Celebrating the Grand Opening of Arda Qalu Secondary School in West Guji zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Dear Supporters and Friends,

We are thrilled to share the exciting news of the successful completion and inauguration of Arda Qalu Secondary School in the Odo Miqe kebele of Abaya district, West Guji zone, Oromia region. This remarkable achievement made possible through the generous funding from the Costa Foundation, marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance educational opportunities for communities in need.

Inauguration Ceremony:

On June 3, 2024, the inauguration ceremony of Arda Qalu Secondary School was held, graced by the presence of distinguished guests including Mr. Gordon Mowat and his two daughters, who traveled from the UK to witness this momentous occasion. Also in attendance were Imagine1day Country Director Dr. Seid Aman, higher government officials, Aba Gadas, and numerous community members. Their presence and support underscored the importance of this project and the collective effort invested in its realization.

School Features and Enhancements:

– Eight Fully Furnished Classrooms: designed to create a conducive and comfortable learning environment for students.

– Standard Library Block: equipped with a diverse range of educational resources to support student learning and development.

– Two Gender-Segregated Latrines: ensuring hygienic and private facilities for all students, promoting better health and sanitation practices.

Ongoing Support and Community Involvement:

In addition to the newly built infrastructure, Imagine1day is committed to providing essential teaching and learning materials, along with capacity-building programs for teachers to enhance the quality of education. What is more, in a remarkable display of community spirit and cooperation, the community and government are jointly constructing a laboratory block through their own contributions. This collaborative effort highlights the shared dedication to creating a comprehensive and supportive educational environment.

           

Words of Appreciation:

– A grade 8 female student: “The construction of a high school in our community means the world to female students. We can’t travel long distances, nor do our parents allow us to live in town away from our families to pursue our high school education. If it weren’t for Imagine1day and the Costa Foundation, our fate would have been to drop out after 8th grade. We are forever grateful for this opportunity.”

– Aba Gada: “Education was limited to primary school for us. The collaborative efforts of Imagine1day and the Costa Foundation have transformed this reality for the better. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity, which empowers our children to reach their full potential.”

– Mr. Gordon Mowat: “We are deeply honored to support such a transformative project and to witness firsthand the positive impact it will have on the children and the community of Odo Miqe. This school stands as a symbol of hope and opportunity.”

– Dr. Seid Aman: “The completion of Arda Qalu Secondary School is evidence of what we can achieve when we come together with a shared vision and purpose. This school will serve as a foundation for a brighter future for generations to come.”

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Costa Foundation for their unwavering support and to the dedicated Imagine1day team for their tireless efforts. We also thank the local community for their invaluable contributions and partnership in this journey. Together, we are creating lasting change and empowering the next generation through education.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey and for your continued support. Your contributions are making a profound difference in the lives of many.

 

 

Stories

Empowering female students to chase their dreams

“It was at the time I lost hope about my education that the ‘Educate a Girl’ project restored my dream to stay in school,” says Elshadai Mekonnin, a 16-year-old 10th-grade student at Donso Secondary School in the Amaro Kelle district of Kore Zone, South Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia.

Elshadia’s family lived in a vicious cycle of poverty, struggling for survival. They couldn’t cover the expenses for their eight children, so Elshadai attended primary school while facing numerous challenges.

She recalls, “There were days I had to go to school without having a meal, and I couldn’t concentrate, feeling so hungry and tired. I felt embarrassed to beg for exercise books and pens when I ran out. I used to be absent from school every time I got my period because I couldn’t afford sanitary pads. Sometimes, I was sick from the stress.”

The ‘Educate a Girl’ project has liberated 200 female students, including Elshadai, in the South Ethiopia and Oromia regions from the economic hardships that had been holding them back from reaching their full potential.

“I lack the words to express how grateful I am to The Coca-Cola Foundation, The

Costa Foundation, and Imagine1day for transforming my life. I am living the happiest life, performing my best in my education. The business training and seed money provided to my mom have brought lasting solutions to my family’s economic problems. I feel like a queen, as it is my first time getting everything I need as a child and a student,” Elshadai adds.

Elshadia now has a uniform, scholastic materials, a dignity kit, and lives in a furnished house rented by the project. She aspires to be a medical doctor so she can support defenseless street children.

