In recent years, a number of Kent School teachers have dedicated their time to supporting the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA). An all-girls boarding school, initially founded in Afghanistan and now relocated to Rwanda, SOLA provides Afghan girls with education and hope.
For the past four summers, Mrs. Benjamin, Kent’s French teacher and Modern and Classical Languages Department Chair, has spent her summer at SOLA, and this year she was joined by Ms. Callahan, a member of the Science Department.
“It’s been an incredible experience every time,” Mrs. Benjamin shared. “Each summer looks a little different depending on what the girls need.” Reflecting on her first trip four years ago, Mrs. Benjamin recalled that the experience initially felt intimidating; “Being in the middle of Africa” was far outside her comfort zone and what she was used to. However, as time passed, she found herself not only adapting but also deeply inspired and affected by the students and their resilience.
For Mrs. Callahan, regardless of her first year going to SOLA, her experiences were deeply impactful and transformative. “From the moment I arrived, I felt this incredible sense of purpose and joy,” she said. “You could feel how much the girls wanted to learn, not just for themselves, but for their families and their country.”
One student, in particular, has left a lasting and impactful impression this year for Mrs. Benjamin. This girl, who had spent four years in a refugee camp before arriving at SOLA, had her first class in Mrs. Benjamin’s classroom. “She wrote down everything I said,” she shared. “She even sent her notes home to her brothers so that they could learn, too.” These moments at SOLA, she said, reminded her how education at SOLA extends far beyond the boundaries of the classroom, how vital education is at SOLA, which can help not only the students, but their families.
“The structure of the schedule has been different each year,” she said. Each day at SOLA was filled with academics, sports, and community activities. Every student will rotate through subjects, just like at Kent, and between English classes and volleyball or sports, they will have daily assemblies that include singing the Afghan national anthem, reciting their pledge to serve their country, and celebrating success from the previous day. “It really feels like one community,” Mrs. Benjamin said. “There were exactly 100 girls this summer, and every one of them was eager to learn and connect.”
Some memories are more unexpected. “One weekend, I took the girls horseback riding,” Mrs. Benjamin said with a laugh. “Another time, a bus ride was delayed because monkeys were blocking the road. You suddenly realize it’s a city with schools and businesses, but it’s also full of surprises like animals.” Mrs. Callahan was able to bring students to a local women-run business. “I took my students to a bakery run entirely by women,” she recalled. “They weren’t just baking bread. They were running a business, leading with confidence, and supporting their families.”
SOLA’s summer volunteer program attracts a diverse group of teachers and professionals from around the world, making the school a vibrant and supportive community. The teachers form lasting connections beyond their time at SOLA; they stay in touch through chats and sharing memories, such as coffee tasting in Rwanda on International Coffee Day, which Mrs. Benjamin shared with joy. “We’re all united by a sense of purpose, and the fun, memorable experiences we share together.”
Living in Rwanda provided both of them with a new cultural insight. “I learned to say murakoze murakoze (“thank you” in Kinyarwanda), which was an important word to know,” Mrs. Benjamin said. “Being in a place where I was visibly different helped me understand what it’s like to stand out and still feel so welcomed.”
“I didn’t know much about Afghanistan before going,” Mrs. Benjamin admitted. “Now, when I read the news, it’s personal. When the Taliban shut off the internet for three days, the girls couldn’t contact their families. It was heartbreaking.”
Looking ahead, SOLA will continue expanding this year. A new campus, ten times larger than its current site, is being constructed in Rwanda, and will help to grow the student population from 100 to 300 girls. Mrs. Benjamin strongly hopes to return next summer to see the progress, as does her husband, Mr. Benjamin, science teacher at Kent, who wishes to return as well to help design the school’s new science curriculum. When Mrs. Callahan visited the construction site, she said, “Seeing the new classrooms being built, knowing that hundreds more girls will soon have a chance to learn.”
For Mrs. Benjamin and Mrs. Callahan, the experience at SOLA is more than teaching. “It’s community,” they both said. “From sharing meals to learning names to seeing their confidence grow, it is inspiring.” And when asked to use one word to describe SOLA, they did not hesitate: “It is inspiring.”
