Daraja Means Bridge: Recent Episodes
Jason Doherty
Daraja is the Kenyan word for bridge and is the concept around which we have built our entire mission. This podcast is the bridge between some of the world’s top-performing humans and the amazing girls who attend Daraja Academy, our secondary school for girls in Kenya.Listen in as the world’s highest performers share their best-kept success secrets, and experience the spirit of Daraja.
Daraja 12th grader Jackie and school founder Jason Doherty had the honor of sitting down with Jane Goodall; primatologist, anthropologist, UN Messenger of Peace and member of the World Future Council. Listen as Jane shares her story of following her dream to Africa, studying the chimps at Gombe Stream, the importance of girls' education and so much more. Jane also makes a request of Jackie and plants a seed that could impact Kenya and the world at large.
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Only at Daraja would girls be so at ease 24 hours before Kenya's 12th grade national examinations. Listen as 12th graders Sharon and Farhia discuss growing up in the Kenyan school system and the KCSE, a three week examination that determines whether they can go to university, what they can study once they are there and why they feel so at ease the day before it all starts.
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Only in her first year at Daraja, Faith speaks eloquently and with confidence about the struggles she has overcome in her life. For several years her family survived on the free lunch she would bring home from primary school. She tells us about her families struggles growing up in Dandora, in her words, “a slum right on the edge of the Nairobi dump” and how at times she had to negotiate its dangers to collect metals and plastics to sell.
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Anzel has A LOT to say… and she does! Just listen to her confident flow after our host invites her to, “say hi.” She shares about growing up in Garrissa county, how its border with Somalia can make life difficult and her struggles with the patriarchal culture. As a 12th grader, Anzel explains about the valuable lessons she has learned while at Daraja. She concludes by interviewing the our host and Daraja founder Jason Doherty and asks some very pointed questions. Enjoy!
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Stacy is a remarkable 12-grade student at Daraja who hopes to be an architectural engineer one day. She tells how she believes in destiny and that she was meant to do great things and change her small community where girls like her are still forced into early marriages. In fact, Stacy's father had already received the dowry payment for her arranged wedding to an older man when she ran away from home. Soon after she heard of Daraja, applied and her life has never been the same. Destiny?
3 key take-aways
- How much some of our girls sacrifice to go to school
- How are our girls sharing what they have learned when they go home
- What makes our school different from others
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Brenda shares the difficulties of growing up with a single mother who never got the education she needed and the pain of being unable to go to high school. She talks about how great women like Toni Morrison and Wangari Maathai have roused something in her heart and how a National Geographic article inspired her to look beyond her small world. She concludes with a beautiful testimony of what Daraja is to her.
3 key take-aways
- How educating women can impact our world in a positive way
- What education can do for small communities
- How the snowball effect can change the world
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Today's guest on Daraja Means Bridge is Joan Wairimu, the chairwoman of the Daraja Kenya Initiative, a team of dedicated professionals that support Daraja Academy. A successful businesswoman, Joan explains how she learned about and fell in love with the school, its mission, and the girls.
Listen as Joan talks about her experiences empowering and mentoring the Daraja girls. You can hear the compassion in her voice when she speaks about the students. But she is very clear with her advice to them, "Don't let anyone put you in a box!"
3 Key Takeaways:
- How Joan's education raises Daraja to new heights
- Joan's experience's with gender oppression while working leadership positions
- The power of Daraja’s WISH class to young women who are used to being suppressed
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
SUPPORT MARTHA'S EDUCATION
Today’s guest on Daraja Means Bridge is a Darja Academy original; she began her journey alongside host Jason Doherty in the first pioneer class at the academy, she as a student and he as an educator. Now, Marylene holds a university degree and has returned to the school as a history educator. She takes pride in bolstering the courage of new interviewees and students each year, actively participating in their difficult but deeply rewarding seasonal interviews.
