Jambo!
By Jessica Bundage
Hello! My name is Jessica Bundage. I am the new Communications Intern here at Daraja Academy. My first week here has been a whirlwind of new faces and so many new names! I am so excited and honored to be working at Daraja Academy this summer. Even just a week in, I can already tell Daraja is a special place from the interactions I’ve had with the students and the staff. I am excited to see what opportunities and experiences lie in store for me in the weeks ahead.
My road to Daraja began during my undergraduate years when I served as an AmeriCorps Member in Dallas, Texas. I worked with inner-city youth as a summer day camp counselor and after-school instructor. It was this experience that introduced me to the challenges and inequality kids face in school and ignited my interest in education. This interest stayed with me and evolved as I took the next step in my career serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia following graduation. While the specific cultural challenges kids faced were different in Ethiopia, the overarching theme of schools being ill-equipped to train them for the global 21st century workforce still remained.
These experiences helped me to redefine my career goals towards something I realized that I truly cared about – improving education. Thus, upon completing my Peace Corps service, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in International Education at New York University where I could gain the skills and knowledge necessary to improve education so that students are empowered to be change-makers in their communities.
All of these experiences ultimately led me to Daraja Academy. What appealed to me about Daraja was the way in which everyone involved with the school works to empower the girls to exceed the expectations set for them by society and ensure that they are equipped with the skills they need to be successful citizens in the global 21st century and to be the change agents their communities needs. I look forward to getting to know the girls and helping them find their voice!
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