As we reflect on this year’s amazing milestones, we can’t help but go back to square one: What types of girls enter the Daraja gates? Who were they before they were freshmen at Daraja? Every girl seems to have her own story of absolute determination. We’ve highlighted Fatuma A, an approaching senior at the academy.

Life before Daraja:

Fatuma’s father was the center of the family, holding a government job and often hosting family and friends in their home. Unfortunately, he passed away when Fatuma was only four years old. With his death, the financial support of the family dissipated and many of the their “friends” disappeared as well.

Fatuma’s mother struggled to maintain jobs and was forced to sell bread and tea in the evenings to support her children. This meant that Fatuma and her brother were left to fend for themselves in the evenings growing up.

The primary school that Fatuma attended lacked funds and had limited school facilities. The teachers would frequently not show up for classes and, knowing Fatuma’s smarts and leadership abilities, often left her to teach the class.

During her admissions interview, Fatuma admitted that she wants to better her situation because she hates asking people for money. She said if she didn’t get into Daraja Academy, she would have helped her mom start a business in order to come up with school fees.

Today at Daraja Academy:

Fatuma aspires to be an ambassador due to an inner desire to travel and passion for current events. During her first week at school, she asked staff members for newspapers so that she could stay updated on world news. She is inspired by Michael Ranneberger, the former US Ambassador to Kenya, and aims to help people with similar problems to hers, to fight against child abuse and to help create environmental awareness.

Despite being from a small town in rural Kenya, Fatuma has a keen global outlook and a hunger to understand the world beyond her borders.