Akili Dada
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Can clearly see where the funding goes! Finally, an organization that gives disadvantaged and bright Kenya women hope!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The KCSE results the girls get!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
none! It's perfect!
I have been part of Akili Dada from almost the very beginning as a scholar and now as a member of the advisory council representing the scholars and alumnae. Numerous opportunities have opened up for me just by virtue of being a scholar. Not only was I able to successfully complete my secondary education,but I also interacted with some of Kenya's most successful women who gave me invaluable tips on how to conciously prepare my path to greatness. The mentoring I received served not only to enable me to be more deliberate when making choices but to also realise I am a resource that the community around me could use; that rising up includes looking back and pulling up someone with me. Akili Dada teaches me every day that intelligence means nothing unless it comes with character and a desire to make a change.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
In making everyday choices in my life as a College Student, and as a mentor to High School girls in my neighbourhood. The mentoring I received heavily influences my desire to and style of mentoring, as well as helping me make the most of my college experience.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Expand it to other partner schools so more brilliant girls could also reap the benefits
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of advisors?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
Akili Dada has such a strong vision for what's possible when girls get the right education and exposure to role models. Their work helps girls raise their goals and also helps mentors see the value of their work on a new dimension. The leadership of this group has high standards for performance and is committed to building sustainable programs that encourage and strengthen existing educational infrastructure.
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The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
extremely professional, qualified, and high-level.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I have been an intern for Akili Dada for four years now. I have chosen to make a large commitment to this amazing organization because I believe in its values and want to support them. It is women-focused, it has a long-term vision, it takes a positive approach, and it encourages innovation. I have been fortunate enough to work one-on-one with the founder/executive director throughout my internship, and from building a relationship with her, have full trust in the thoughtfulness, intelligence, and experience that she brings to Akili Dada. She has proven to me, through her articulate explanations of the amount of foresight that went into Akili Dada before it got off the ground, that Akili Dada has great promise. I believe in the brilliance of our scholars.
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The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
beautiful, intelligent, driven women.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
As an intern with Akili Dada I have been able to see the inner workings of a non profit organization that I hope others will strive to emulate. I have spent some time studying the ethics of aid as well as the politics of development and I respect the ways in which this organization has taken into account so many issues with donations before actually getting into this type of work. One specific example of this is the fact that this organization raises the full amount of tuition and fees for a student for all four years before giving the scholarship to the student. This ensures that no matter what happens in the long run with economic downturns, these girls will be able to continue their education. I respect the amount of thought goes behind every decision, weighing the outcomes that are forseeable.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Learning about how much this organization has changed the life of people.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Students, professors, and people in the community that are all dedicated to the goals of Akili Dada.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Change the education system in Kenya and begin thinking about other countries in Africa.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
As an intern with Akili Dada for almost six months now, I have been blown away at how true the organization is to its mission, how strong and dedicated the executive director and the organization's supporters are, and at the impact that is made in Kenya. The growth of Akili Dada's work to come is going to be monumental and I am excited to be a part of it. On a minuscule budget, this organization pulls resources and skills together from diverse leaders in California and elsewhere to be able to give the most to the scholars in Kenya. With sustainable principles, like the mentorship program, I believe this is a model organization to follow. In my experience at a fundraiser, people on the Peninsula who donate regularly to non profits are pleased with the results and work of Akili Dada and will hopefully keep supporting us!
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the stimulating conversations and people I have learned from all due to supporting future brilliant Kenyan leaders.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
When I first learned about Akili Dada's mission, I was a senior in college and desperately looking for some way to combine my field of study (international studies) and my passion for social justice and international development. I learned that Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg, Akili Dada's founder and Executive Director and also my professor at the time, was in need of interns to help with the nonprofit's administration and development. I jumped at the chance to get involved, and since then have become passionate about Akili Dada's mission and have found my volunteer work with the organization to be incredibly fulfilling. It's an honor to be part of building this new but highly necessary and functional organization from the ground up!
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
being a part of shaping such a young and promising organization. It's great to work closely with everyone involved and to learn more about the ways in which Akili Dada successfully gives underprivileged Kenyan girls a chance at pursuing their dreams.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
incredibly dedicated and passionate about Akili Dada's mission; they volunteer their time because they believe strongly in the kind of positive change the organization is effecting in Kenya.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
change the lives of countless young Kenyan women by giving them a chance to pursue their education and be mentored to become a strong, successful, and dedicated leader for their country.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
Akili Dada is a remarkable organization, using effective methods to support excellent female students in Kenya, create networks among professional women and mentoring relationships between professionals and students, and bring more voices to the leadership of Kenya. The students' stories are touching, the financial policies sound, and the vision wonderful.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
seeing the way it changes girls' lives and reading their stories. I also enjoy feeling confident that my donation is put to excellent use.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
motivated, professional, dedicated, and very smart.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
In Kenya, High Schools charge tuition. If a family is poor, they generally just send the boys to school. As a result, many young women do not have the opportunity to become educated leaders in government and business. Akili Dada changes lives - and it will change Kenya. Sometimes it is hard to see all the suffering in the world and know what to do about it. But Akili Dada finds brilliant young women scholars in Kenya and provides them with a great high school education so that they can change their country. I have volunteered for and donated to Akili Dada since its inception, and continue to be involved because of the high impact and stellar leadership in Kenya and the US. Akili Dada is a fund of the California based Tides Foundation, and is overseen by the governing board, international board, and advisors. The money is safe, and it does good.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
hearing the impact on the young women's lives when they have the opportunity to excel in school.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
seeing Akili Dada develop from a glimmer in Wanjiru's eye to a full fledged international NGO with high school graduates.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
professional and motivated to make a difference.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
make Kenya a beacon for progress.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
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