Student Selection
Criteria for Admission
Financial Need
All Daraja girls come from homes of material poverty. If a potential student is able to attend secondary school in any other way (paying their own tuition, room and board, obtaining a scholarship etc.), they do not meet this first criteria.
Academic Achievement
Each applicant submits their 8th grade examination (KCPE) results, as well as records of their primary school performance. Selected students typically score at least 320 on their KCPEs and rank amongst the highest in their primary schools.
Diversity
Daraja believes that diversity is a critical component of education, and actively selects students from diverse geographic, tribal, and religious backgrounds. Currently, our student body represents 32 tribes and multiple religions.
Leadership Potential
We’re looking for girls who have demonstrated courage, grit, determination, compassion, kindness, and a dedication to bettering both their own lives and the lives of others. In short, we’re looking for future leaders.
Recruitment
For years, members of the Daraja Academy team have travelled all over Kenya, giving presentations about the school, answering questions, and conducting interviews. We also work with partner organizations, who refer potential students to us. Daraja is now well-known throughout the country, and attracts hundreds of applications each year. Our resources our finite, which makes the admission process extremely competitive: historically, only 1 of out of every 10 applicants is offered a place. We hope to grow to be able to serve more students.
Our Partners
The Selection Process
Application
Each applicant fills out a questionnaire on their family and financial background, and answers a series of essay questions.
References
Applicants must provide names of people in their community who can vouch for their aptitude and financial need.
Interview
The selection panel reviews applications and invites top candidates to an in-person interview.
Matriculation
The Selection Panel calls successful candidates and offers them a full 4-year scholarship to Daraja Academy.
Apply Now!
If you are interested in applying, or know a Kenyan girl with exceptional leadership potential, please email education@daraja.org!