Join them in their discussion today about how one girl’s desire to have a better life has now affected highschool girls for years, the power of Daraja’s WISH program, and about why Jason swears in all honesty that Marylene is one of his favorite people
3 Key Takeaways:
- How Marylene’s education at Daraja created a domino effect as she returned with a degree to the school
- The power of Daraja’s WISH class to young women who are used to being suppressed
- Marylene’s most impactful memory of student interviews
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
SUPPORT MARTHA'S EDUCATION
Do
Daraja 11th Grader Jackline
Jason Doherty begins this episode of the Daraja Means Bridge Podcast with his conviction that one day all of us will know about today’s interviewee--in Hollywood. Jackline is an 11th grader at Daraja Academy, and though she is still learning, she is already taking great measures to be a changemaker. She is a leader for girls in her school, an orphanage far away from school, and hopes to change the world with her unique goal of being an actress.
Listen today and learn why the stripes on her uniform tie not only signify her position but encompass the core of her personality, and see why this tough and charismatic young Kenyan girl has brought Jason to tears on multiple occasions.
3 Key Takeaways
- Why being admitted into Daraja was a dream come true to this young Kenyan girl
- Why Jason walked out during the middle of Jackline’s admission interview
- Why you should imagine taking part in educating a life-long change maker
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Help Martha
Guest Julian Hayes
Jason Doherty, host of Daraja Means Bridge Podcast, and Julian Hayes, guest entrepreneur, become fast friends in this episode as they discuss their similar experiences caring for a sick father and dealing with the negative changes that experiences like COVID-19 brought on. Join them and learn about Julian’s life growing up in Nashville: how his experience reading and developing a wide vocabulary shifted his paradigm and how meeting people from all walks of life shaped him into the health and fitness expert he is today, using cutting-edge data and lab testing to improve the physical health of individuals across the full age spectrum.
In this episode you will learn:
- Why the 6th most effective way to create climate change is to educate girls
- The best way to address issues in a cover letter by asking interviewees one question
- How to turn your anger into a strength
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Hellen Ngunjiri, Daraja’s Business Manager
Hellen Ngunjiri is the business manager of Daraja Academy, but that is the least of her role at the school. After moving to campus, Hellen quickly became a mother, mentor, cheerleader, and counselor to twenty-some girls, and she wants the world to know that’s the part of her job that she values the most.
Join her and host Jason Doherty in their conversation on Daraja Means Bridge Podcast about the interviewing and selection processes at Daraja, talking over the heart breaking and heart warming experiences they’ve had speaking to girls from all over the country, from out in the bush to the bottom of the slums. Hear how Daraja has changed each life individually, and see why Hellen says that Daraja absolutely must continue to grow.
3 Key Takeaways:
- How Hellen’s conversation with one girl lead her to remain at Daraja for almost a decade
- The impact of FGM in the slums of Kenya
- How Hellen has found Daraja’s impact to be apart from all other local schools she has attended
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-aca
Daraja 10th Grader Glory - Community Service in an Orphanage with 80 Children
Show Notes
Today’s guest on Daraja Means Bridge Podcast is Jason Doherty’s future daughter-in-law for all intents and purposes, and her life story is one you will remember. Glory learned about courage and responsibility from a young age, a few details of her life including living with her sisters alone for three years in grade school, quitting school at age 12 to find money, and moving out of her flat because a literal leopard had moved in.
Now, Glory happily talks with Jason about what she learned from her life back home about courage, family, and integrity. She shares the culture shocking, life impacting introduction into Daraja and how her mentors--including host Jason Doherty--shaped her understanding of her value as an educated woman and future life-changer where she has now already impacted hundreds of orphaned children from 13 to 3 days old. You will not want to miss this episode about a truly empowering young woman.
In this episode you will learn:
- The one trait that made Glory carefully chose her mentor at Daraja
- How a young woman who grew up in trials and turmoil kept a positive relationship with courage
- The empowering effect of sports in Glory’s education
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@dara
Guest Stanley Kinyua
Listen to the birds, baboons, and upcoming thunderstorm in Kenya as Jason Doherty and guest Stanley Kinyua lead their discussion for this episode of Daraja Means Bridge Podcast outside on the campus of Darajah Academy. Hear Stanley’s experience growing up in a village nearby campus and how he came to be an administrator at the Academy; one of the best choices he ever made.
