“Education allows me to stand up for myself and motivate more girls to study.” -Joan

Joan is a 15-year-old Kikuyu girl from Msambweni, Kwale County, and will graduate from Daraja with the Class of 2028. She lives with her mother in Ukumba, where they rent a single-room stone house. Joan’s father left before she was born, leaving her mother to raise her alone. Covering rent, food, and school fees has been a constant struggle for the family.

To reach her previous school, Joan woke up at 3 a.m. each day in order to arrive by 7 a.m. Despite the long journey, she served as both the class prefect and subject prefect. Joan explains that she led science discussions and helped her fellow students with revision.

Inspired by her love for science, Joan dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon so she can learn more about the human brain and help others through medicine. Apart from academics, she enjoys playing football, journaling, and singing because these activities bring her happiness.

Joan describes her first day at Daraja as the moment she immediately felt appreciated as a young woman full of strength and hope. That experience gave her an instant boost of self-confidence.