Ethiopia has a longstanding tradition of educational excellence, tied in many ways to the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church. Priests taught their congregations and wrote about religious scriptures in Ge’ez, an ancient holy language still used today in liturgical masses. From Ge’ez evolved the modern day Fidel, the only written African indigenous alphabet prior to the colonial period, which is currently utilized for the modern languages of Amharic and Tigrinya. The last emperor, Haile Selassie, also prioritized expanding and modernizing the Ethiopian educational system for all students, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
However, the needs of Ethiopia’s millions of young students have outstripped the ability of the Ethiopian government to fully provide. According to the World Bank, only 33% of Ethiopian students are able to read with fluency in their mother tongue. Students are routinely kept from school to work and provide for their families. Girls face particular vulnerabilities; once they reach puberty, many schools lack appropriate facilities for menstruation needs, and girls are at higher risk for being hurt or raped on their way to and from school. As a result, many parents choose to marry their daughters at a young age, thus preventing them from reaching their full educational potential.
Given the scale of challenges facing Ethiopia, we need to actively confront obstacles that keep students from going to school. Rebuilding A Nation, Inc. is inspired to partner with organizations like Raey School, which provide many wraparound services for students. From offering all students free nutritional meals, to supplying uniforms and textbooks at no charge, Raey School works to promote the psychosocial and physical needs of each child.
Your generosity enables the next generation of Ethiopians to reach a better life. Thank you for your support.