Our Mission
In collaboration with the Across Maasai Land Initiative, the Joseph Thomson Maasai Trust is dedicated to enhancing the life chances of girls and young women. Through joint efforts, we aim to provide essential resources, education, and support that empower young females in the Maasai community. Together, we strive to create a brighter future where every girl can realise her potential and her dreams. Join us in making a difference to the lives these remarkable
OUR Five Year Plan
With almost ten years of positive action, especially for Maasai Girls Education and community aid to our credit, we decided it was time to lay out our stall and plan ahead.
Our Five Year Plan is the result and we gladly commend it to you. In it you`ll find out about how we operate as a registered charity, our priorities, succession planning, and our partnerships which make it all happen effectively.
It is available free in hard copy, from Peter Wright, Hon Sec, address below.
OUR TRUSTEES
John Hastings Thomson Chair
William Williamson Vice chair
Maureen Halkett Treasurer
Peter Wright General secretary
Anne Robertson Minute secretary & membership
Richard Horsburgh Social media
Jane Harlow
Maggie Green
Mark Smith
Alison Lane
Irene Bews
Ally Sangster
Sophia Harkness
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Please consider helping us to deliver on our great mission by becoming a trustee yourself. Your commitement, vision and skills will be warmly appreciated as we move forward into the implimentation of the Five Year Plan.
The secretary will be happy to discuss this with you.
We have four Board meeting each year, and these are usually held in Penpont, Dumfriesshire.
With nearly a decade of experience behind us, we are excited to roll out our Education Outreach initiative, bringing numerous benefits to our community. Our Five Year Plan, which we agreed and launched in 2023 is now in motion, as we work to enhance our social media presence and forge new partnerships. Looking ahead, we are eagerly anticipating a visit by Maasai Elder, Ezekiel Katato from Kajiado later in 2025. We have come a long way in just a few years and take pride in our accomplishments.
JTMT Trustee MINI Bios
Here, you`ll find a great diversity of talent, with a fine diversity of both skills and experience. We`d like to add to it though, and grow the organisation; our Maasai Girls Education Project is ethical, and truly life-transforming in its` outcomes.
​Irene Bews: Retired teacher of many years, counsellor, outdoor experiential education consultant, worldwide adventurer /educator leading expeditions with young people from Greenland to Central America and everywhere in between! Duke of Edinburgh`s Award trainer, supervisor and assessor. Joint partner of Adventurascotland with Ally Sangster.
Maggie Green:
Maureen Halket: Maureen Halkett has been the treasurer of the Trust from the beginning. She has a wide range of knowledge, skills and experience gleaned from a varied career in social work, education and the voluntary sector before becoming self-employed running a smokehouse and the local tearoom. She is currently the chair of KPT Development trust (Keir, Penpont, Tynron).
Jane Harlow: Retired Occupational Therapist. Now involved with supporting and fundraising for The JT Maasai Trust. Also supporting and fundraising for the Church of England, St Peter's in Belper and The Smiles foundation Rumania. Green activist and Councillor on Belper Town Council , Derbyshire.
Sophia Harkness: Sophia Harkness is a well-known and well-respected retired primary school teacher. She is one of the original founding members of the Joseph Thomson Group in Penpont and is the president of that group. In 2016 Sophia received an honorary fellowship from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in recognition of her work in promoting the life and legacy of Joseph Thomson.
John Hastings-Thomson: Was the youngest member of the Thomson Family at Joseph Thomson Centenary Celebrations in Thornhill in 1958. Climbed and walked throughout Britain, progressing to mountaineering in the Alps and beyond. Also skiing, white water and sea canoeing and windsurfing. Qualified as a teacher with a particular interest in Outdoor and Residential Education, leading groups on trips throughout Britain. Was contacted by Ezekiel in 2012 through the Joseph Thomson Group in Penpont about the possibility of walking in the footsteps of Joseph Thomson’s third Expedition. The walk took place in May 2014 through the good offices of a Dutch Peace Group, Master Peace. Returned in 2015 with Maggie Green and Jane Harlow. The walks led to a firm friendship with Ezekiel resulting in two visits to the UK in 2015 and 2016 and the founding of the Joseph Thomson Maasai Trust. The principle focus to be funding Maasai Girls Secondary and Higher Education.
Richard Horsburgh: Has worked and climbed around the world including Himalaya and Africa`s two highest mountains, Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Passionate about family, friends and planet, the outdoors and everyone`s entitlement to basic human rights, including education.
Alison Lane:
​Anne Robertson: Long retired secondary school teacher, recently retired Scottish Tourist Guide, still active Scottish Country dance teacher. Volunteer at David Livingstone Birthplace, Blantyre, and as a guide in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Born and raised in Lanarkshire, also worked in Dumfriesshire and Argyll before returning home.
Ally Sangster: Retired headteacher. Summer, Winter and International Mountain Leader. Bagged all the Munros at least once over, most twice. Outdoor experiential education consultant, worldwide adventurer/educator leading expeditions with young people from Greenland to Central America and everywhere in between! Duke of Edinburgh`s Award trainer, supervisor and assessor. Joint partner of Adventurascotland with Irene Bews.
Mark Smith:
William Williamson: A native of Dumfriesshire, William studied music in Edinburgh before taking up a teaching post in Moffat. William is also a freelance entertainer and broadcaster and has been Chair of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. His charity work has included travelling to Croatia with Dumfries and Galloway Action in the 1990`s. He is Chair of the village hall committee of Amisfield and is a member of JTMT in recognition of his cousin Joseph Thomson.
Peter Wright MBE: Author, charities activist, retired youth worker - latterly Manager of the Duke of Edinburgh`s Award Unit in the City of Edinburgh, family historian, adventurer, long distance bike-camper, charity fundraiser, youth programmes development, see: www.polymathpetewright.com. Love affair with the landscapes of Scotland.
joseph thomson - explorer
