Intrepid Classroom

I have been waiting for the right time to introduce the next project because it is one of the most important things in my life. While, I am not sure launching it in conjunction with the Power to The Peaceful Project is the best idea, I can wait no longer. A few of you have already had a glimpse into the Daraja Academy through Facebook and conversations we have had, but now I want to make the official presentation of the Daraja Academy to the readers and members of the IntrepidClassroom in hope that both projects will complement each other and create a synergistic sensation.

Daraja Academy will be the first free secondary school in all of East Africa. In January 2009, 25 girls from Kenya will be given a chance for a secondary education which would otherwise not be possible, given their current economic situation.

The mission of the Daraja Academy is to cultivate a community of individuals with a sense of cultural awareness, social conscience, and environmental responsibility, all while instilling talents that will enable them to open doors to a global society.

I am sure there are thousands of similar project like this worldwide, so what makes this particular project so important to me? It was started by my best friend. I have a personal interest in the success of this school. So where do you come in? I want the Intrepid Classroom to become a marketing and fundraising arm of the Daraja Academy. My dream is that each of you will do the research on Daraja and take what you find back to your schools and start a Daraja Club at your schools. I hope that with my help you will create videos, write blog posts, and do whatever it takes to raise awareness and money for this project.

This is not some ordinary inaccessible online project. Like I said, the founder of Daraja Academy is a very good friend of mine, thus giving me an insider advantage that can make this experience extremely personal for you if you so choose to make it one. I hope that we can create several viable and active clubs that will make your school a sister school to Daraja. This could be the beginning of very long and personal relationship between you and a very worthwhile project.

So where do we start?

1.    Snoop around Daraja’s offical site. Get the details; learn more about the in-and-outs of the school.
2.    Read the official blog, which is being written on the ground by Jason himself. Comment, interact, and get to know Jason.
3.    Watch the videos embedded below and on youtube.
4.    Go to Facebook and sign up as a supporter of the cause and get your friends to join as well.
5.    Share what you find, how you feel with as many people in your life as possible.
6.    Express interest in starting a club at your school by commenting on this blog. I would like to set up a Skype call (possible podcast) to brainstorm ideas of what these clubs will look like and what they will do.

There is a very good chance I will be going to Kenya to visit Jason in December, so it would be great if we could have some substantial offerings to hand over ti him from the IntrepidClassroom.

I hope this will be a yearlong project, so please get in touch with me if you want to be involved. This is a unique opportunity for you to be involved with a very grassroots project to educate young girls in Kenya. There is no bureaucracy, no complicated management, just a man and his dream of starting a school in Kenya. Get involved! Rember Daraja means bridge in Swahili and you are Daraja!

Watch the videos and get started:

If you wan to learn more about the histroy of the campus check out a movie called The Boys of Baraka and to learn more about my relationship with the founder, Jason Doherty, please read this post.