Example of Rural Schools in Ethiopia

The following shows a typical example of rural schools in Ethiopia. This school would be similar to the schools Kick Poverty hopes to support.

Wadla is in North Wollo zone in Amhara region. Most of the area is highlands, and 62% of land is under cultivation. The rainfall in Wadla is unreliable making the area arid. Wadla has suffered repeatedly from food shortages and recurrent famine.

However there is progress ! - see below background on a typical rural school.

Lining up for school - it is the same the world over !

As one of the teachers called Melkamzerf, explains……

"The children come for lessons from 11.30 to 2.30 in the afternoon. We sing songs, tell stories, play games, and I teach the children to read and write and do sums, and even a little English! The children love coming here; they make friends and have a good time learning.

But there are still problems. Wadla is predominantly an expanse of rolling hills - more than 3000m above sea level. Families in Wadla don't get enough to eat, and most children have to learn here with no food in their stomachs. It's very hard for them to concentrate when they are hungry."

Melkamzerf in action !

"I work as a teacher in an Access school in Wadla. I really enjoy teaching here. It makes me happy to share knowledge I've gained. It's very important for the girls to come to school. Education helps girls become more self-reliant and improves their job opportunities. It's important when they get married too."

Teacher Setiarige Getaneh with the pupils at the Megna Meda Access school.

Learning the Amharic alphabet.

Amharic is the official language in Ethiopia but more than 100 other languages are spoken. English is used in all secondary and higher education, and often used in government institutions and commerce.