Shamsia Mohammed

To help her family she was a 14-year-old maid, today she sits on a panel for the United Nations.

Shamsia Mohammed

While cleaning other people’s homes shortly before receiving a scholarship to Daraja, Shamsia felt high school felt out of reach.
She was only 14 years old. However, after graduating as the class salutatorian, with a call to study International Relations, the future
was hers to grab.

While studying at the University of Nairobi Shamsia redefined success when President Kenyatta read a speech she had written on the Somali refugee crisis while interning with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Upon graduation she didn’t slow down, representing Marsabit County as a youth advisor for the UNFPA, the branch of the United Nations that deals with sexual and reproductive health.

Today Shamsia is wrapping up a three-year contract as an enumerator with Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority. She
treks with her small team to isolated villages across Marsabit County signing people up for the Hunger Safety Net Program, which
provides cash and food transfers during drought and times of unrest. Somehow in her free time, Shamsia started a printing and branding business and has contracts with multiple schools, hospitals, and government offices in Marsabit. Nothing is out of reach for her now.

Winrose Chesang

From running a household in Class 7 to running on the world stage at a US university.

Winrose Chesang

With her mother often away from home, Winrose carried a burden that would have been difficult for most adults: she was solely
responsible for the care of her four younger siblings—she was only 12. The huge toll caused her to miss months of school at a time during
Class 7 and 8.

Fortunately, Winrose’s headteacher shared her story with Daraja, and the young lady from rural Bomet County was offered a high school
scholarship. She focused on her academics and in time caught up to her peers. Few of her peers, however, were able to catch Winrose
when it came to athletic competitions. She parlayed her success into an athletic scholarship to Iowa Central Community College in the US.

Winrose actually hit the ground running, placing in a national competition the week after landing in the US. Her success continued
and in 2020 she was named the National Junior College Athletic Association female athlete of the year. The high honor is given to
the person who, “best exemplifies success in athletics and academics.” Soon after, Winrose was offered a full scholarship to run for the
Iowa State Cyclones, where she chose to major in nursing.

While at Iowa Central CC, however, someone finally caught up to Winrose. His name is Jacob Phillips and the two were married in July, 2020.

Marylene Wangari

She dreamt of being in school — now she’ll be there for a long, long time.

Marylene Wangari

Because Marylene was always passionate about her education it was no surprise that in 2006 she finished Class 8 as the school’s top girl. Her struggling family’s prayers seemed answered when the local Member of Parliament promised to take her to a prestigious, local
Nanyuki high school. However, after losing reelection he reneged on his promise after only paying for one term and Marylene was asked to leave mid-way through 2007.

But Marylene refused to give up hope. Three years after finishing primary school she learned that a school called Daraja, created for girls specifically like her was opening. Marylene was actually Daraja’s first applicant. She joined the young school’s pioneer class
and took advantage of the opportunity. She dove into her studies and in four years she was called to Rongo University where she earned a diploma in education and was certified to teach History and KiSwahili

In 2017, Daraja‘s first scholarship applicant became the first alumni to apply and be hired as a full-time teacher. That decision has paid off well for the school as Marylene’s students are routinely ranked amongst the top in the county. She is also the school’s Head of
Culture where she celebrates Daraja‘s diversity while weaving the school’s Pillars and WISH values through the staff and students’ lives each day. Marylene was literally created for that position!