DARAJA
Bridges Are the Opposite of Walls
32
“When we know each other as people, we win.” Jason Doherty, founder of Daraja Academy in Kenya, summed up the value of bringing Elizabeth Malibe and Mary Meshami to Priory. The girls lived with the Fathers family, gaining new sisters Ada ‘20, Jessica ‘22, and Liberty, from October 1 to 23, with a few days spent in Marin with Jason and Jenni Doherty. Elizabeth said, “I hoped to meet new people, and brilliant teachers, to eat new foods, and to make new friends, which I have.” Elizabeth shadowed classes with both Ila Lane ‘19 and Vivian Chuang ‘19 while Mary attended with Claire Kim ‘19 and Nonso Elelleh ‘19. Ila commented, “It was awesome having them around. They were warm right away.” Amaya Gray ‘20 added, “When I met them I said ‘You are beautiful’ in Swahili, and they said it back. We hugged and we had only just met!” Students may also have noticed the girls spending extra time in Chemistry, Geometry, Biology, and Psychology, their favorite classes. They presented some of the teachers, like Chemistry teacher Mr. Tang, with a Kenyan beaded bracelet as a thank you.
