What makes Daraja Academy unique?
Our innovative educational model provides students a way to channel their brilliance and intellectual growth. The Daraja curriculum is based on the Kenyan educational standards but also emphasizes applying this ‘book’ knowledge to life experience and potential career opportunities.
In addition to a demanding academic curriculum, the school instills:
Women’s Empowerment
Women of Integrity, Strength and Hope (WISH) class: This important class initially focuses on empowering students who have been impacted by issues including domestic or sexual abuse, being orphaned by AIDS or the to pressure to marry early. The course focuses on key preventative measures such as sex education. As the students get older, the course becomes more career-focused. The class invites accomplished women from the community to speak at the school and serve as examples of educated female Kenyan role models. In 2011, the class formerly launched a course for Form 3 students which is focused on international women peacemakers, courtesy of a curriculum developed by the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice.
Grassroots Girls Club: This club shows how to create grassroots change through applied knowledge in working with local communities on projects focused on everything from environmentalism to women’s business issues to volunteerism.
Cross-Cultural Education
Tribal and Religious Diversity: In a country with a history of tribal violence, Daraja makes a point of accepting girls from various tribes in order to build bridges and break misconceptions. The academy additionally includes Catholic, Protestant, Muslim and Jewish students who live and study together to further break boundaries.
Global Relationships: Almost every month, the academy hosts international visitors who eat meals, host workshops and participate in activities with the students.
Global Classroom: A “global classroom” has been created to assist the students in adopting an international outlook. A global perspective is essential as these students will become leaders of change in an increasingly globalized world. In order to achieve a global classroom, the academy collaborates with schools outside of Kenya. Sample projects:
- The Daraja Biology class worked on an animal observation project with American students at Marin Academy in California and their results were shared via a mutual Internet blog.
- Daraja Academy students are currently collaborating with the San Francisco Arts Commission on a project that has partnered the Daraja girls with San Francisco high school students. The students will explore the issue of personal identity from different cultural perspectives. The project will culminate in a multi-media exhibit in San Francisco. The exhibit will highlight the girls’ observations via, creative writing, photography and audio interviews.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
Local Student Enrollment and Local Employment: The academy is surrounded by communities greatly affected by poverty and therefore makes a point of enrolling local students and hiring local workers.
Permaculture Methods: Due to growing environmental issues such as deforestation, the school is implementing sustainable methods and is making a point of educating our girls about these methods.
Personal and Career Development
Counseling: Many Daraja students come from homes where domestic violence is a common occurrence and food is often scarce. Nearly half of the students at Daraja have lost one or both of their parents. Daraja Academy feels that it is important to address the emotional issues that accompany these difficult home life situations. There is a licensed counseling professional on staff that is available to the students.
Internships: In the students’ 3rd and 4th years at Daraja, each student will choose a profession: then Daraja Academy sets up internships in their chosen fields using local community resources. This provides real-life experiences to the students and helps them explore whether that profession is truly an interest they want to pursue.
