Nasaruni Academy for Maasai Girls

Abstract

Dr. Michelle Cude, Associate Professor of Middle, Secondary, and Mathematics Department, was recently granted a 17-18 Fulbright Scholarship for her work in Narok, Kenya. Fueled by having an international exchange teacher, Alice Sayo, in her Methods of Teaching Social Studies course, Dr. Cude’s work began in 2011 when Alice shared her dream of opening a school in her community. Dr. Cude helped to raise $7,000 to buy 5 acres of land, and she did not stop there. Since its opening in 2012, The Nasaruni Academy for Maasai Girls, has grown from 13 students to 80 students as of January \u2717. Nasaruni, meaning “haven” in the Maasai language, is a place for Maasai girls to learn English, Swahili, math, social studies, geography and sciences in the standard curriculum required by the Kenyan government. Dr. Cude serves as the faculty advisor for JMU’s Future Social Studies Educators, a campus club that often fundraises for the Academy through events like Empty Bowls, which made just over$9,000 on March 31, 2017 for necessary improvements at the school