About

A Maasai In America

Ole Njapit is a Maasai warrior who grew up on the plains of Africa.  His father died before he was born from malaria, something that could have been prevented very easily if medicine had been available.  But it isn’t – even today, it’s almost impossible to get, in many rural areas of Africa.  

The First Dream

And so his first dream was born – to get the schooling that would allow him to help his fellow tribesman.  He studied hard and through the help of the missionaries who raised him got into school and become a rural Health Practitioner.  This young warrior’s determination soon got him a new name - Action Jackson.

When Jackson opened a local health center, he became the only hope of his people to have medical assistance when they were in need. Many live in dire poverty and can’t afford the cost of travel to the nearest hospital, which is still many miles away. 

Jackson’s Dream – his Vision - his Passion and Hope has brought him now to America to Fundraise and to become a Balloon Pilot - so he can subsidize the clinic with more medicine and equipment.  All these dreams are coming together now...

Breaking Down Ancient Traditions

With a love in his heart to help his people even more, Jackson took on breaking down ancient traditions, which he felt were extremely dangerous, and yet have been an important part of the culture for young men and women as they become an adult. The rite of circumcision was still being performed without antiseptics or anesthesia and using jagged edge knives washed in nearby rivers.  

What Jackson set out to do created an immensely positive impact. Today, many young men are now being circumcised in the clinic.  Through the trust he gained, the people began to understand that this ancient practice is not beneficial to women's health.  Jackson believes this shift in their culture will soon support change for the women to stop FGM completely.  He also realized there were gaping holes in his ability to continue funding this work at the clinic.  He wondered what else he could do?  

The Dream of A Lifetime

The next dream was born – to become the first ever Maasai balloon pilot!  He could then show people the beauty of the surrounding areas where the animals roamed the plains – and he could make more money to fund the clinic. Jackson thought he had found the perfect resolve… until he learned what it would cost to make this happen, and he fell into a deep depression.

The dream began to fade… until, as fate would have it, he met a special person one night, out on the Mara, who arrived quite unexpectedly at his village.

Marlise Karlin was touring Africa offering programs to enrich people’s lives through the work she founded, The Simplicity of Stillness, when somehow destiny provided the perfect circumstances for them to meet.  Marlise had gotten caught in the torrential rains that flooded Kenya that winter. The rivers had become impassible and Marlise’s guide suggested the safest place they could reach was a local village, which also happened to be Action Jackson’s home.

That evening Marlise offered the Maasai warriors who had gathered round the campfire, a new experience.  The energy conveyed through the Stillness Session ignited the peace and inspiration that exists within every human being at their very core.   

A Defining Moment

It was a defining moment in Jackson’s journey that reawakened his dream of one day becoming a pilot. He invited Marlise to attend his clinic the next day and offer this Stillness to the Maasai patients, women and their children.  

Many things happened in the next months as the hope Jackson had lost was fully reawakened.  He had a renewed focus in all the areas of his life and his practice expanded. More people who heard about Jackson's selfless work, soon offered to help him with his dreams.  A group of international artists joined Marlise and committed monies from the sale of the Imagine Stillness Session CD, people who met him in their travels through Kenya also offered to send monies to support his worthwhile cause. 

In July Jackson was told he needed to use the Visa before it would run out.  Since all the monies he needed hadn't come in, he sold his car, his cows and goats to begin the next leg of his journey.  He jumped on a plane headed for California, not sure what might happen next, only that he had to follow that knowing inside that was now guiding him forward every day.

Marlise said she received an email one day with dates on it of Jackson’s arrival… within 24 hours!!  Since she doesn’t live in the same state where he was landing, she immediately reached out to the ballooning company to see if they would be able to send someone to pick him up and… said a prayer.

Imagine, never having been outside your home state or country and boarding a plane for the first time to a new world where you hope to see your dreams come true.  It is a feat of extraordinary proportions – and fueled from the heart.  

Making A Difference

Jackson is in California right now, he has worked diligently and has passed the first round of tests... he got his private license!!! Now, he is at the halfway point and he needs your support to raise the remaining monies that will allow him to complete the commercial Pilots course, and bring in more monies to support the clinic. Within the first week of meeting people in Los Angeles he met two wonderful women from the Women's Coalition for World Reform who offered to join with him in raising money to dig a water well at his clinic which will also service thousands of Maasai in the surrounding area.   

It’s rare to have an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life that you know is making a difference in many people’s lives. Jackson would love to get to know you and thank you for your contribution.  You can write to him here.  Any amount is the perfect amount. Please, Please give whatever you are able.

Dreams Can Come True

You can be an amazing support to change age-old traditions that endanger young people's lives, by making circumcision with young men medically safe, and by seeing this practice ended with women. Changing these traditions is not easy, it requires respect of the culture, trust and direct involvement in the process with the people in the tribe.  This lone man is doing the impossible and we can all take part in seeing dreams come true and in supporting change that ultimately saves lives. We invite you to donate to the Action Jackson fund here.