Daraja

Bridges

Are the Opposite of Walls

“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.

“I was surprised that on Wednesdays students can every day and what others in the world go through,” he sleep in,” Elizabeth stated. “Our minds are not machines. said. Mr. Bessin, an early advocate of Daraja in 2007, also I think we would do better if we could get more rest.” helped recruit Priory families to fund the girls’ trip and is Mary shared her surprise at learning details organizing a return trip to Daraja Academy this June. about America’s government. “If someone is poor, the During a roundtable discussion on October 23, government tries to level their lives so they are treated Mary and Elizabeth were asked to compare the Kenyan the same,” she observed. Both girls also appreciate other education system with the American one. “In Kenya, aspects of American we can hold culture, like acceptance large amounts of of homosexuality and information in our the pervasiveness heads for four years of technology in before we must take classrooms. “Our school a fi nal examination,” only uses computers Elizabeth pointed out. for a 45-minute class,” The Kenyan system Elizabeth explained. for teaching math is Daraja Club quite different; they members spent time don’t separate it into sharing Priory with classes like Algebra, Mary and Elizabeth Geometry, and at an ice cream social, cross country practice, “The students are allowed to participate in Calculus. “I think we have a bigger and at volleyball and their classes so their talents can grow.” The u n d e r s t a n d i n g water polo games. They girls would like to share these ideas with because we take so also enjoyed their time making and then selling their Daraja community. much time to do the topics,” Elizabeth tie dye t-shirts for a fundraiser that supports Daraja said, but Mary added, “I think that I prefer the way you Academy. As a school designed to provide an excellent do it here because you take a quiz at the end of each topic.” college prep education for girls of promise who wouldn’t When asked what they would have Kenyan education otherwise get to continue school, Daraja depends entirely offi cials change about their system, both girls agreed that on donations. they would have smaller exams more often, rather than “When I came here I saw that the students are kind,” one high-stakes test at the end of high school. Mary said. “They work together.” Both girls were surprised by the freedoms that Elizabeth continued this theme, stating, “The students American students have in the way they dress and the are allowed to participate in their classes so their talents technology they use. “I would like us to continue wearing can grow.” The girls would like to share these ideas with a uniform because that makes us equal,” Elizabeth said. their Daraja community. “I wouldn’t want us to have phones because not everyone Daraja’s Assistant Head of School Charles Mbuto, pays attention when they have phones. The social who accompanied Mary and Elizabeth, spent a day media should be closed during class.” She also talked shadowing Brian Schlaak. “Bringing people together about Daraja’s WISH class, which stands for Women of creates a spark,” Mr. Mbuto said. “This visit paves a way Integrity, Strength, and Hope, where students learn public for an awareness of what we’re trying to do at Daraja.” speaking, advocacy, and empowerment; Mary suggested Bob Bessin, Priory math and physics teacher, that Priory should offer it and call it TISH for Teenagers did most of the planning to make this trip possible. instead. “Gaining the perspective of students who come from an Daraja means “Bridge” in Swahili. Jason Doherty extraordinarily different culture and economic situation commented that “Bridges are the exact opposite of walls. gives our students a much better understanding of the Priory and Daraja are practicing this now.” signifi cant similarities and differences from what they see