ENCINITAS — The Grauer School’s Girl Rising Club was formed in 2013 by students who were inspired by the documentary, “Girl Rising,” which showed the transformative power of girls’ education. The club’s mission is to help provide education for girls around the world, and to explore and discuss challenges girls face abroad and at home.
The club hosted a 12-hour Dance Marathon on January 20, to raise money for Daraja Academy in Nanyuki, Kenya. Daraja Academy is an all-girls boarding school that provides a holistic education for young who would otherwise not be able to continue their schooling due to poverty, arranged marriage and cultural norms that prioritize the education of males.
The Grauer School’s Girl Rising Club first partnered with Daraja Academy in 2016. The relationship strengthened in 2018 when Grauer students went on an expedition to Kenya to visit Daraja, through the school’s Expeditionary Learning program which takes students around the world for cross-cultural immersion, humanitarian work, and team building. In September 2022, The Grauer School also had the opportunity to welcome Evelyne, an 11th grade student from Daraja, to the Grauer campus for a two-day visit. Club members continue to stay in touch with Evelyne, and look forward to visiting her and fellow students on a future Grauer expedition to Daraja, planned for the fall of 2023.
The Dance Marathon event was organized by Girl Rising student leaders, Aviya A. and Sarai S., with the help of mentors Shelley Joslin, Alicia Tembi and Lindsay Zickler. There were 40 students in attendance at the event, with two-person student teams dancing, playing musical chairs, and watching movies over the course of the 12 hours. The winners of the Dance Marathon went home with a prize, as well as the pride earned from staying up and dancing all night. More than $1,300 was raised from ticket sales and sponsorships at the event.
The Girl Rising club has an annual goal of raising at least $2,500 to support one girls’ tuition at Daraja Academy, and the money raised from the Dance Marathon and other fundraising activities allowed the club to reach that goal this year.
