Caught in the whirlwind of deliverables and meetings, I was neglecting the extra time my daughter needed for learning at home. When I took her for a gifted test in 2022 at the age of 4, the results hit me hard—she didn't pass by a mere 4 percentage points.

My heart wrenched at the thought of my daughter not gaining admission to top-tier schools in St. Louis, all because of 4 points. With tears streaming down my face—and prayers wailing—I made a decision. I put my journalism career on pause to focus on exercising my daughter’s higher-level thinking skills. As Puma and I delved into lessons together, exploring subjects beyond the standard curriculum, I resumed my full-time role as her guide, mentor, and cheerleader, determined to unlock her potential.

The transformation was immediate. Puma was getting 10 out of 10 on learning prompts and saying things like, "I want to do all 100 questions!" The day of the next gifted test arrived. I held my breath as she skipped off with her test proctor into the quiet room. "Of course my child is gifted, all children are gifted. But God, let her show it today, no matter the test given!” When the results came in, I yelped with joy — Puma scored way beyond the 90th percentile!

“Can I take the test every week?” Puma asked. “That was fun!” My heart swelled. “I knew you’d do great!” her Dad said when we got home. This pivotal moment confirmed my desire to create empowered tools for my children, and all children. Soon, Jaifunde was born, delivering what worked for my daughter and I to the masses. 

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In less than a year, we have gone from offering downloadable, off-screen activity books designed to help parents boost their child's learning at home to becoming a fully-fledged Educational Resources & Consulting Firm, that provides curriculum direction for in-person and online learning to charter schools, tutoring agencies, and educational institutions across the U.S.  

Drawing on my experience in journalism, the performing arts, business and strategic content creation, we craft curricula that are foundational, multi-level, engaging and rooted in real-life experiences and culture. From literacy to geometry, our work reflects the integration of rich culture and academic practices, capable of taking any student, classroom and teacher from good to great!

Jaifunde, which means "Learn It" in Swahili, is now a go-to catalyst for holistic, brave, and transformative learning. Working with people like you, we are restoring the power of education to heal, develop, and nurture our children into becoming the masters of their universe, as we know they are.

#MyTestimonyMyMission #AllChildrenAreGifted  #UnlockPotential

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