultural knowledge, an ability to navigate complex government systems, and the skill of building relationships with our local government, community and schools.

The Maasai ecoVillage is our 15-acre rescue and development center in the scenic hills of Karatu District, Northern Tanzania. It provides a safe, nurturing home where rescued girls can heal, learn, and grow. The ecoVillage includes housing for 120 girls, an organic ecoFarm that teaches agricultural skills, educational facilities, a career training center, and the Maasai ecoLodge (our social enterprise that generates revenue to support operations).

To further our mission of empowering Maasai girls and fostering sustainable development, we’ve established the Maasai ecoVillage. Located in the scenic hills of Karatu, this innovative project features eco-friendly housing, educational facilities, sustainable agricultural initiatives, and community spaces.

More than 75 girls call our 15-acre ecoVillage home.

After two years of looking for land to build a new home, we found the perfect spot. Fifteen acres in the town of Karatu Tanzania, about a seven-hour drive from Longido Tanzania. Karatu is centrally located between many world class national parks in Africa bringing in thousands of global tourists.

The Maasai ecoLodge is a 12-villa luxury lodge in Karatu, on the road between Lake Manyara, Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater. It opened in early 2026, alongside the new Maasai Culture Center. 100% of profits cover the operational costs for the Maasai Girls Rescue Center.

Through our ecoLodge social enterprise, we generate revenue that covers operational costs, ensuring 100% of donations go directly to the girls.

By the fall of 2021, we were harvesting vegetables, producing milk and eggs, to feed our girls. Today the ecoFarm produces 90% of all food to feed all of the girls and staff at 25% of the cost vs. buying from the local market. The girls are eating healthier and are learning modern farming.

All of our food, except grains, is sustainably produced on site at the ecoFarm, including vegetables, fruit, milk, and meat utilizing modern farming technology—zero-grazing, hydroponics, aquaponics, and a bio-gas system for energy.

Fresh meals from our ecoFarm, home to more than 1,000 fruit trees, a dairy and hundreds of hens

100% of every dollar donated goes directly to the care of the girls. Operational expenses are covered separately through our sustainable social enterprise initiatives including the ecoLodge and ecoFarm.

Each evening brings a Maasai show at the firepit, and every stay includes a scheduled Culture Center experience.

Learn about their customs, traditions, and way of life through our cultural immersion programs at the Maasai Culture Center

Every girl moves through three stages, with an individual plan built around her strengths. Rescue. Immediate safety for girls fleeing FGM, child marriage, abuse or abandonment: a home, medical care and trauma counseling. Educate. Preschool through secondary school, plus training in agriculture, hospitality and business. Empower. Leadership, life skills and career preparation, so graduates can earn a living and lead change at home.

What we do goes beyond rescue; it’s about holistic development and empowerment. We rescue vulnerable Maasai girls from extreme poverty, FGM, and child marriage, then deliver complete support at every stage of their journey.

MGRC operates on a unique model that emphasizes long-term financial independence and self-determination for girls. Instead of permanent charity, we employ an entrepreneurial approach, empowering young women to become catalysts for lasting generational change within their communities, aligning with their individual interests, talents, and abilities.

Everyone has heard the proverb “Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.” The Maasai Girls Rescue Center (MGRC) in Tanzania is putting that proverb into action, but with an addition. Beyond teaching its students to “fish,” it’s providing them with a “fishing pole”; the tools, skills and environment to become self-sufficient.

100% of every dollar donated goes directly to the care of the girls. Operational expenses are covered separately through our sustainable social enterprise initiatives including the ecoLodge and ecoFarm.

Projects like the ecoVillage represent a major departure from the traditional forms of aid to Africa. They overcome the caustic, unintended consequences of aid, creating local trade rather than destroying local economies, and create a pathway to long-term independence.

The 100% Promise: 100% of public donations go directly to the care of the girls.

Zero Admin Costs: Our leadership is comprised of unpaid volunteers, and all administrative expenses are covered by dedicated angel donors.

Local Investment: The only salaries paid from donations go to our Tanzanian staff who provide direct, daily care for the girls.

This is possible because our Founder, President, Board of Directors, Angel Donors, and Marketing/Fundraising team members are all unpaid volunteers, resulting in zero charity management expenses. We promise never to use public donations for administration or fundraising.

Our child sponsorships are available on a monthly or annual basis, and can be full or partial. A detailed expense summary is provided on our financial page. Sponsorships cover nutritious food, quality housing, immediate and ongoing medical care, clothing and shoes, school supplies, and education/enrollment fees for a local school.

When you sponsor a Maasai girl, you’re more than just a financial supporter. You become a mentor and friend, offering guidance, encouragement, and a broader perspective on life.

Opportunity to connect: Enjoy the chance to connect with your sponsored girl through letters, emails, video chats, or even a visit (if possible).

The volunteer programs at Maasai Girls Rescue Center offer a unique opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of Maasai girls through education, healthcare, and community support.

We rely on volunteers for our daily operations and to achieve our goals in empowering Maasai girls. Volunteering in Tanzania involves hard work, adapting to new tasks, and being comfortable with getting dirty. We can accommodate 2-4 volunteers at a time, assigning them tasks based on their skills and interests.

The $100 per day room and board fee includes a clean room with two bunk beds and three meals a day served in our dining hall.

Yes, there are many volunteer opportunities to share your time and talent from the comfort of your home. We welcome writers, social media ambassadors, fundraising experts, creative talent, marketing experts, content producers, and more.

While both Maasai boys and girls undergo circumcision, for girls, the term refers to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). These procedures are harsh and performed on children without their consent. For girls, the procedure is significantly more invasive and dangerous, carrying a much higher risk of immediate complications or death.

In Tanzania, about 99% of Maasai girls undergo this procedure. If the father insists, it is extremely difficult for a girl to refuse his orders unless she has a safe place to escape to.

Yes, FGM is illegal in Tanzania. While the government historically tolerated certain Maasai traditions, including FGM and early marriage, they are now more strictly enforcing the law. Enforcement often relies on reports from pastors, school officials, or the girls themselves.

Maasai girls face significant barriers due to prevailing socio-cultural practices that undermine their rights. These include forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and early marriages. A key challenge is that many parents receive dowry before girls can complete their primary or secondary education, severely impacting their access to schooling.

By equipping girls with academic skills and career pathways toward economic independence, we break the cycle that leads to early marriage. Our girls gain the resources and confidence to become self-sufficient women who can make their own life choices.