Shooting from outside location on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro river, Stanley talks about the village’s appallment with this new strange school system and its effect on their returning local girls. Jason also shares his memory of meeting Stanley, whom he considers to be a son. As they end, learn why Daraja changed both of their lives for the better, inspiring Stanley to head up a library project where Daraja girls make a change in the children of their town, and why when you educate girls, you are actually educating a community.
In this episode you will learn:
- How Stanley adapted to an ill-timed graduation date just before the pandemic spread
- How Daraja is a daily inspiration for Stanley
- The values gleaned from sharing your education with others
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/<&
The guest Jason Doherty invites onto Daraja Means Bridge Podcast today is a powerhouse in every sense of the word. After an initial rejection from enrollment in Daraja, Rahama chose the path of strength and courage rather than anger, deciding that she would not take NO for an answer. In this episode, Rahama shares what it’s like being a young woman in a tense and tribally diverse community as someone who is “too brave and too bold.” As Rahama explains her experience reapplying to Daraja and the following life-changing years of her enrollment--as well as her plans for the world’s future--you will quickly learn why “letting this amazing human slip through the cracks” was one of the biggest mistakes Jason has ever made.
In this episode you will learn:
- The dangers and triumphs of sharing your sparks in a discriminating community
- The impact that one Daraja graduate-turned-faculty member made in Rahama’s life
- Why Rahama claims her life truly began with her first day of enrollment
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Special Thanks to Salvador Santana for the use of his song, “Rise Up,” in our podcast!
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Help Martha
Guest Student Eveyne
Today, we are joined by Jason Doherty’s “favorite person on earth,” guest student in Daraja Academy: Eveyne. Living with a single dad and 6 siblings, Eveyne quickly became an advocate of learning to do things yourself in order to support you and those around you. With no money, support--or even pencils and papers--Eveyne shares the moments and lessons that drove her on her journey 6 hours south from living in a community split into three, where shots and killing over cows and pastures is a daily occurrence.
Eveyne stresses Daraja’s life-altering impact in her life and those around her, speaking about her first experiences with the school and Jason, explaining why Daraja was ultimately the best thing to happen to her.
In this episode you will learn:
- Eveyne’s incredible life story leading up to her education, avoiding mass killings via migration
- How a young Kenyan girl learned to provide for herself with no money or support
- The impact of an educated girl on her local community
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
**Welcome to the Daraja Means Bridge Podcast!
Join Jason Doherty in another episode of Daraja Means Bridge Podcast with guest Marty Park, Canadian entrepreneur and successful business owner of 13 companies in over 17 industries. Marty shares the invaluable information he’s culminated over his career for alumni beginning their entrepreneurial careers and college students looking to expand their side hustle. Marty divulges practices that brought him success, both through smart business moves and effective mental framing. In this episode, Marty also honestly reveals the close-to-ruined financial situation of his beginning years as an entrepreneur, and uncovers some of the cliches surrounding the classic image of “the entrepreneur.”
In this episode you will learn:**
- Marty’s passion and success gleaned from business Coaching
- The invaluable skills you learn as you consciously chose to be an entrepreneur
- Where to start once you’ve got a business idea; The main question to ask when setting up a business
- Facing what scares you alongside what you’re passionate about
- The persistence and strength of Daraja girls as entrepreneurs
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Guest Deborah Santana
Today’s guest Deborah Santana is a woman of social action. Deborah is a native Californian, African-American, and of Irish-English descent with a deep-rooted role in social activism that began before she was born. With parents of different races living in the lower middle class, Deborah claims that humanity and community are in her DNA. Deborah is now head of a foundation specified to help women and girls, and is a multi-published author. She has a deep appreciation for the arts and education and is an active feminist. Deborah also holds a leadership role in the African-American History and Cultural Museum at the Smithsonian and is currently helping to make the Women's History Museum Initiative a reality. She holds a master's degree in religion and philosophy and raises three creative children.
