Restore War-Hit Schools, Sanitation for 5,000 in E

Project ID: 74169
Organization: Bahir Dar Charity Association (BDCA)
Reporting Period: June – September 2026
Report Date: September 9, 2026

Submitted by: Simachew Yigzaw, Executive Director, BDCA

1. Executive Summary

Bahir Dar Charity Association (BDCA) is pleased to provide this update on our project to restore education for over 5,000 children in the conflict-affected Amhara region. This report is submitted in the spirit of transparency and accountability that GlobalGiving and its community of supporters value.

We want to be transparent that during this reporting period, BDCA did not receive grant funding specifically for this project through the GlobalGiving portal. While we have not been able to implement the physical rehabilitation of schools as originally planned, we have not been idle. The need remains critical, and we remain deeply committed to the children and communities we serve. We have actively engaged in planning, advocacy, and community relations to ensure we are ready to move forward when resources become available. Most importantly, we have made a significant commitment from our own limited budget to demonstrate our dedication.

2. A Recent BDCA Commitment: Supporting 1,000 Students

Despite the lack of project-specific funding, we understand the power of action over words. To demonstrate our unwavering commitment and to continue our mission, BDCA recently mobilized its own limited internal resources to provide school materials to 1,000 students from vulnerable, war-affected families.

For a locally-rooted organization like ours, this was a significant undertaking. It reflects our belief that even when full-scale rehabilitation is not possible, we cannot turn our backs on the children who need us most. We provided essential learning materials to help these 1,000 children continue their studies, supporting their dignity and keeping them connected to their education during these difficult times.

3. The Urgent Need Remains

The problem this project addresses has not disappeared. In many communities, it has become more acute. For children living in the aftermath of conflict and poverty, returning to school does not guarantee a safe or enabling learning environment.

• Damaged Infrastructure: Classrooms remain roofless, walls are cracked, and windows are shattered, leaving children exposed to the elements.
• Inadequate Sanitation: The lack of safe, functional, and gender-segregated WASH facilities is a major barrier, particularly for girls. Female students often miss school during their menstrual periods, leading to significant learning loss and increased dropout rates.
• Dignity and Safety: Without proper facilities and infrastructure, children's health, safety, and dignity are compromised.

As one female student supported by our previous programs said: "During my menstrual period, I used to miss school. Now we have girls' latrines. That means I don't miss a month; I don't miss a year." This is the kind of impact we are striving to achieve on a larger scale.

4. Building on Our Experience: A Track Record of Impact

Though this specific project hasn't yet received funding, BDCA is not new to this work. Our proven track record in the education sector demonstrates our capacity to deliver meaningful change.

BDCA’s Consolidated Program Record:

• 2,332 Students supported with educational materials.
• 34 Classrooms constructed across seven schools.
• Sanitation Facilities built, improving school WASH and dignity, especially for girls.

This experience has shown us what is possible. One student described the change: "We used to learn in a dusty, cramped room. Now we sit in a clean classroom… Bahir Dar Charity Association gave us that dignity." We are ready to replicate and scale this success.

5. Continued Engagement and Updated Planning

Although physical construction has not begun, we have remained actively engaged in critical preparatory work:

• Community Engagement: Our team has maintained active communication with school administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations, and community leaders across the 10 target schools. This strengthens community ownership and ensures our plans remain relevant.
• Refined Planning & Costing: We have updated detailed cost estimates, refined rehabilitation plans, and identified local contractors and suppliers.
• Strengthening Partnerships: We have continued to coordinate with local education authorities and explore new partnership opportunities to diversify our funding base.
• Maintaining Readiness: Our organizational systems for monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and safeguarding remain in place and are continuously strengthened, ensuring we are ready for a transparent and community-responsive implementation.

6. Challenges and Looking Ahead

The Principal Challenge:
The most significant challenge is the absence of project-specific funding. This has prevented us from starting the vital physical rehabilitation work—repairing roofs, rebuilding latrines, and providing critical learning materials.

Our Commitment and Future Plans:
Despite these challenges, BDCA remains unwavering in its commitment. We are not abandoning this project.

• We are actively looking for future funding and partnership opportunities through GlobalGiving, foundations, corporate partners, and other responsible funding mechanisms.
• We are preparing for upcoming GlobalGiving campaigns and are exploring opportunities with other donors who share our commitment to education and child protection.

We invite GlobalGiving, its donor community, and development partners to consider supporting this initiative. Our goal is to turn this plan into tangible improvements for children affected by conflict.

How You Can Help:

• $25 supplies one student with a full learning kit
• $150 furnishes a classroom with a teacher's desk and blackboard
• $500 repairs a damaged school roof
• $1,000 fully restores one classroom for 40 students
• $5,000 rebuilds school water points and gender-segregated latrines

7. Conclusion: A Message to Our GlobalGiving Community

The project may not yet have the resources it needs, but the children and schools it seeks to support remain in need.

BDCA is deeply grateful to GlobalGiving for providing a platform for locally-rooted organizations like ours to connect with supporters. We want potential supporters to know that we have not abandoned this project. Our recent investment in providing school materials to 1,000 students is a testament to our enduring commitment.

We remain dedicated to standing with vulnerable communities, listening to their priorities, mobilizing available resources, and delivering practical support with dignity, transparency, and accountability. We remain hopeful that future partners will join us in this mission.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

With gratitude and hope,

Simachew Yigzaw
Executive Director
Bahir Dar Charity Association (BDCA)
Bahir Dar, Ethiopia