In addition to participating in events like Bay to Breakers, visiting campus, and staying up to date with Daraja on our Facebook and Twitter, supporters have a unique opportunity to sponsor a student on Daraja’s campus. This sponsor-student relationship is incredibly special, since the students really treasure their sponsor’s contribution to their education.

Students communicate with their sponsors and sponsors are able to respond. In addition, sponsors are welcome to visit campus to meet the student they support and learn more about her life.

At the end of each term, students spend an hour or two writing letters to their sponsors. It is an exciting time that students look forward to each term. In their letters, students tell their sponsors all about things that happened over the term, things that they are learning in class, and share stories of their families, backgrounds, and experiences. They also include drawings, poetry, stories, or whatever else they’d like in their packages, to share their talents and passions with the people who make Daraja possible.

Not surprisingly, most students develop a very strong bond with their sponsor. The connection is highly personal and incredibly rewarding. Many sponsors look forward to funding another student after theirs has graduated. To raise funds, many sponsors hold fundraising events, ask for gifts of donations in their name, and save money throughout the year in order to support their student.

Lauren Goff, a 22 year old California native, has had a wonderful experience sponsoring Jael, who will be a third year student in January. Lauren has visited Daraja’s campus twice and has developed a close relationship with many of the girls, but her relationship with Jael is especially special. Lauren often sells crafts such as rings and bracelets that Daraja girls have taught her how to hand make to continue supporting Jael.

On campus the pair of them are nearly inseparable, and Lauren consistently sends letters of support Jael’s way when exams are coming up. One of the highlights for Lauren is that, through sponsorship, she is able to know Jael’s life and the things she likes and wishes for. She continues:

“I am able to do something about that and help her to achieve her goals. I love sponsoring Jael and I cherish every moment that I am able to spend with her. Sponsoring her allows me to really be a part of Daraja’s movement in a tangible way, in empowering the young girls of Kenya. Each girl at Daraja has dreams just like Jael. Running alongside them, rooting for them the entire way is an absolute blessing and one of my greatest joys.”

Jael’s face brightens when she is reminded of Lauren. “She is my sister,” Jael reports, “I can do anything because of Lauren. I love her. I miss her.”

 

For information about sponsoring a Daraja girl, contact us at info@daraja.org!