Join us with Jason Doherty and this incredible guest as they discuss Deborah’s vital contribution and impact on Darajah Academy, reviewing the values of hard work, giving back, and maintaining integrity as principal values in both Deborah’s life and the pillars of Darajah. Deborah will also confer the absolute cruciality of racial equality and women’s education, advocating the work to stop marginalizing their roles in society. Additionally, this episode will show us why Deborah claims that--even to this day--Darajah was the best experience to happen to her.
In this episode you will learn:
- What impact the Kenyan girls had on this American activist
- The crucial role of women in modern society (US or African) and the future
- The core values of a successful entrepreneur
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:
Guest Student Alice Naini
Alice Naini is one of Daraja Academy’s brilliant students. She grew up with her grandparents in Kenya, with often not enough resources to provide food and basic clothing as a kid, but this didn’t stop her from mustering the courage to pursue her dream of education.
Now Alice actively leads her life as a college graduate from San Jose University with a major in mathematics, using her skills to teach math in highschool but also to head up multiple humanitarian programs, teaching students in her village the WISH program and helping local students gain skills for the real world. Today, Alice will tell us how she overcame the many mental and physical obstacles to become who she always wanted to be, and shares how that all began with a school named Daraja.
In this episode you will learn:
- What a young Kenyan girl’s daily chores and expectations are in the village and home
- The WISH program’s invaluable impact on the integrity and confidence of a young teen
- How a shy Kenyan girl became head prefect of an academy
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
https://www.daraja-academy.org/donate/
Guest Victoria
Meet the principal of Daraja academy herself in today’s episode of Daraja Means Bridge. Jason Doherty invites Victoria to share childhood stories that shaped her into a hard working, ambitious young woman, despite community expectations. She describes the influence of her hard-working father, who raised many girls. She also shares her initial impressions of the academy in its earliest years, discussing what little options a Kenyan girl had for her future, and explaining why when Jason called her to hire her, it was her happiest day (even though she’d be paid less).
Learn how the girls of Daraja are literally reshaping the values, perceptions, and financial stations of their communities, and why it’s worth supporting this school that, according to Victoria, is not just a school, but a growing movement.
In this episode you will learn:
- Why Victoria would abandon a job that pays better to work at Daraja Academy
- What life was like growing up on a farm with all girls
- What options a Kenyan girl is given for her future without the option of education
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Help Martha
Martha is one of today’s amazing Daraja students looking to build herself and her community a better future. Help us keep Martha’s education going by supporting her at:
Daraja 12th grader who's breaking the "traditional girl" mold
Daraja 12th grader and Jason Doherty dive into the Kenyan culture and how it directly affects the young girls there. Christine shares her story of how Daraja’s education helped save her from the FGM (female genital mutilation) and young marriage traditions of her tribe. Diving deeper into her experience at Daraja, Christine shares that her love for sports taught her how to step into her power and maximize talents she never knew she had.
3 Key Takeaways:
- The difference between growing up in Kenya as a girl and as a boy.
- The reality of Female Genital Mutilation for 13-year-old Kenyan girls.
- How Christine’s love for sports taught her to step into her power and maximize her talents.
Show Notes
[0:35] Christine Introduces Herself
· She lives 12 hours away from Daraja near Uganda.
[1:42] Chistine shares her personal experience growing up in Kenya
· “Look for that thing you want in life and go get it. Nothing can stop you” – Christine
· Survival in her home village is consists of a basic trade system where you find something to sell to cover the cost of your food for the day.
· “People who don’t see themselves as the victim despite their circumstances amaze me” – Jason
[3:41] Growing up as a woman in Kenya vs. growing up as a man in Kenya.
· At 14 years old a girl will be married off to gain wealth from those coming to marry their girls.
· At age 13 girls are forced to be circumcised in a very brutal painful way.
· The girls are told to respect their elders and accept the circumcision and marriage without question.
