Mimi ni Daraja!

By Mercy, Form 1

Mercy says she will never forget a moment of the day she got accepted to Daraja: “I thought I was dreaming! I hit my head to confirm I was awake, and that this was real. We were not supposed to hear back until February, but they were telling me that I was in! My heart skipped a beat. My life and the lives of my family were transformed that day. It was the best moment of my life.”

In primary school, Mercy performed well on her national exams and even finished at the top of her class. Despite her hard work and excellent marks, she did not plan on attending secondary school. Her family could not afford it. “It was difficult to watch my classmates go to school while I had to stay back at home. I had worked so hard. I was determined that the world would come to see my potential, but by January I had lost all hope. I had applied for many scholarships, but still no one came to my aid. It was upsetting to see the leaders of my village give bursaries to their families and leaving those in need, like me, behind. That’s when I found Daraja. I applied and prayed to God that this would be my golden opportunity.”

In January, Daraja came to Mercy’s rescue. “This was my last application and my last chance. If I was turned down, then my whole world would crumble around me. I had to give it my very best. The day of my interview was filled with confidence, and I had a vibrant smile on my face the whole day. After the interview, lady luck knocked at my door, and it was confirmed that I had qualified for a scholarship and would be joining Daraja Academy.”

Only 10% of applicants get accepted to Daraja Academy. Mercy realizes how lucky she is to be here, but she wishes more girls had the same opportunity. “This year, we are celebrating our 10th anniversary. At school we say, ‘Daraja means bridge, and I am Daraja.’ I hope we can find more people to be our bridges, so that more students can come to Daraja. Daraja has been home to over 300 girls these past 10 years, and with your support, it will be home to many more girls.”

Help us reach more girls. Join us June 15th, 10 am – 2 pm at Daraja Academy in Nanyuki as we raise money and celebrate 10 years of educating leaders.