#Education Cannot Wait #Ethiopia #World Vision #Aschila #Northwestern Ethiopia

Fuel for Learning: Aschila's Story

The life of an 11-year-old girl named Aschila took a drastic turn when conflict ensued in her village located in northwestern Ethiopia. Forced to flee alongside her family, she left behind not just her home but also her friends and school, transitioning into an uncertain existence with survival as the primary concern. For a child like Aschila, dreams of education felt like a distant memory, replaced by laborious days tending to cattle to help support her struggling family.

However, hope reignited in Aschila's life when World Vision Ethiopia launched a school feeding program as part of a comprehensive educational initiative funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW). This program, known as the Multi-Year Resilience Programme, aims to facilitate learning opportunities for displaced children and their families, ensuring that education, which seemed far out of reach, was once again attainable.

The school feeding initiative proved to be a game-changer. It offered Aschila a daily nutritious meal, providing her with the physical sustenance required to focus on her studies. By supplying essential educational materials and financial assistance, alongside the rehabilitation of classrooms and installation of water facilities, World Vision has effectively created a safe and dignified learning environment for children like Aschila. The program also emphasizes menstrual hygiene management, crucial for girls navigating education in culturally sensitive settings.

“The school feeding program was a game-changer for me. It provided me with a nutritious meal every day, which gave me the energy and focus I needed to succeed in my studies,” says Aschila, agora flourishing within an accelerated learning framework that allows her to catch up on previously lost lessons.

This transformation within her life reflects a broader societal change in Ethiopia, where the number of children accessing education continues to rise due to the determined efforts of compassionate organizations like World Vision. Over the course of the Multi-Year Resilience Programme, more than 34,000 children, including over 16,400 girls, have benefitted from these transformative initiatives, demonstrating effective whole-of-child education strategies focused on learning, psychological well-being, and nutritional needs.

However, the educational landscape in Ethiopia faces substantial challenges due to widespread conflict, climate impacts, and economic hardship, leading to millions of children being deprived of their right to learn. According to reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there were approximately six million internally displaced persons within Ethiopia as of 2024. This figure also includes over one million refugees, placing immense strains on the education system, which already struggles to provide adequate resources.

Since the inception of its programs in 2020, Education Cannot Wait has directed nearly US$88 million towards bolstering educational accessibility for both refugee and internally displaced children in Ethiopia. Recent financial contributions have enhanced initiatives aimed at retaining out-of-school children and elevating their opportunities for formal education.

Despite the urgency and importance of these initiatives, a significant funding gap persists; by the conclusion of 2024, less than half of the approximately US$101 million required had been secured according to the Humanitarian Response Plan. If resources for teacher training, infrastructure rehabilitation, and inclusive educational approaches do not increase, an entire generation may risk being marginalized, particularly as an estimated nine million children remain out of school amid collapsing educational infrastructure.

Nevertheless, the future is not devoid of hope. Aschila's daily routine is now filled with learning, laughter, and shared meals with classmates, reflecting a normalcy that many displaced children yearn for. Her father's resilience encapsulates the sentiments of the affected community, stating, “It was difficult to feed my child and purchase educational materials because we lost everything as a displaced family, but this initiative helped very much.”

Through the joint efforts of ECW and partner organizations, countless children in Ethiopia are reclaiming not only their education but also their aspirations and faith for a brighter future. For Aschila and thousands like her, each school day vividly illustrates the dual importance of nourishment and opportunity amidst adversity, laying a foundation for a more stable and peaceful tomorrow.