· Many of these girls are traded for cattle as a dowery.
[6:33] Jason shares the story of a student at Daraja who the father agreed to trade for one cow and 2 goats to an older man.
· “There are many beautiful traditions that should be kept, but some traditions that should change to make life more equitable” – Jason
· Girl’s education helped Christine to educate her family and village about how they can improve their lives.
[8:00] Christine shares that her calling is in medicine
· “I walked into a hospital and decided I need to be there” – Christine
· Jason shares how much girl’s education has actually helped the community on a much deeper level.
· Changing the traditional mentality that comes with Kenyan culture
[12:02] Jason shares how some girls will go to a hospital see blood and say “whoa that’s not for me”
· Sometimes learning what you don’t want is more important that learning what you do want.
· Christine shares how busy she sees the doctors are, and they need more help.
· “I have the courage now. I know I can help someone.” – Christine
[15:44] Christine shares some fond memories of daraja
· Rugby and Football have become two of her major passions.
· She was encouraged to join one of their local teams
· “I’ve learned that I’m a very strong talented girl, and I can’t sit on my talent, I need to embrace it” – Christine
[20:08] Jason shares his story about relearning how to walk and running for daraja to raise funds for these girls.
Guest Lucy Wanyingi
In this exciting episode of Daraja Means Bridge, Jason Doherty invites the first Daraja Academy student to speak of her experience in Kenya and Daraja. Lucy Wanyingi is a teenage girl on the cusp of passing her final, rigorous exams, but that is only a small part of her. After surviving a horrific accident, Lucy’s mother was rendered unable to support their family, including her baby sister. With her father traumatized by the accident, Lucy stepped up at a young age to support her family and seek out her own funding to attend highschool and ultimately graduate the only individual in her family able to support them all.
Lucy’s wisdom beyond her years and inspiring dreams for not only the future of her family but for Kenyan women and children as a whole helps to motivate like-minded girls in Daraja Academy and brings Founder Jason Doherty to tears. Join them for this podcast and learn how much of an impact you can make by supporting just one of these brilliant young women in small and simple ways.
In this episode you will learn:
· What life is typically like for an uneducated Kenyan girl
· How Daraja opened a bridge to an academy student’s future careers and familial support
· Lucy’s indispensable experience with Daraja Academy and its staff
· The plans of a Daraja student for future Kenya and America
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
**SUPPORT MARTHA'S EDUCATION
Donate here: https://www.daraja-academy.org/sponsor-martha/ Support from Kenya: PayBill #176037 Account name PODCAST**
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
Guest Student Asha
Jason Doherty is excited to invite Daraja graduate Asha back to campus to share her life experiences before and after her education at their university. Originally from east Kenya, Asha was born in a place with many insecurities, where fighting and killing over resources like water and pasture (to the point of cancelling her school days), women being abused and rapidly married off, and children becoming orphaned were all a weekly occurrence. But Asha’s determination and one rare opportunity led her down an incredible journey, one that changed with Daraja academy.
Now, Asha affects not only her community, but every village across Kenya, where she heads up programs to improve the darkest wounds in their communities and pave a safer path for the new generations--while maintaining her university education. Join them in their discussion of how one girl’s chance to learn over just a few years resulted in a wide, invaluable economic impact.
In this episode you will learn:
- What happens to a Kenyan woman who has no education opportunities as she ages
- Why Asha advocates for Daraja’s WISH program as a life-changer
- What would have been wasted if this particular Kenyan girl hadn’t gone to high school
About Daraja Academy and the Podcast:
Jason and Jenni Doherty are the founders of Daraja Academy and parents to 115 current students and many alumni. Jenni comes from a family of eight children and is the first woman in her family to go to university. Jason comes from a family of five, and his passion is education.
When Jason and Jenni Doherty – educators from the Bay Area – visited Kenya in 2006, they were struck by the degree that gender determined opportunity. For families living in deep poverty, access to education was already limited, but sons were still far more likely to attend secondary school than daughters. Girls were being left behind. Thus, they started Daraja Academy.
