Can you imagine a school without books? Neither can we. That is why we are asking for your books to fill the shelves in the library of the Daraja Academy of Kenya.
The Daraja Academy is a secondary school in Kenya that serves the youth who dream of education, but lack the resources to obtain it. Kenya is a country where less than 40% of students enrolled in primary school will be able to attend secondary school because of costs, disease, and school availability.
The mission of the Daraja Academy is to cultivate a community of individuals with a sense of cultural awareness, social conscience, and environmental responsibility, all while instilling talents that will enable them to open doors to a global society. The Daraja Academy is a boarding school serving Form 1 – 4 students, the U.S. equivalent of high school.
A boarding school is essential in educating the entire student as it provides all the necessities that the students may not be receiving at home. Daraja Academy will be opening its doors to students in January of 2009.
Daraja is Swahili for bridge. The Daraja Academy will be a bridge for the poor who couldn’t afford secondary school, and for girls who are most likely to marry without an education. A bridge out of the slums, showing students there are other ways of living. A bridge from education to application—giving them practical and applicable skills that will prepare them for a vocation or for higher education. A bridge for US volunteers and students to experience Africa and to see how the world is interconnected. The Daraja Academy will be a bridge from who the students are now to who they want to be.
We can’t do this without your help and without your books. What we need are reference materials, books related to math, science, world history and geography, and age appropriate fiction and non-fiction novels for high school students. What we don’t need is mass marketed fiction, like romance or mystery novels, self help books, or American history books. The books should also be in new or newish condition. We will also accept monetary donations to help buy other books we need and to pay for shipping the books to Kenya. Please tell your friends!
For more information check out our website: www.daraja-academy.org
Please send books to:
Andrew Harley
2210 Las Gallinas
San Rafael, CA 94903
Daraja means Bridge, and You are Daraja
Sunday morning, July 7, 2008
I woke up early this morning and began to channel surf and stopped when I came across your interview regarding starting the Daraja Academy near Nanyuki. I was riveted at once because I grew up in Kenya on a farm located between Eldoret and Kitale. My family were British and emigrated to Kenya in 1947. I went to school in Eldoret to a Catholic boarding school (also accepted Protestant pupils) called Loreto Girls School. I recently I saw a documentary about the plight of high school students in Kenya-girls in particular- and the issue of paying required fees that prevents low income families from educating ALL their children.I visited Nanyuki on a return visit to Kenya and so I am very exited by the Daraja School Project, especially as you propose that it will be the first free GIRLS high school, at least at the outset. On a return visit to Kenya I visited the Nanyuki area–it is very beautiful, but rather remote. I am interested in finding out specifically what textbooks, reference materials etc. you would like for the school library. Perhaps compiling a “wish list” of books and materials, supplies on your website would be helpful so that you don’t end up with too many on one study topic and none on another. Does the school have computers, internet access-or perhaps I should ask if there is reliable power? While I myself am not in a position to donate funds personally, I would like to be helpful in gathering appropriate materials from discards or donations in good shape. I am especially interested in collecting reference materials on art history, the visual arts,womens studies and issues, AIDS awareness and education, women in science and in other non-traditional careers that would show Kenyan girls (and boys) that women are at least as equal as men in their capacity to excel academically and in their capacity to assume top leadership roles in all areas of society and politics. Recent political unrest in Kenya was especially distressing to me as I was hoping real political democracy was perhaps finally taking hold. Your task in taking the step to offer free high school education will be made more difficult because of long standing social and political hurdles which are painfully difficult to change.On my last visit to Kenya, as a woman attempting to start a small scale importing business of women’s crafts, I had to bring a man along ( even though he had nothing to do with the business) in order to secure a business appointment with a vendor, was told to go home to my husband when I complained about being short-changed at a Nairobi post Office and was ostracized for traveling alone.This was quite a few years ago, and so I was very distressed to learn that girls are still denied education in favor of the male child. I applaud your courage in your efforts to start a free girls high school because it has the potential to have far reaching impact in furthering the cause of the education of needy female students and women’s rights. I wish you God speed in your endeavor and hope you can recruit some high caliber female Kenyan teachers to Doraja Academy to serve as role models for the girls. I hope you will contact me with a list of needed materials–would also love to meet you to talk about your project and how I can help.
I live in Santa Cruz, Calif.
E-mail is: shirsaunders@gmail.com.
Mail is : 824 Koshland Way, Santa Cruz, CA.
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I wish you all the very best of good fortune and God’s Blessings in your plans for Daraja Academy. Let me know how I can help–I still feel Kenya is my real home even after so many years away and often get homesick.Be prepared to fall in love with Kenya and her people- and fortify yourself for frustrating hurdles with politics and political corruption.
My sincerest best wishes for your every success,
Shireena Saunders