Ethiopian school enters a new era with the first day of September

One of the goals of our large-scale humanitarian programme being implemented in Afar is to improve the quality of education and make it widely accessible in the region by improving school facilities and creating a safer and more hygienic circumstances for the students. Our efforts are supported by the Hungary Helps Agency, with the project being implemented in cooperation with our local partners, Future Hopes Integrated Development Organization.

As part of this programme, 3 classrooms in the Sideha-Fage school, as well as the library and the kindergarten have now been renovated and refurbished. To ensure that pupils can spend their breaks and extra-curricular time in a safe, child-friendly and sun-protected area, we also built a dining room and purchased indoor and outdoor development toys.

Previously, the school had an outdated water supply system, which was renovated alongside the toilets. In addition, 12 water taps, a 5000 litre reservoir and a female hygienic room were newly installed as well.

As a result of the hard work of all parties involved in the project’s implementation and thanks to the active involvement of the local community, over 700 5 to 14 year old Ethiopian children now have the opportunity to start their school year in newly renovated and well-equipped kindergarten and primary school.

To fully understand the significance and impact of the project, we also talked to our Ethiopian colleague reporting from the ground in Afar.

Classrooms have been renovated to create a more pleasant and fitting learning environment and were furnished with furniture appropriate to the age and the needs of pupils. The kindergarten has also been equipped with children’s books, new mattresses, bedding, air conditioning and 2 new audiovisual devices, in addition to outdoor playground equipment.

As a result of the project, the children will now be able to learn and spend their free time in more comfortable conditions, and have access to outdoor developmental toys. Thanks to the fan-equipped classrooms, the kindergarten children will be able to not only study but also relax in comfort, something that was not very common before due to the stifling heat.

The implementation of the project led by HIA has brought significant changes in creating a safe learning environment in the kindergarten and primary school in Sideha-Fage project area. Before the renovations, the institutions were not equipped with necessary child friendly materials, the class rooms were in disrepair, there was no access to water and no lunch room either. These issues have resulted in poor quality of education and pupils dropping out. With the new developments we aim to increase the capacity of the school to deliver quality education.

Classrooms have been renovated to create a more pleasant and fitting learning environment and were furnished with furniture appropriate to the age and the needs of pupils. The kindergarten has also been equipped with children’s books, new mattresses, bedding, air conditioning and 2 new audiovisual devices, in addition to outdoor playground equipment.

As a result of the project, the children will now be able to learn and spend their free time in more comfortable conditions, and have access to outdoor developmental toys. Thanks to the fan-equipped classrooms, the kindergarten children will be able to not only study but also relax in comfort, something that was not very common before due to the stifling heat.

There were no facilities for eating in the schools, and the health of the pupils was put at great risk by having to sit on the floor in the dust to eat their lunch. However, this situation is changing with the provision of a well-ventilated canteen and kitchen in the school building where children can eat their meals in comfort. In addition, measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of students.

The project is not yet fully complete at this point, as the distribution of school uniforms to students and the organisation and conduct of various teaching and methodological training courses for local teachers are still ongoing.