A Resilient Sisterhood: Collaboration in Kenya

“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” -Lilla Watson, Aboriginal activist, educator and artist


Habari friends, family, and community members! I am blessed to work at an amazing school, Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning,  that encourages staff and students to think boldly, take risks, and dare to be leaders in their own learning. Last spring, my principal encouraged me to apply for Ustahimilivu Dadas (Resistance Sisters), an amazing professional development opportunity that connects female leaders in education from the US with Kenyan educators, to collaborate on creating revolutionary and resilient educational systems and best practices. I followed through on her suggestion and I am thrilled and honored to have been chosen as a participant for the 2020 Ustahimilivu Dadas cohort! The dadas are a diverse group of women educators selected from all over the United States who, from February 2-10, will travel in and around Nairobi, Kenya to learn and grow in our field while also providing service to teachers in Nairobi. We will visit communities and schools, learn from our African colleagues there, and facilitate professional development workshops on topics they have requested. We have already begun preparing for our journey with monthly readings, studying Swahili, and meeting with one another online to create professional development sessions for teachers, school leaders, and students in Kenya. I am confident that this program will be a transformative experience that forms lasting global partnerships, opportunity, and growth for both myself, my SAEL community, and our partners in Africa.   


I am hoping to raise money to not only pay for my travel expenses, but to also provide donations to support Kenya Big Picture Learning  and my school Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning.  This opportunity would not be possible without the incredible support of the SAEL administration and the outstretched hand of the Kenya BPL. Both Kenya BPL and SAEL are committed to transforming education and making the world a better place through outreach, service work, and authentic project based learning and I am committed to serving both schools with purpose and passion.  Unfortunately, our incredible programs are not fully funded by outside sources and we must continue to fundraise to make our school visions possible. After covering travel expenses of about $1600, all donations will be shared equally between Kenya BPL and SAEL. Help make the world a better place! Donate today!


I fully appreciate any amount you can donate to support revolutionary education both here and abroad! Continue reading and follow the links for more detailed information on this phenomenal program partnership.


Ustahimilivu Dadas is an educators' exchange in Nairobi, Kenya led by educator and coach Elena Aguilar, founder of  Bright Morning Consulting, and Carol Owala, founder of Kenya Big Picture Learning. This is a program designed to give teachers in Kenya the educational resources necessary to provide an effective learning environment for impoverished areas within the region. Big Picture Learning Kenya “envision(s) a world where all African children access an education that supports the realization of their full potential as individuals and global citizens." During our week long program, we will be visiting and working with school leaders, teachers, and students from schools located in  impoverished communities of Nairobi. Most people in these neighborhoods (75%) are under 18, and nearly 100,000 children are orphaned. At least one quarter of the population is living with HIV or AIDS. Clean running water, electricity, public schools and medical clinics are all extremely scarce.


The challenge in accessing education is one of the main factors that contribute to the cycle of poverty and disempowerment for Kenya’s youth, and our work is intended to support access to education for both Kenyan students and teachers. Until 2003, free public education was not available to Kenyan children. Now, sixteen years after the launch of a public education system, on average, primary school teachers have sixty students in a single classroom. In communities with the most need, students may number as many as one hundred per class. Secondary education is still not guaranteed and provided only through cost-sharing with families, meaning that while the wealthiest students are able to attend school beyond the eighth grade, most students simply cannot afford to continue on. In addition, most teachers receive little to no teacher training or professional development to help support their work in the classroom. 


Beyond raising money to pay for this professional development, as a cohort we are also trying to raise money to donate to Kenya Big Picture learning to provide tuition assistance, school supplies, and hygiene products to support school access and attendance for some of Kenya’s most vulnerable students. Specifically, we are trying to bring at least 1,000 menstrual cups for girls who miss school or drop-out entirely because they lack period products.


Please join me in this fundraiser for the benefit of our shared future!