Ethiopia, with its vast fertile west, verdant forests and numerous rivers, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa in the northeast corner of the continent, home to 115 million people (World Bank, 2020). It’s also where some of the world’s oldest known human remains were discovered, and home to ancient cities and rich cultural history. 

Ethiopia also faces many challenges. Almost a quarter of the population live below the national poverty line, and a large portion of the population lives in rural areas, where many children forgo schooling to help their families at home. Food security, financial opportunities, access to education, clean water, sanitation facilities and basic health care are all issues that most Ethiopians deal with on a daily basis. 

WE Charity’s work in Ethiopia was made possible by a partnership with imagine1day.

WE Charity worked in the Tigray and Oromia regions, partnering with communities through our holistic five-pillar development model. This community-led, sustainable model starts with education, usually building or renovating schools or school rooms (including classrooms, libraries, kitchens, teachers’ accommodations, and school offices), that are then supported by other infrastructure needs key to breaking the cycle of poverty. 

Education programming in Ethiopia includes teacher training, equipping educators with tools and skills to help their students reach their full potential. For students, school clubs such as sports and literature help them build leadership skills and confidence, provides spaces for them to share ideas and opinions, and helps them gain knowledge they then share with their families. Girls’ clubs, in particular, help empower girls to be advocates of their own education and encourage other girls in the community to enroll in school.  We also work with parents and community leaders to promote the value of education, especially for girls.