By Shirley Genga
Radhika Lee or Mrs Lee, as her students fondly refer to her, exudes a rare magnetic pull. Her presence and her inspiring thoughts will grip you within minutes of talking with her.
Lee carries an enviable sense of purpose that points to her undying passion to change the world for the better. This she does with a beaming smile that is as contagious as her zeal for life.
Mrs Radhika Lee |
Growing up, Lee, a native of south India in Kerela, always desired to work in the diplomatic circles. While undertaking her postgraduate studies, she began teaching and it was then she realised she adored children.
In 1986, she moved to Kenya and taught in Mombasa for about a year before moving to Nairobi, where she worked in different schools as an English teacher before subsequently becoming the head of department, senior teacher, assistant principal and, finally, a principal.
Not easy
"I was principal for about a year before I left to start my own school."
Lee admits the decision was not easy.
"I had become too attached to the children in my last school — Jaffery’s — and I had played a crucial role in steering the school to excel in sports doubled during my reign as The number of pupils also principal," she says.
"It was easy to be comfortable but my desire to own a school gave me no peace."
Lee heeded the call and started the Nairobi International School.
From the onset, she knew what she wanted for her school. Her love for children made her aspire to start a school different from others.
"Any teacher ultimately desires to own his or her own school and this was no different for me. All along, I knew the school would be different because my reasons for wanting it were different."
Emphasis on values
Her reasons included great emphasis on values and the importance of the spiritual element in the children’s lives.
"God is to be held paramount, as love and reverence for him produces other values such as compassion, care, honesty, sharing and respect. There is also emphasis on etiquette and manners and my school attempts to fill in the gap for lack of a finishing school in this region," explains Lee.
She was also motivated by her desire to award scholarships to bright children from poor families. She fought to get scholarship opportunities in her former schools. And here, she thought, was a chance to have her way and assist the students.
"I believe God does not bless you on this earth so that you can use your wealth selfishly but to give to the less fortunate. In all the schools I headed, I made sure that scholarship programmes were available. I have also made it my life’s mission to instil in my children the spirit of giving."
Apart from scholarship programmes, Lee personally pays school fees for some children. She is currently paying fees for a pharmacist student at the University of Nairobi.
Joy and solace
"I am glad that God has made me instrumental in bringing joy and solace to many people including some genocide survivors of Rwanda and Indonesia’s tsunami victims."
For the genocide victims she organised a fete that raised about Sh0.5 million and bought mattresses, linen, foodstuff, medicines, books and water tanks for storage of clean water for an orphanage with about 40 children in Kigali. These were airlifted to the orphanage.
"It gave me a lot of satisfaction knowing that we helped.
She championed a weeklong fundraising activities at Jaffery’s and raised Sh350,000 for the tsunami victims. They gave the money to the Indonesian embassy in Nairobi to pass it on to a specific school they had identified in Indonesia.
Eddie Mutua a beneficiary of a basketball scholarship is grateful to Lee for the opportunity she gave him and other children.
Chance to improve
"Ten years ago, I received a scholarship which enabled me to sail through my "A" Levels at St Austin’s for free and exposed my basketball talent. I got a chance to improve my skills in the game," says Eddie.
"Mrs Lee shared her passion for sports with other children. Back then, I did not understand why she encouraged us to engage in sports but now I know that it taught me commitment, teamwork, hard work, discipline and gave me confidence. Most importantly, it kept me out of trouble."
Eddie shares how each time the team won the national leagues, Lee would arrange a trip to America and when they were unable to pay for their air tickets, she would find a way out.
Eddie is now working in the information technology sector in Nairobi.
Lee says her desire to start a school was not based on the money she could get from it but a passion to mould young people for future roles.
As bound to happen in many projects, Lee found starting her own school a tough choice.
The finances she required for the kind of school she had in mind were high. In February 2006, she wrote a proposal, which she presented to various banks but none of them was willing to help.
"I guess for any entrepreneur who does not have the collateral, it is hard to start any business in Kenya," says Lee. "Although many people loved my proposal, they were quite sceptical about the feasibility of a new school bringing back money quickly." At one point she almost gave up but an old friend and employee of International Finance Corporation, Jane Onoka, showed up and talked to her about how GroFin, an African business development and finance company could assist.
That kicked off the process of starting the school. But this too wasn’t easy, especially getting approvals for various documents such as long-term property lease from the City Council.
"If you have dealt with the Nairobi City Council, then you will understand what pains I must have gone through to get these documents processed," says Lee.
Greatly infuriated
But the worst was yet to come: Some Lavington residents took her to court for putting up a school on a property that once housed a bar, restaurant and lodge, a move that greatly infuriated her. The school awaits a ruling sometime next year.
In all the schools Mrs Lee has been a principal, sports always thrived. "It won’t be an exaggeration if I told you, that apart from the coach and his assistant, I was the strength behind St Austin’s basketball team," says Lee.
During her tenure at the school, St Austin’s won a string of basketball tournaments yearly including, the RVA, KPA, Alliance, Mang’u, Nairobi and ISK open.
"We also won the provincial championship for eight consecutive years and the national title six years in a row."
The school also produced some of the best swimmers and soccer players including Eva and Debbie Donde, Chris and David Jones as well as Catherine Rotich.
Lee believes that school is not just about books and says sports is also very important as it helps to build character.
Body and mind
"Sports has an inexplicable effect on one’s body and mind, it not only stimulates your brain, but also cultivates your character. It makes you a team player, instils discipline, makes you determined and leaves you aspiring for higher goals in life. It also opens new career avenues suitable in today’s world."
To show the children the importance of sports, Lee attends all sporting competitions her school takes part in.
Lee intends to get students who have passed through her hands to help come together and raise money to help pay school fees for the less fortunate.
" When I retire I would also like to start a teen harbour for rehabilitation, specifically dealing with youths. The ones we have currently mix the young with adults. This does not handle issues affecting the youths effectively."
Married and a mother of one son, Mrs Lee believes the support her husband and son give have made her successful in her endeavours. Although she lost her parents (mother in 1996, father 2003 and only brother in 2004) and felt like "an orphan", Lee believes she has a reason to be alive. And that is to touch a young person’s heart and make him or her smile.