“One thing I have learned as someone who has been reconnected to my dream through the support of the ‘Educate a Girl’ project is that I have to extend my helping hand to those who need my support,” says Elshadia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensuring family resilience while enhancing girls’ education

“Thanks to The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Costa Foundation, and Imagine1day, I never felt as happy as the day I saw my mom open her own bank account and make money running her own business because of the ‘Educate a Girl’ project,” says Firehiwot Admasu, a 16-year-old grade 10 student at Donso Secondary School in the Amaro Kelle district of Kore Zone, South Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia.

Firehiwot comes from a family with a farmer father and a housewife mother. She has seven siblings – four sisters and three brothers. Life was difficult for Firehiwot’s family, who relied on her father’s small farmland for income.

“My parents were just proud mother and father about me scoring the highest regional exam grade in grade eight. They were very worried about how to cover my expenses to pursue high school. The ‘Educate a Girl’ project relieved them. It means the world to my family. It has ensured other means of income for my family, made my mom independent, and enabled my siblings and me to fully focus on our education,” Firehiwot says.

Despite being a clever student, Firehiwot’s highest grade before joining the ‘Educate a Girl’ project was 85%. Now, she is fully capitalizing on her potential.

“The economic problems in my family were discouraging and distracting, preventing me from fully investing in my potential. I worried a lot about how my parents would afford house rent, furnishings, food, uniforms, scholastic materials, and dignity kit costs for my high school. The project covered these expenses for my first year, and it has also enabled my mom in a position to cover the remaining three years. That is why I am freely attending my education, performing better, and able to score above 95%,” added Firehiwot.

“The tutorial classes we receive, along with the leadership and emotional intelligence training, have also helped us improve ourselves. After the leadership training, I became the leader of the gender club, which has boosted my leadership and communication skills. I promise I will be a role model using this opportunity,” says Firehiwot confidently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connecting girls to the best version of themselves

“The ‘Educate a Girl’ program by The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Costa Foundation, and Imagine1day has empowered me to rank first among seven sections overall,” says Frezer Wondifraw, a 16-year-old grade 10 student at Donso Secondary School in the Amaro Kelle district of Kore Zone, South Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia.

Imagine1day, in collaboration with The Coca-Cola Foundation and The Costa Foundation, has been implementing the ‘Educate a Girl’ project in South Ethiopia and the Oromia region. This project covers the first-year school and living expenses for selected outstanding female high school students, except for their meals. It also provides their mothers with business training and seed money to start contextual businesses.

 

Frezer explains, “The project isn’t just empowering the girls who receive the scholarship; it is also significantly impacting our entire families. It has ensured our mothers’ economic freedom, enabling them to put food on the table while supporting all our siblings to attend school properly.”

The project targets girls who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to continue their education, further increasing its impact.

Frezer’s mother, Fikre Shiferaw, says: “The project has brought many positive changes to my family. I wasn’t aware that education was the key to a better future for my children, particularly my daughters. I used to make Frezer stay home to help with daily chores. But not anymore, thanks to the awareness-raising program by the ‘Educate a Girl’ project. I am now economically independent and can support my children’s education in every way.”

While living away from their families in a town with better high school facilities, the girls have a mentor to guide them.

Frezer says, “Our mentor is like a parent to us. She helps us plan and make the most of this opportunity. We feel responsible to focus on our education. We use the time we would have spent traveling long distances to study since we live in a rented home near our school. The provision of scholastic materials also helped us excel. I am very grateful to The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Costa Foundation, and Imagine1day for all their support.”

Frezer aspires to be a doctor upon completing her education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff Profile: Hafte Hiluf Getahun,

The MEAL Specialist for Imagine1day – Tigray, comes from the Southern Zone in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. With a background in education (both in Emergency and development), Hafte has accumulated 17 years of leadership and teaching experience in various roles such as primary and secondary school teacher, University lecturer, program officer, program coordinator, and MERL officer.

In December 2021, Hafte joined imagine1day, contributing significantly to diverse capacities within the organization. His roles have included serving as a Community Development Officer (CDO), Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning Officer (MERLO), zonal education program coordinator, Regional Education MEAL Manager, and Regional MEAL Specialist for imagine1day, Tigray.

Educationally, Hafte holds a diploma in Mathematics (2007) from Abbiyi-Addi Leadership and Teachers’ College, a Bachelor of Sciences in Applied Mathematics (2013), and a Master of Science in Mathematical Modeling (2018) from Mekelle University, both located in Northern Ethiopia. Furthermore, he has undergone multiple short-term training sessions covering a range of topics including research, data management and analysis, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), Project Management, Education, Protection, and PSEA.