Imagine this: a local high school girl hears about the need to raise $13,000 for a girls’ school in northwestern Kenya. She creates an organization and raises the money. She does not stop there and establishes a program for these poor and orphaned girls, providing a free semester of education in America.
Christian Academy of Louisville then-senior, now alumna, Andria Myers was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from AXA Prudential in recognition of her volunteer work that raised money for the Covenant Peace Christian School in Kenya and for establishing a program that allows girls from that school to receive free schooling in America.
“I heard about a special girls’ school in northwestern Kenya. It was created because there is a huge issue with gender inequality there,” Myers said. “Because of cultural norms, girls are often denied an education, marry young or have to leave school to help support their families. There was one school that was trying to change that, but they needed help. Covenant Peace Christian School needed $13,000 for a science lab and kitchen.”
In 2011, Andria founded Project H.O.P.E. (Helping Orphans Prosper through Education) to meet this need. An art show through Project H.O.P.E. helped raise $7,000 for the science lab, plus an additional $6,000 to build the school a kitchen. Though the art show was a success, Andria realized there was more work to be done.
As a student at Christian Academy, Andria recognized an immediate resource that might help reach out on a one-on-one basis to the Kenyan School. Administrators agreed to create a program that would allow a student from Covenant Peace School to attend Christian Academy for free for a semester. Andria raised an additional $17,000 through fundraising presentations to cover transportation and other expenses. After spending a semester at Christian Academy, the student returns home to Kenya to share her experiences. Andria has since passed this project onto another leadership team to ensure its continued funding.
Mercy, the first girl to participate in this program, graduated first in her class at Covenant Peace and will return to America with a full tuition scholarship to the University of the Cumberlands.
Andria is the only Kentucky AXA Achievement Scholarship winner this year. She will be attending the University of Oklahoma this fall.
The Christian Academy English Station campus provides learning for pre-K through 12th grade serving
1600 students. In 2010 it was designated a National Blue Ribbon High School of Excellence, recognizing
its academic performance in the top 1% of high schools nationwide. It is part of the Christian Academy
School System, the largest Christian school system in the country with additional campuses in St.
Mathews, Shively and New Albany, Indiana. For additional information, visit their website here.
Photo Courtesy of Christian Academy of Louisville.
