Humanculture is a global Indigenous-led nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization advancing sustainable development, cultural preservation, and human rights for African and Indigenous communities in remote and under-resourced regions. Founded by development executive Stephanie Zabriskie, the organization works to expand access to safe water, food systems, education, health services, women’s economic autonomy, and cultural representation through long-term, community-led initiatives.
The organization began in northern Tanzania with the launch of the Maasai Water Project, an initiative addressing chronic water scarcity, educational barriers, and gender-based inequalities in Maasai communities. The project provides safe water infrastructure, agricultural systems, preschool development, health resources, and programs that increase women’s participation in local decision-making. Today, the Maasai Water Project is recognized as Humanculture’s flagship initiative and an example of Indigenous-led development in action.
Humanculture’s work expanded across additional regions, including Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Madagascar, Morocco, Cambodia, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Peru, where the organization partners with local leadership to develop community-designed solutions aligned with local priorities and cultural values. Projects emphasize decolonial frameworks, self-determination, and sustainable systems that build long-term resilience rather than dependency.
In 2024, Humanculture organized The Untold Story, an Indigenous-led art exhibition hosted at the Oculus at One World Trade Center in New York City. Curated by Stephanie Zabriskie, the exhibition highlighted African and Indigenous representation through visual storytelling, while raising awareness for the Maasai Water Project and the broader cultural and ecological challenges faced by Indigenous populations.
Humanculture’s approach reflects the belief that sustainable development requires cultural stewardship and local agency, not external intervention. Its programs contribute to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including clean water and sanitation, zero hunger, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities.
Humanculture maintains a growing network of partnerships with organizations supporting menstrual health, education materials, sustainable agriculture, and community health. The organization is currently expanding its global programs with the goal of increasing access to essential services, amplifying Indigenous leadership, and strengthening ecosystems that support the life, land, and culture of remote communities worldwide.
Learn More
Humanculture website: https://www.humanculture.org
GlobalGiving profile: https://www.globalgiving.org/donate/105404/humanculture/
WikiCharities profile: https://www.wikicharities.org/nonprofit/USA/84-3253189
EverybodyWiki page: https://en.everybodywiki.com/Humanculture
Maasai Water Project: https://humanculture.org/maasaiwaterproject
The Untold Story Exhibition: https://nypost.com/2024/03/29/lifestyle/nyc-events-this-week-solar-eclipse-viewing-buzzy-restaurants-more/