Gender Equality Kenya Project #8946

Daraja Academy for Exceptional Kenyan Girls

by Daraja Education Fund

Daraja Academy for Exceptional Kenyan Girls

Project Report | Nov 22, 2013
Results from the First Class of Daraja Graduates

By Jenni Doherty | Founder

Betty, Valedictorian & #1 Girl in the District

After a stellar performance in Kenya's National examinations and an inspiring journey through Daraja's unique Tranistion Program, Daraja's first class of graduates are ready to create their futures!

The UN Girls' Education Initiative has recognized Daraja Academy as an effective and innovative organization in “breaking the mold of Girls’ Empowerment”. Read the story here!

International Day of the Girl and The Girl Declaration

Daraja Girls celebrated International Day of the Girl by signing the Girl Declaration. It is a statement written by 508 girls living in poverty around the world with the expertise of more than 25 leading development organizations, declaring the power and strength of girls, in order to be included in the world’s next development agenda.

So on Friday, 11 October 2013 Daraja students broke into small groups and read the declaration aloud. They discussed what it meant to them, then decided to put their names to it. Check out this video to read the declaration and see the girls declare their support!

Outcomes & Impact

The Daraja Academy students are given the tools and resources to be the voices for other young women and girls in their country. Upon graduation, they will be powerful women with the capacity, experience and global understanding to be Kenya's future female leaders.

In August, Daraja celebrated its first graduating class. In the few months since graduation, out of 25 girls there are

11 Students enrolled in University or College in 2014.
10 Students working in local businesses to “earn and save money for college”.

Daraja changes girls’ lives by investing in their personal potential. If this is where they are only a few months after graduation, imagine what these girls will be achieving in 5 years!

Links:

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Apr 9, 2013
Daraja Team Runs Bay to Breakers

By Daraja Team | Daraja Academy

Jan 8, 2013
Daraja girls return to school this Monday!

By Daraja Team | Daraja Academy

Mr. Charles with the students

The school year in Kenya begins in January and the girls will be returning Saturday to prepare. To celebrate, we've highlighted some of our favorite stories about the driven young women that will be stepping into the classroom on Monday.

Mary woke up at 4 in the morning each day so that all of her chores could be done by the time the sun came up so that she could use every hour of daylight to study during Primary School.

Due to a constant teacher absence, Shamsia and her fellow students formed a study group in which the students would teach each other the lessons.

Ann often expressed her desire for an education to her guardians, but unfortunately, they didn't realize the value of education. But Ann knew in her heart that was the way to a better future for her. Even without her guardian's support, she went to school early each day, asking her class teachers for help, and then studied at home as much as she could around her numerous chores as she cared for 4 little ones while her mother worked in the farm.

Teddy was taken out of school months at a time due to her uncle’s inability to pay school fees. Despite this, she continued to volunteer for and manage responsibilities of major leadership roles at her school including head prefect, Christian Union president, Health Club president and the Scout Troupe leader.

Doreen managed to get a 310/360 on her KCPE at the end of Class 8, despite the fact that her primary school was so dilapidated that students didn't need to use the doors to pass between classrooms - they could merely traverse through holes in the walls. Today, she's on of the top students in her class (she'll be in Form 2 in January).

Yvonne is from Nanyuki, and had been attending secondary school for half a year when her aunt got sick and couldn't afford to pay her tuition anymore. One day Yvonne noticed Doreen in town wearing a Daraja shirt. She followed her into a grocery store and when Doreen finished shopping Yvonne approached her and asked for her number because she wanted to know about Daraja. She called her daily, and finally Doreen told her how to get to Daraja and how much public transit would cost. Yvonne got a job doing casual labor - digging for farmers - and saved up enough matatu fare to go to and from the school, where she went and asked to attend.

Fatuma attended Class 8 in Nakuru, but the teachers had a habit of missing class. So, she started teaching class whenever the teachers didn't show up.

These are the type of ambitious and determined girls that you are helping to support in the 2013 school year. Thank you for giving them access to further their education!

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