To keep the quality of education at Daraja in top shape, our teachers are often going through professional development exercises – either with other Kenyan teachers, or with volunteers that visit campus. Volunteer Sue August worked with the teachers early this year to help them identify their learning styles. She provided questionnaires which the teachers
When the Daraja girls are asked who their role models are, you can be sure that Nurse/Counselor Jacinta’s name will come up. She’s a woman who has risen to all of life’s challenges and chased down her dreams. But most importantly, she’s a woman who understands the situations that some Kenyan girls are put in.
Bridge building – Jason’s dad, Jack Doherty, along with volunteer Alex Rodondi and head of maintenance Peter Rutere, have been hard at work down at the river. They’ve built a bridge to connect the Daraja neighborhood with the nearest village, Naibor. Naibor hosts an important Saturday market but has been connected to the Daraja side
Volunteer Maggie Gaughran gave six Daraja girls the opportunity to learn skills that can lead to immediate employment – training to become CPR instructors. The group was chosen based on their submission of a one-paragraph application explaining why the wanted to take the course. Here’s an excerpt from Alice N. and Teddy’s applications. “When I
When Marin Academy visited campus in June, they helped the Daraja girls produce an all-student newsletter – Your News, My Views. A team of student photographers, writers, editors and layout designers worked together with the help of Steve and Jono Disenhof, Megan Kallstrom and media club leader Maria Kelly. It was a great opportunity for
The drought and famine in the Horn of Africa have threatened over 10 million people with starvation in Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya - it's being called the worst drought in memory. With the Daraja girls dismissed for term break, some will be going home to towns in the northern part of Kenya – like
The girls are heading home after a busy exams period. But before they left they spent some time together to relax, finish up some projects and play. Here's what happened on campus this week: Home for a rest – The Daraja girls are spreading out all over Kenya for their term break. They filled up
Exams – The girls are just one day away from the end of Term 2 exams – marking the end of Daraja’s eighth term! They will be heading home in one week; the Form 1 and 2 girls will be away until the beginning of September but the Form 1 students will come back early
Final exams for this year’s second term are underway. Most of the girls approach their term finals, which cover everything they’ve learned since the beginning of their high school studies, with relaxed optimism. But if you mention the exam that the Form 3 girls will be writing next autumn, the girls respond with the unusual
Volunteers – Steve Gaughran (father to Maggie, who’s leading the HIV/AIDS lessons) and mother-son duo Eliza and Chase Paré arrived last weekend to spend their summer holidays at Daraja. Steve is working on a playground for the Daraja staff and teachers’ kids; 25 small children live on campus so it will be a welcome addition
By Colleen and Karen Lafferty Our main project focused on working with fellow English teachers at Daraja to help them prepare students for the K.C.S.E., the crucial, cumulative exam that Kenyan students take at the end of high school. In our time on campus we noted many similarities and differences between the teachers at Daraja
Nelson Mandela celebrates his 93rd birthday today, July 18. To recognize his special day, people all over the world are dedicating 67 minutes – one minute for every year Mr. Mandela worked for human rights – to do work for someone else, either in their communities or for a charity. Today the Daraja girls walked
