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September 29, 2013 •

The Girl Child: A Poem by Naomi

Naomi is a third year student at The Daraja Academy of Kenya from Rumuruti, Kenya. Her parents are pastoralists and although she excelled as a primary school student, she had no hope of raising the school fees to advance her education. She was admitted to Daraja after resolving to not lose hope. Naomi is now an aspiring poet and lawyer, and her creativity shines through all of her work at Daraja. On a typical day, Naomi can be found writing, drawing, socializing with the many friends she has made, and helping other students with their English studies.

Daraja Academy Celebrates IDG2013

Daraja Academy Celebrates IDG2013

 

Daraja Academy is located in central Kenya outside the town of Nanyuki, about four hours north of Nairobi, Kenya’s capitol city. A boarding secondary school, Daraja provides a quality education to Kenyan girls with top academy scores and exceptional leadership skills, but no means to continue their education past the primary level since secondary school is paired with high school fess in Kenya.

 

 

The Girl Child by Naomi, Form 3 (11th grade)

 

The lives of innocent children have been shattered.

Come look my brethren,

Mighty dreams have been thwarted.

My sister is a commodity of trade,

Only reaching to the third grade,

She found herself under a share,

She became property of an exchange,

Having no say over anything.

I have been longing for revenge,

Heavy penalty but got nothing,

Feel the life of my innocent sister.

 

This is a public outcry.

I insist on stiff measures,

Both in oceans and in dry,

It is a grievance from all creatures,

The inhuman act of RAPE.

Four humiliating offenses,

To my sister who lacks defenses,

Feel the same of my innocent sister.

 

My sister is depressed,

No second for deep rest,

In marriage she is oppressed,

Her property lives in her chest,

Financially she is pressed,

Me beast of burdens is hard-pressed,

No matter how she tries her best,

Her efforts are all compressed,

Restricted from searching her light to the west,

Look! She is denied of her life’s zest,

Why her alone and not the rest?

 

A women has the right to rest,

If allowed she is able to invest,

In enabled she will pass any test,

This is a true word not spoken in jest,

Instilled in me in order to teach the rest,

Feel the discomfort of my innocent sister.

 

Before my heart was burning hot,

But now I am grateful a lot,

Finally I have reached my lot,

I wish to halt on this spot,

Make a change as small as a dot,

To relieve my sister from the pot,

Because there is strength in everything I’ve got,

There is ability in my innocent sister.

 

To learn more about The Daraja Academy of Kenya, visit www.daraja-academy.org.

 

 

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