Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin, both teachers at Kent School, have spent several summers volunteering at SOLA, an all-girls boarding school, which was originally in Afghanistan, and has now been located in Rwanda. The school provides Afghan girls an opportunity for education which is forbidden in their country. The Benjamins shared insights and experiences from their time teaching at SOLA, including the challenges, rewards, and cultural takeaways that shaped their views on education and community.
The opportunity to teach at SOLA came through a faculty email sent by Mr. Hirschfeld in 2022. “I was drawn to the chance to teach students who have such a hunger for education,” explained Mr. Benjamin, who teaches Chemistry and Environmental Science. “These girls have had to overcome immense obstacles to even attend school, and that kind of determination is inspiring.” Mrs. Benjamin, a French teacher and Department Chair at Kent, echoed the sentiment: “It was important to return each summer to provide consistency for the students, and it’s incredible to witness their progress.”
For the Benjamins, teaching at SOLA was an opportunity to engage with students from a dramatically different educational background. Afghanistan’s strict laws limiting education for girls made their role at SOLA all the more significant. Mr. Benjamin reflected on the school’s powerful emphasis on education: “I think one of the ways that SOLA promotes learning so effectively is through giving the girls a very concrete sense of the power of education and the opportunities it will provide for them,” he explained. “For students who come from a country where education for girls is illegal beyond the sixth grade, it’s particularly empowering and motivating.”
Despite the challenges of adapting to a new cultural environment, including long travel distances and unfamiliar surroundings, the Benjamins quickly adjusted. Mr. Benjamin initially worried about language barriers and how the students would respond to a male teacher. “I was concerned that the girls might not be comfortable with a male teacher, but they adapted quickly, and it became clear that their focus was on learning,” he noted.
Mrs. Benjamin faced different challenges in Rwanda’s bustling capital, Kigali. “It’s a very different city from anything in the U.S. No chain stores, no familiar conveniences like McDonald’s or Walmart. It forced me to get comfortable in a completely new environment,” she shared. But the cultural differences added to the richness of their experience.
One memorable moment for Mr. Benjamin was chaperoning a safari trip with younger students. “It was amazing to see their excitement. It was their first time seeing animals like giraffes and rhinos, and it was my first African safari as well,” he recalled.
The Benjamins returned to Kent with renewed perspectives on education. “One of the biggest takeaways is the appreciation these girls have for learning,” Mr. Benjamin said. “They don’t take anything for granted.” Mrs. Benjamin emphasized the sense of community: “At SOLA, the intimate relationships and simplicity of education there were incredibly powerful.”
Looking ahead, the Benjamins hope to return to SOLA, both for the adventure and to support the students’ continued growth. “It’s an honor to be part of their journey,” Mrs. Benjamin concluded. “Teaching at SOLA was not just an adventure,” Mr. Benjamin said, “it was a reminder of what education can truly mean for those who fight to have it.”
