Daraja just ain’t Daraja without her students.

I am sorry for the lull in the postings, Daraja was busy hosting two of its most important supporters – 2 year old Kaia Raisdana and her assistant Jabiz. It was wonderful and we all miss you both. Next time bring mom.

I hoped that all of the Daraja Academy staff and students would build lasting bonds, but I did not think that it would happen quite so fast. Term I ended and the students returned home for a well-deserved break on April 4th. I can personally testify that this place just is not the same with out them. I miss their laughter, their questions, their genuine excitement about trying new things… I miss their energy.

The wonderful thing is that the rest of the staff, from Peter Wathitu to the night guard miss them as well. Of course, this shouldn’t be a surprise; we always said, “Daraja Academy existed. There were 150 acres with dormitories, classroom blocks, guest houses etc. but that it missed one very important thing… it was missing its soul.”

I am happy to say that the soul will return to campus in 8 days, and just short of counting them with charcoal lines on the wall, we ARE counting them. On the 25th of April they will converge from all parts of Kenya. Trickling in from the hills west of Eldoret on the Ugandan border, from the parched, baobab dotted lands outside Makindu on the Mombasa Highway.

They will come from their homes; some made of tin, others made of cattle dung and thatch, but the will come and they will be coming to Daraja. To Daraja Academy, their second home, and they will be coming with smiles on their beautiful young faces.

If you were in our shoes, what special touch, club, event would you offer the students in Term II to make it both memorable and valuable?

(I know that I ask this often, but this time if you could oblige, the students and I would be for ever grateful: If reading these posts, or simply

the idea that is Daraja Academy resonates with you, please take a moment and tell your friends online about us and if it isn’t too much trouble, please comment and let me know if you did so. This is a very small thing, but it would mean A LOT to me: a guy living in “the bush”, with out a tv, news papers, a refrigerator etc. with an very slowwwwww internet connection a 20 mile drive away, it would really mean a lot.)

Thanks for your support

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Filed under From the Founder : Comments (7) : Apr 17th, 2009

7 Responses to “Daraja just ain’t Daraja without her students.”

  1. wmchamberlain Says:
    April 17th, 2009 at 12:07 PM

    You are not alone, I have been following the Academy since I hear about it on Twitter from Jabiz. I wish I had more on-line clout so that more people would become aware of it as well. I think what you have done and will continue to do is fantastic. I have your blog on my class blog roll and will continue to follow your progress.

    Wm. Chamberlain
    Noel Elementary School
    Noel, Missouri USA

  2. Teresa McNamara Says:
    April 18th, 2009 at 7:36 AM

    I’ve just stumbled across your blog recently and I think you are doing wonderful work. I will link to it in the blog that I have for my Year 5 students so that more people can read about your very great work there.

  3. Elizabeth Says:
    April 20th, 2009 at 11:24 AM

    Jason-

    I just love the Daraja website and BLOG so much! Thank you for going to such trouble to make everyone feel more a part of your experience there. It is really just so moving! :)

    Thank you and take care!

    Elizabeth

  4. Ms. Pederson's Class Says:
    April 20th, 2009 at 12:11 PM

    Hi. We are a 9th grade high school class in Santa Ana, California, USA. We have seen your video, and read about your school, and think it’s amazing how you help girls learn and educate themselves so they have better opportunities in life.

    We are going to send letters to your students introducing ourselves very soon. Hopefully your students can reply. We wish you success.

    Have a nice day!

  5. Dennis Wininger Says:
    April 20th, 2009 at 5:19 PM

    Hey Jason,

    I pass along your blog and I am trying to get several Bay Area families interested in picking up the Daraja cause. I will let you know if I am successful.

    In the meantime, my book Proper Walk has been published which has a chapter on the former Baraka School for Boys. I have started marketing it at http://www.properwalkthebook.com

    It’s 93 in San Francisco today. Seems to be happening more often these days. We don’t like this heat.

    Keep up the good work. Always look forward to your blogs.

    Say hey to Jennifer and Peter.

    Dennis

  6. Vanessa and Kenzie Says:
    April 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 AM

    Reading the comments is very inspiring and we think that it is a helpful academy. We also think that it is so amazing that you made a academy for girls. It inspires us very much.

  7. Mark Says:
    April 22nd, 2009 at 11:46 AM

    I known it should be a long time to get in the internet. I would like to see how that feels and not have a T.V.

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