Raquel Kasham Daniel empowers marginalised children and girls through education, health awareness, and community-driven social initiatives.
Raquel Kasham Daniel is a Nigerian social entrepreneur, educator, and author who has dedicated her career to improving access to education, empowering marginalised children and girls, and building sustainable models for community transformation across Nigeria and Africa.
Her journey began with a personal story. Raised by a father who treated her as an equal and encouraged her to dream big, she grew up believing that girls could achieve anything when given opportunity and support. That conviction shaped her life’s mission to reach those who didn’t have the same privilege.
In 2011, she founded Beyond the Classroom Foundation, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organisation focused on empowering children and adolescent girls from underserved, rural, and conflict-affected communities.
The foundation addresses barriers that keep children, especially girls, from accessing education and staying in school. Through its Set4School program, it provides free school supplies to underprivileged children, supports extracurricular learning, and organises enrollment drives to increase school participation.
Additionally, the foundation trains teachers, renovates classrooms, and supports learning clubs to enhance teaching quality and student engagement. For children affected by poverty or displacement, the foundation assists their families, especially single mothers and widows, recognising that a child’s education is tied to family stability.
Raquel Kasham Daniel also focuses on sexual and reproductive health education for adolescent girls. Through programs that include menstrual health workshops and reproductive rights awareness, Beyond the Classroom helps girls understand their bodies, challenge taboos, and build confidence. Her book, FLOW: A Girl’s Guide to Menstruation, has become a widely used resource in schools and communities, providing girls with the right information to manage menstruation effectively.
Under her leadership, the foundation has mobilised over 5,000 volunteers across Nigeria, delivering educational materials, conducting health outreach programs, and leading poverty-alleviation drives. Its flagship project, Reignite Academy, supports out-of-school girls through academic tutoring, life skills training, mentorship, and psychosocial support.
A recent evaluation showed that 20 adolescent girls graduated from the academy after years of being out of school due to early marriage, poverty, or loss of parents. These girls were successfully reintegrated into formal schooling after rebuilding academic foundations and self-esteem.
Also, the social entrepreneur co-founded Bambini Africa, creators of Bambini Books and Bambini TV, which promote early childhood literacy and cultural awareness among young children in Nigeria. She also built Voluserve (formerly Nzuriaiki.com), an online platform connecting nonprofits with volunteers across Africa.
Furthermore, Raquel Kasham Daniel developed educational games like the Go Girl board game and the Books Over Boys booklet to help girls challenge harmful social norms and develop leadership skills.
Her work has earned her several recognitions, including the African Luther King Heroes Award, for her contributions to social impact and education.
