Donations

With your financial support you will enable implementation of our projects. Learn more about how it works. Thank you very much!

Newsletter

Our newsletter keeps you informed about our projects. You can sign up here.

Search


You are here: vsf » Media library

Media library

03.10.18

VSF-employee John Laffa wrote doctoral thesis on indigenous Maasai milk hygiene and preservation techniques in the Maasai steppe

John Laffa is working for VSF in Tanzania | © Veterinarians without Borders

The study area of John's doctoral thesis comprised the entire Maasai homeland in Tanzania | © Veterinarians without Borders

John Laffa lives in Tanzania and has been a competent employee of Veterinarians without Borders for years. The graduate expert in agriculture, livestock and animal breeding is enroled for a doctorate course in veterinary medicine at the Vetmeduni Vienna (VMU). At the Institute of Milk Hygiene at the VMU he now wrote his doctoral thesis on indigenous Maasai milk hygiene and preservation techniques.

To extend the life of their cattle's milk the Maasai rely on a special method. They keep the milk in smoke-treated calabashes (dried and hollowed gourds). Their hygiene know-how is transmitted across generations in the oral tradition. John's goal was to investigate this method and to preserve this knowledge for future generations. A total of 24 Maasai villages were visited to establish the key indigenous plants preferred and their traditional manner of use. These plants were then collected and scientifically classified. The study area comprised the entire Maasai homeland in Tanzania.

John belongs to the Sandawe who, as hunter-gatherers, have a strong understanding of nature. He has been supporting the Maasai in Tanzania for many years, is married to a Maasai woman and has two children. We are very happy to have John in our team!

 

 

More articles about this:

Insider's tip against sour milk in the East African steppe

Pharmacy in the middle of the Maasai steppe

 

Short video about smoke-treating of calabashes


zurück



Maasai-Art-Logo

NACHRICHTEN

01.02.24:

VSF International is looking for a Communication Officer

Our parent organization Vétérinaires sans Frontières International (VSF-Int) is looking for a...

17.01.24:

VSF-International is looking for experts in the field of One Health | © VSF-International

VSF International is looking for a One Health Expert and an Advocacy Officer One Health

Our parent organization Vétérinaires sans Frontières International (VSF-Int) is looking for new...

24.10.23:

f.l.t.r.: Art expert Markus Hübl, VSF-Austria president Prof. Dagmar Schoder, artist Guido Rupp. | © Veterinarians without Borders

Picture auction to benefit VSF

As part of the opening of the vernissage of the visual artist Guido Rupp, alias "GuRu", paintings...

Weitere News

VIDEOCLIPS

John Laffa sends Christmas greetings from Tanzania

Our Tanzanian employee John Laffa wishes all supporters and friends of Veterinarians without...

Steam cooking in the traditional way

Sweet potatoes are very popular in Africa. In Tanzania, many small traders sell steamed sweet...

Maasai student Lucas Moreto successfully finishes diploma course!

We congratulate our Maasai student Lucas Moreto! As reported, Lucas is studying law at the TUDARCO...

Weitere Clips
Member of the network VSF International
VSF International