IMAGINING POSSIBILITIES

imagine1day is more than a charity. It’s a movement equipped with 100% of your donations and endless creative energy to make Ethiopia a prosperous nation.

OUR VISION

A world where all people are connected to their greatness.

OUR MISSION

Leveraging the power of Education to Transform a Nation.

OUR GOAL

All Ethiopians have access to quality Education Funded free of Foreign Aid by 2030.

WHAT WE ARE ABOUT

imaginelday is an international development organization enabling primary education in Ethiopia and is distinctive in its approach, which holds leadership development as a key element of program implementation. The organization’s program activities include school construction, in depth teacher training, and capacity building with its direct partners in the rural communities in Ethiopia, ensuring self-sustainability every step of the way.

As a direct implementer in Ethiopia, imaginelday has an on the ground team to lead and manage the implementation of all of its projects.

imaginelday operates with visionary leadership and a solid financial base. Our founders, Chip and Shannon Wilson, endowed the charity, allowing l00% of every donor dollar to be directed to projects.

HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT

For one, we want to put ourselves out of business. Yes, you read that right. When we achieve our goal our job will be done. Contrasting some traditional solutions to poverty and social inequity, our approach is to work directly on the ground with partners at the government and community level to transform their leadership and help get the job done. That means we don’t just build schools, we create quality education in a holistic way through innovative thinking and a commitment to accountability. It means we focus on creating community ownership and making everything we do sustainable. We encourage people to set audacious goals and then equip them with the tools to see their best possible future become a reality.

WE'RE NOT CHARITY AS USUAL. WE'RE CHAIRITY AS UNUSUAL.

A SEED THAT’S GROWING

Chip & Shannon Wilson launched imagine1day in 2007, with an endowment to support our operations and enable a 100% flow-through of public donations to our projects in Ethiopia. Drawing inspiration from their commitment to education and leadership and their vision to reimagine charity, we take a business- minded approach to development, by setting goals, applying long-term thinking and achieving results.

Our strategy allows us to focus our resources to get to the root of the issues facing Ethiopia’s education sector, in order to ensure systemic and sustainable change. We’re out to prove that the transformation of a nation through the actions of its citizens, is possible.

We look forward to 2030, when our goal to ensure all Ethiopians have access to quality education free of foreign aid, is achieved.

OUR WORK IMPACTS PEOPLE, BIG AND SMALL

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE)
AGES 5-6
The earlier a parent sends their child to school, the greater the possibility that they will value education over the long run. We build ECE classrooms and help develop pedagogy to set a strong foundation for the youngest of Ethiopia’s future leaders.

1ST CYCLE PRIMARY
GRADES 1-4
In early grades, children learn basic literacy and numeracy, as well as life skills, such as personal sanitation, basic ethics, and self-assurance. We help schools improve classroom environments and teaching methodologies, which in turn enhance learning outcomes and increase retention rates.

2ND CYCLE PRIMARY
GRADES 5-8
Ethiopia’s enrolment rate drops starkly from Grade 4 to 5 and as grade levels progress. These middle grades are a significant priority and we’re working to address both the infrastructure needs and the socio-economic causes of the decline in enrolment.

HIGH SCHOOL
GRADES 9-12
Going to high school means leaving a rural home to live in the nearest town where a school exists. The associated cost is often prohibitive, causing a dramatic drop off in enrolment. We award scholarships to high performing children from poor and disadvantaged households, so they can develop into their full potential.

ADULTS AND COMMUNITIES AT LARGE
A well-run school becomes the centre of a community from which everyone benefits. Parents are spearheading adult literacy programs, teachers are applying their professional development to improve their own lives, and government administrators are coordinating efforts to maximize their contribution to society.

OUR CORE VALUES

INTEGRITY
We do what we say we will do when we say we will do it and if we don’t, we immediately clean up the mess we have created with all parties.

OPEN COMMUNICATION
We have nothing left unsaid and the power is in the listening.

VALUE EXCHANGE
Our partners want to work with us again.

SUSTAINABILITY
Diminishing inputs are required to generate increasing outputs, while protecting the environment.

EQUALITY
He is my brother. She is my sister. We are the same.

INFINITE POSSIBILITY
We create at least three possibilities for every challenge.

COMMUNITY
Our work connects human beings.

FUN
Our smiles grow wider as we’re stuffed full of honey and local brew, with the runs being a foregone conclusion. (Joke from Ethiopia).

Change a child’s life today!

Every donation can help give a child access to education to improve not only their life, but the life of their entire community.