Barriers of Education

1. Income: In many rural communities in Africa where families live on less than $2 per day, education becomes out of reach. Earning a steady income is a privilege as many are not able to get regular paying jobs. This makes it difficult for families to afford paying school fees for students to attend school. While education may be valued by some families simply paying any amount to attend school is almost impossible for them. Our scholarship program helps alleviate this burden from families.

2. Gender Inequality: In the same communities that Rising Daisies works, boys are favored over girls in families. This means girls are left behind at home and boys have the opportunity to attend school and attain their education. This continues to increase the gender inequality between boys and girls in the education sector. It is with this that we are giving a special emphasis in educating girls in the communities that we serve.

3. Ignorance: Families that live on less than $2 per day find it hard to plan long term. Education is a long term investment that could take years for the individual to reap the benefits. Therefore, families find is less appealing and advantageous to invest the little funds they have on education. However, it is evident that families that attain invest in education, in the long run are able to breakout of the cycle of poverty.

Student Sponsorship

Through the student sponsorship program, students are awarded annual scholarships to alleviate all or part of the financial burden of attending secondary school according to their needs. Scholarship funds cover all the needs of the students including but not limited to: tuition, school supplies, books, etc. Due to an immense need for scholarships, most students are required to be high-performing students in order to receive a scholarship. Students are recommended by the administrators of their respective schools and selected by Rising Daisies representatives. Currently 40 students are enrolled in the program.

Pads

While equality in education is fully accepted in most parts of Africa, unfortunately, it is not the reality. An extra focus on girls is needed in order to bridge gender inequality. One way that Rising Daisies is addressing this inequality is through our pads program.

Girls often stay home from school the week of their periods. This absenteeism is in part because of a cultural stigma associated with menstruation that is made worse by the lack of access to period products many girls in low-income households face. No matter the reason, the bottom line is girls are missing 1/4 of their education due to periods.

Rising Daises aims to address this gender inequality in the simplest form - by providing pads to all girls at two local high schools. Each month, our mentors visit the schools to distribute a pack of pads to each girl. Periods are no longer a reason for these students to miss school. These monthly sessions are also an opportunity for mentorship and personal connections between the students and the Rising Daisies team.

Student Mentorship

Students enrolled in Rising Daisies’ sponsorship program will automatically be enrolled in the mentorship program. This program aims to impart necessary knowledge and support needed outside the classroom. The program provides monthly opportunities for a locally-led mentorship team to meet with the students at their respective schools. Mentors will will include college graduates, business, and community leaders. Mentors will provide the local and cultural foundation for the students to be be productive citizens. Currently there are three mentors supporting the program in Kenya.

Benefits of Mentorship

1. Guidance and Counseling: The students in Ogilgei Secondary School come from various backgrounds with several challenges in their home environments. Additionally, the age and stage that their in, is an intergral part that would play a big role in their future success. Parents and guardians who are working odd jobs and didn’t have the opportunity to be educated, most times don’t have the tools needed to support the students outside of the classroom. Rising Daisies works closely with the school and community to bridge this gap.

2. Self-Esteem: From several fact dialogue opportunities with the students at the school, our mentors found that majority of the students struggle with self-esteem. It is with this, that our mentorship program seeks to encourage and support all students regardless of your background, social class or beliefs. Rising Daisies believes that every student deserves to supported and loved unconditionally.

3. Motivation: There is nothing greater than knowing that someone else believes in you and wants to see you reach your full potential. This benefit is something that can’t be quantified but is by far a large benefit to the students in the mentorship program. Life can be challenging, confusing and at times very defeating to the students. It is through the care and support of our mentors that we have found a way to increase the motivation of the students.