Daraja Academy is a boarding secondary school for Kenyan girls with top academic scores and exceptional leadership skills but without the means to continue their education. The academy provides shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling services so students may focus on their academic and personal potential without the everyday barriers they would otherwise face.
Their groundbreaking educational model has generated a community of students filled with intellectual curiosity and a hunger to learn. Through this podcast, we get to know the stories of the girls of Daraja, Daraja Academy, and all the incredible people that support and strengthen Daraja.
Connect with Daraja Means Bridge:
Website:https://www.daraja-academy.org/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/daraja-academy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-doherty-baa9735a/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DarajaAcademy
Twitter:https://twitter.com/darajaacademy
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darajaacademy/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQiWAdnakahyCnRlvWzoSA
Email:info@daraja-academy.org
Be her bridge! Donate to girls' education in Kenya:
Welcome to the Daraja Means Bridge Podcast!
In this three-part inaugural episode, your host Jason Doherty tells the incredible story of the founding of Daraja Academy, a secondary school for under-privileged girls in Kenya.
This is one episode you won't want to miss!
To join the fight for girl's education join us at:
https://daraja.org/donate/
About Your HostBlessed founder Daraja Academy. Daraja is changing the world by educating and empowering girls of material poverty that wouldn't have moved on to High School. Our students and alumni are courageous change makers that view themselves a part of the solution rather than victims of circumstance.
Over 90% of our students who would not have moved from 8th to 9th grade matriculate to college and university, disrupting the cycle of poverty on a generational level. I believe that education should be a right, not a privilege because it is the bridge (daraja in Swahili) to a better life for the individual, their families, community and the world.
Every year Daraja turns away more deserving girls than it can accept, until that changes I will fight to provide every girl possible with the quality education she deserves and needs. JOIN ME!
SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD AND SO SHE DID... AND DID, AND DID, AND DID!!!
Welcome to the Daraja Means Bridge Podcast!
In this three-part inaugural episode, your host Jason Doherty tells the incredible story of the founding of Daraja Academy, a secondary school for under-privileged girls in Kenya.
This is one episode you won't want to miss!
To join the fight for girl's education join us at:
https://daraja.org/donate/
About Your HostBlessed founder Daraja Academy. Daraja is changing the world by educating and empowering girls of material poverty that wouldn't have moved on to High School. Our students and alumni are courageous change makers that view themselves a part of the solution rather than victims of circumstance.
Over 90% of our students who would not have moved from 8th to 9th grade matriculate to college and university, disrupting the cycle of poverty on a generational level. I believe that education should be a right, not a privilege because it is the bridge (daraja in Swahili) to a better life for the individual, their families, community and the world.
Every year Daraja turns away more deserving girls than it can accept, until that changes I will fight to provide every girl possible with the quality education she deserves and needs. JOIN ME!
SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD AND SO SHE DID... AND DID, AND DID, AND DID!!!
Welcome to the Daraja Means Bridge Podcast!
In this three-part inaugural episode, your host Jason Doherty tells the incredible story of the founding of Daraja Academy, a secondary school for under-privileged girls in Kenya.
This is one episode you won't want to miss!
To join the fight for girl's education join us at:
https://daraja.org/donate/
About Your HostBlessed founder Daraja Academy. Daraja is changing the world by educating and empowering girls of material poverty that wouldn't have moved on to High School. Our students and alumni are courageous change makers that view themselves a part of the solution rather than victims of circumstance.
Over 90% of our students who would not have moved from 8th to 9th grade matriculate to college and university, disrupting the cycle of poverty on a generational level. I believe that education should be a right, not a privilege because it is the bridge (daraja in Swahili) to a better life for the individual, their families, community and the world.
Every year Daraja turns away more deserving girls than it can accept, until that changes I will fight to provide every girl possible with the quality education she deserves and needs. JOIN ME!
SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD AND SO SHE DID... AND DID, AND DID, AND DID!!!