{"id":5935,"date":"2023-02-15T04:03:41","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T04:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imagine1day.org\/?post_type=avada_portfolio&p=5935"},"modified":"2023-02-15T04:03:41","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T04:03:41","slug":"dello-mena-2014","status":"publish","type":"avada_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/imagine1day.org\/portfolio-items\/dello-mena-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"DELLO MENA 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"
Plans for construction of a new Grade 5-8 school have only just begun in Yadot, a town in the district of Dello Mena, and already transformation is taking shape.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n\u201cI USED TO BELIEVE THAT IF I SENT MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, THAT WAS THE LIMIT OF MY RESPONSIBILITY. NOW I FEEL IT\u2019S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE MY NEIGHBOUR\u2019S KIDS AND MY WHOLE FAMILY IS EDUCATED.\u201d\u0003\u2014 TEGENE DAME, RELIGIOUS LEADER<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>
Tegene Dame is one of several influential community leaders who are walking from house to house each weeknight to ensure that every family enrolls their children in school next year: boys, girls, all of them. \u00a0Dame was one of the first people to participate in imagine1day\u2019s new Religious and Clan Leaders Training, which occurred in February to kick off planning for this project. \u00a0imagine1day invited 206 religious and clan leaders from across the district to talk about gender equity and to analyze what religious texts say about education. \u201cDuring the training, there were some misunderstandings about formal education and religious education, but in the end we finally agreed that both are important and more than that, they are complimentary,\u201d says Dame. Dame is not alone. Leaders of Yadot\u2019s Iddir, an important local community organization, along with representatives of the local Parent Teacher Association and health workers, are all busy collecting students\u2019 names \u00a0to get their parents\u2019 commitment that they will be attending classes this fall. \u201cI believe that religious organizations can make a difference in creating awareness about education. All religions encourage education of all people, but on the ground that hasn\u2019t happened yet. Now I realize it\u2019s my responsibility to think outside the box.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>
2014 Game Plan<\/h3><\/div>
In the first of a three-year project in Dello Mena, our focus is on developing relationships with communities, the district government and the school faculty, while also building critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n<\/div>
WE\u2019RE BUILDING SCHOOLS AND LATRINES<\/strong>
\nTwo schools to be exact, each with four furnished classrooms serving grades 5-8. We\u2019ll also build an ECE classroom and playground adjacent to each school. Two eight-stall gender divided latrines will complete this year\u2019s construction plans.<\/p>\nCLASSROOMS WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH KEY NECESSITIES<\/strong>
\n45 schools will receive desks (649 of them) so more kids can learn in comfort. Across the district we\u2019ll provide 6,117 books, 25 science kits, and 25 sports sets. We\u2019ll set up student leadership school clubs and creative writing programs too.<\/p>\nTEACHERS AND COMMUNITIES WILL DEVELOP AND GROW<\/strong>
\nWe\u2019ll build leadership across the district by developing the government\u2019s capacity. In 45 schools we\u2019ll train religious leaders, women, influencers, and the PTA. Teachers across the district will receive extensive professional development.<\/p>\n<\/div>Project Overview<\/h3><\/div>
\u201cThe passage to Dello Mena from the Bale Mountains is blessed with emerald green hills and rainbows on many days. A primary source of livelihood, coffee bushes can be spotted throughout the district. Its education indicators are among the weakest in all of Ethiopia with only have of school age children enrolled, drop out rates at 18%, and approximately three quarters the number of girls attending school as compared to boys. Over the next three years we aim to transform Dello Mena\u2019s education system, in partnership with communities and the District Education Office.<\/p>\n