FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why do you fund only women?
The problems of poverty affect both men and women, boys and girls. However, evidence shows that women and girls not only constitute a disproportionate percentage of people living in poverty, but they also disproportionately suffer the effects of poverty (e.g. higher mortality rates, poorer nutrition and limited access to education).

2. Why is there no individual donor-student relationship?
While many potential donors might be interested in knowing more about and developing a relationship with the student their money is assisting, Akili Dada believes that the girls’ privacy and safety takes priority. The donor-student relationship can easily turn into a patronizing one or one that unfairly benefits girls with traits that are preferable to particular donors. Furthermore, Akili Dada stresses that our mission is to address the structural problem of lack of female leadership and lack of ability by girls living in poverty to achieve their dreams. Individual donor-student relationships detract from the structural issues of poverty and girls’ positions in society as well as from the importance of girls’ education and leadership for deepening democracy at a systematic level. Akili Dada is also changing the way people around the world relate to Africa – enabling a collaborative, but still respectful effort to change lives.

3. Why don’t you disclose the student’s names?
Akili Dada’s first concern is for the safety of our scholars. We try to balance concerns for transparency with those of our student’s privacy by posting only the pictures of our scholarship recipients on the internet. This is to put faces to our work while protecting our scholars from stigmatization due to their class status. We also want the girls themselves to direct their own paths, which can be disrupted by publicity. Our board and advisors, however, are easily identified and contacted online.

4. Why don’t you focus on sending even more students to cheaper schools?
Akili Dada is distinct from other organizations by focusing not only on African girls’ education but primarily on a long term commitment to leadership training. Education is only one facet of getting more women in leadership positions. We work with driven and motivated girls who are hungry for the opportunities afforded at a leading secondary school. As noted on our Scholarships page, the girls must stay in school and meet particular requirements, which will better prepare these girls for becoming leaders in their chosen fields.

5. Do you have any religious affiliations?
No, we do not. We will openly work with religious organizations that wish to sponsor scholars, but we do not have any direct ties with any particular faith. We also work with Kenyan girls of all religious affiliation.

6. Kenya has many different ethnic and linguistic groups – do the Akili Dada Scholars reflect this diversity?
Yes! Akili Dada scholarships are awarded solely on the basis of merit and financial need. While we do not have a quota system our board and the 2006 and 2007 Akili Dada scholars reflect the kind of ethnic diversity we are committed to as an organization.

7. What systems do you have in place to avoid nepotism and maintain integrity?
To avoid nepotism our own constitution stipulates that relatives and close personal friends of Akili Dada’s Board and Council of Advisors are not eligible for scholarships. We are also committed to fiscal integrity and shun corruption in all its forms. We work directly with secondary schools where our recipients are enrolled and do not engage in direct financial transactions with the families of the recipients. Donors are encouraged to read the Akili Dada Constitution, scrutinize our accounting practices and to visit our institutional partners in Kenya.

8. Do you have a political affiliation or mission?
No, Akili Dada is not partisan. Furthermore, we encourage girls to become leaders not only in politics but in any field they choose; from science, technology, business, government to the arts.

9. Do you only work with girls pursuing certain careers?
No, Akili Dada strongly believes that girls must define their own goals. Through our program, the girls will do a self assessment at the end of each year to determine their interests, strengths and weaknesses, what they should do differently, and how they developed and changed as scholars and people. Accordingly, we will assist and expose them to different opportunities, and with the help of mentors, encourage them to define and articulate their own dreams and goals.

10. Can I create a fund in honor of someone dear to me?
Yes! We are happy to work with you to create a fund that will honor a loved one while giving the ultimate gift: an education that will guarantee a bright future. Please contact us to customize your gift.

11. What is your relationship to the One World Children’s Fund?
One World Children’s Fund (OWCF) is Akili Dada’s fiscal and legal home. Our partnership with OWCF allows U.S. donors the legal ability to make tax-deductible contributions to Akili Dada. Our partnership also enables Akili Dada to safely navigate the increasingly complex post 9-11 legal framework in relation to international money transfers. In exchange, our relationship requires that we comply with the strict standards and continual monitoring of our activities from OWCF.