Graduation 2013

    In the summer of 2009 I quit my job and left for Kenya. I had just been rejected from medical school, and was totally lost. I found this quote around that time, and I think about it often:

  "All men should strive
to learn before they die 
what they are running from, and to, and why."
~James Thurber

     My Uncle Jack likes to say his life is split into "volume one" and "volume two", and I'm in the same boat. Those closest to me know that the first 16 years of my life were full of physically, emotionally, and spiritually difficult. I was selfish and self centered to the extreme. The last ten years have been miracle upon miracle, and a large part of that is Daraja Academy. When I say these girls give me hope, they know that I mean it.

     I remember arriving at Daraja to 26 bright smiles. I didn't even know their names but they hugged me and welcomed me to Daraja Academy, the first free secondary school for Kenyan girls. In a few short hours those girls will wake up and prepare for graduation day. On my first trip these girls were just discovering that they were stronger than their circumstances. They now know for sure what it means to be a "woman of integrity, strength, and hope".

    To the outsider it might seem that we have nothing in common. We look different and come from vastly different backgrounds, but we know the truth. These girls are my spiritual counterparts- they are my heart. So if you girls are reading this (now that there is internet at Daraja!), I hope you know that you have changed every fiber of my being. You make me whole. I know that even if our paths diverge at this point, we will walk along knowing each night that we have the same stars above us and the same spark inside of us. I love you to the moon and back (and forth and back and forth...) I'm living my dreams because you showed me it was possible - now get out there and change the world!

 Daraja is a force. These girls are not only the future of Kenya, but a shining example of how hard work and faith in your abilities can move mountains - or in our case, build bridges.

Daraja means bridge, and WE ARE DARAJA! 

Calling all do-gooders!

Happy New Year!

I warned a few months back that I was going to be updating the blog more frequently, and now that we are in 2011 the fun can begin! As many of you know I am planning to return to Kenya this summer to complete my masters Practicum and Thesis at Daraja! I will be planning and implementing a health education program on campus, as well as teaching CPR again. Additionally, I will be visiting the local hospital to gather some data on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of young mothers. I'm hoping to find out why so many Kenyan children suffer from diarrheal disease, even though their mothers are aware of the causes.

So Christmas eve I get an email from Mount Sinai that basically says "oops! We ran out of money, so you get nothing for your trip to Kenya... but you have to go anyway!" Perfect. Luckily I anticipated having to do some fundraising, but definitely wasn't prepared to try and raise nearly $4,000! Between airfare (2 grand), compensation for research participants (a few hundred), living expenses (i can swing $2 a day x 8 weeks), and supplies (a few hundred) I really need some help! Here are my ideas so far:

Car wash (early june)

selling Daraja shirts (already have them - let me know if you want one)

bar nights in NYC (once the weather is warmer)

raffles

selling organs on the black market (i only need one kidney!)

Do you have any ideas? Are you in a band and want to put on a charity concert? Do you know how to cook and want to do a potluck? Is your best friends cousin dating a celebrity who loves Africa? Whatever your talent I can use all the help I can get!

And it's not just money, it's spreading awareness! If you don't got the funds - spread the word! Email my blog to your friends and co workers, do some research on the importance of female education in third world countries, or the devastation of diarrheal disease in Africa.

Be prepared for invites to fundraisers in the near future, and email me your brilliant ideas at mgaughra@gmail.com

Kenya Dig It? I bet you can!