Daraja Academy

Kenya

Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but no means to continue education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services which allows students to focus on their potential without being hindered by the everyday barriers of poverty. Daraja Academy has grown from 26 to 65 students since 2009. School marketing is targeted to the poorest communities, and girls are interviewed before a decision is made to award a place.

Implementation time

5+ years

Last update: October 05, 2023

Overview Contributors

Challenge

Many academically gifted girls in Kenya are unable to continue their education due to lack of financial resources. This results in wasted potential and perpetuates the cycle of poverty in their communities.

Description

Daraja Academy provides a full boarding secondary school experience including shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services. The academy performs regular lesson observations and assesses student outcomes against baseline data, demonstrating increased literacy and development rates. Marketing efforts are targeted to the poorest communities in Kenya.

SDGs

Outcomes

Daraja Academy has increased its student body from 26 to 65 students since 2009 and has demonstrated marked improvements in literacy and development rates among its students.