The Girls Are Back

After 10 months of distance learning they’ve all returned to campus, and it’s kind of a miracle. Do you know what happened in Kenya when the pandemic hit?

Most students from poorer areas went on to miss the next 10 months of school. They had no technology to facilitate distance learning. Instead, early marriages and teen pregnancies skyrocketed. And many families began to starve as they lost what little income they had. 

Daraja’s form 1 (freshman) students had only been in school for ONE MONTH! That’s it! One month of high school before they had to go back home with no computers, internet, or electricity. And the average Daraja family was attempting to feed 7-8 people on less than $2 a day. The outlook was grim. 

But YOU STEPPED UP! Thanks to generous donors and the tireless Daraja Academy staff, counselors and social workers were hired to follow up on every girl’s health and safety. Food was delivered to families. And girls were given the materials to create vertical gardens in a burlap sack—this project helped families grow food in dry climates or dense cities. Every student also received a smartphone for classes, and they shared their lessons with siblings and friends. 

Now the girls are back at school. You ensured that we could provide safe transportation and a campus prepared to keep them healthy.

Since many Kenyan students lost nearly an entire school year, the Kenyan Ministry of Education has created a new academic calendar. So Daraja girls will complete a shortened version of the 2020 school year before starting into the official 2021 school year this summer. It’s going to be difficult, but we’re ready! Thank you for being with us every step of the way. You make it all possible. 

Asante Sana!