Moses Letura: Giving Mara children a lens to tell their own stories

In the Masai Mara, wildlife and culture photographer and cinematographer Moses Letura is using his passion for imaging and storytelling to help young people discover the possibilities behind the lens.

Alongside managing the Canon Experience Centre at JW Marriott Masai Mara, Moses dedicates his personal time to the local Maasai community, introducing children to photography, giving them hands-on experience with Canon equipment and sharing his knowledge.

Through practical guidance and mentorship, Moses is helping young people develop photography and storytelling skills, encouraging them to explore their creativity and discover new ways to see and document the world around them.

That commitment is also visible beyond the sessions themselves, in the relationships Moses has built with the community over time.

"During my family visit to the Masai Mara, I had the opportunity to spend time with Moses and understand more about the work he does beyond the Canon Experience Centre," said Somesh Adukia, Managing Director, Canon Central and North Africa.

"What stayed with me was his personal commitment to giving his time and knowledge back to the community, particularly to young people who may otherwise have limited opportunities to explore photography and visual storytelling. That impact became even more meaningful when I heard directly from the Maasai community about how Moses continues to return, connect with the children and encourage them to discover their own stories through photography. Access to technology matters, but it is people like Moses who willingly share their knowledge, time and passion who turn that access into opportunity," adds Somesh.

Before they learn to take a photograph, Moses teaches young people how to see.

Through the camera lens, the familiar becomes worth noticing – the glow of dawn, the intricate beads of a necklace, the quiet expression on a grandparent's face. Moses shows his students how to frame a moment, adjust the settings and capture it. When the image appears on screen, curiosity turns into discovery, and discovery into confidence.

"Access to technology matters, but it is people like Moses who willingly share their knowledge, time and passion who turn that access into opportunity"

For Moses, the camera is not simply a piece of technology. It is a tool for self-expression and a way for young people to tell their own stories.

His own journey began through the Canon Miraisha Programme, which opened the door to photography and gave him access to equipment that might otherwise have been out of reach.

Today, through the Canon Experience Centre, he can offer that same opportunity to children in the Mara, giving them hands-on experience with cameras, lenses and imaging technology.

Moses's connection to the landscape runs deep. As a child, he walked barefoot to school and herded livestock across the Mara.

Today, he captures its wildlife, landscapes and everyday moments, from a lion surveying its territory to a shared smile in the village.

Now, he is passing that perspective on.

With every photograph, young people are learning not only how to capture their world, but how to tell its story, in their own words, through their own eyes.