Providing a basic education for 120 women in Kecho

HOPE Ethiopia staff have now revised our project priorities for 2016.  They include three water projects, one of which includes an additional SHG component to invest in 200 women in that village.  Water is HOPE's core business and what we have the most experience in and have developed a strong reputation for.  One of these new water projects is starting at present.  We see clean water as a catalyst to transformational change.  We will therefore direct our attention to fundraising for these projects for the time being.

However, as you might already be aware, in Ethiopia approximately 27 million people are living in extreme poverty.  Given the lack of control over resources and many discriminatory traditional customs, the majority of those living in absolute poverty are women. Gender differentials persist at all levels, as reflected by social indicators. Generally, throughout the countryside 75% of women are illiterate. Even though primary education is encouraged, the rate of student dropouts among girls is much higher than boys as girls are often responsible for many chores which may interfere with their schooling. Therefore, Frehiwot Alebachew, HOPE Ethiopia Director, is passionate that any development plan should focus on this part of the community; encouraging women in their capacity as nurturers and providers for their families can create new opportunities for growth and productivity. It is for these reasons that we are investing in SHGs in addition to water projects and why it was our desire to invest further in providing a basic literacy and buisness skills for these women in Kecho.

As funding has not been made available, this project of providing education for 120 women in Kecho will not run.  This does not mean that the need does not exist nor does it mean that these women are now literate.  If funding were to be made available, our Ethiopian Director is still passionate about delivering this project.  

We will be removing this project from the Global Giving site but are still hopeful that money might be made available at some point in the future.  For now, however, we have decided to devote our energies to raising funds for clean water projects (and related SHG work in those villages).

Thank you for your support of this work.