From the moment my daughter Sarah and her classmate Claire presented their proposal to volunteer at Daraja, I knew it would be a unique learning experience for them. They both posses a strong desire to help others, and were eager to share their particular skills with their “sisters” in Kenya. However, I also suspected that these two California teenagers would learn more from twenty-six Kenyan young women than either could have imagined.

As our time here at Daraja comes to an end, I’m reminded of Harper Lee’s words in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” A wise and compassionate Atticus explains to his daughter, Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Although our time here has been short, all three of us have begun to understand life from a Kenyan’s perspective. In doing so, I have personally begun to view my own life through a different lens.

As volunteers, we have been blessed with the opportunity to witness the strength, intelligence, grace and humor that each of these students possess. We have also experienced the wisdom and care that the entire faculty and staff demonstrate on a daily basis. Life on this campus, while at times challenging (water rationing may be a concern in California, but it is nothing compared to how rain dependent this region is), is filled with hope and beauty.

The “bridge” that is Daraja School is one that I hope to cross many times in the years ahead, and I encourage others to become part of this special undertaking in a region of the world so in need of our gifts. And yes, you will most likely receive more in return than you could ever imagine.