Partners in ETHIOPIA

WWO works in partnership with 4 government-run preschools in Addis Ababa.

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WWO has been ensuring children have access to quality education since 2007. When children living with HIV were stigmatized and unable to attend public school, WWO started a school from Kindergarten, adding a new grade every year up to the 8th grade. The WWO Academy became a safe and welcoming school for 648 students. In evaluating whether to continue adding grade levels from 8th grade onward, WWO met with the Ministry of Education and confirmed that the previous levels of stigmatization were no longer an issue in public school. The next much needed area of support was in ensuring children had access to free preschool. WWO closed the Academy, working with every student and their family to ensure a successful transition from the WWO school to public schools. 

Traditionally, public schools in Ethiopia started at first grade, with children entering the school setting for the first time at age seven. Only wealthy families had access to private preschool or kindergarten programming. Among children enrolled in first grade, 22% dropped out before reaching second grade (Federal Ministry of Education of Ethiopia (2012/13). 

In 2016, WWO created a free-standing pre-school that set a standard for preschool education. By 2020, the Ministry of Education has made progress toward ensuring all children have access to at least one year of preschool programming within the public sector. Having set this standard of excellence, our Element of Play® Learning Spaces, methodology and teacher training, have now been invited into government-run pre-schools to prepare 25 times more children, for a successful start in primary school. 

The World Development Report 2018 summarizes the state of learning, reporting that “in many countries and communities learning isn’t happening. Schooling without learning is a terrible waste of precious resources and of human potential. According to Weldesilassie (2018), in Ethiopia children learn very little and lack basic literacy and numeracy skills within the school system. Underlying factors that drive this low level of learning in primary education are:

• Lack of teacher motivation

• Low level of teaching skills

• Inappropriate pedagogical approach

WWO works to support early childhood development through our Element of Play® Learning Spaces and by building the capacity of preschool teachers to deliver quality play-based learning for children in government-run schools. By increasing teacher motivation, giving them skills and alternative approaches to addressing behavioral issues in the classroom, the learning environment becomes a safe space for teachers and students. Parents and caregivers are also encouraged to become a part of the educational process of their children. Working to breakdown myriad barriers to parental engagement.

• Abject Poverty - More than 85% of WWO beneficiaries come from families that live on less than $1.25 USD a day.

• Single Parents - Half of the children live in single mother households

• Adult Illiteracy - One-third of students live in households where there are no adults who can read or write

WWO works to enhance the capacity of professionals involved in caring for and working with children and families. This is done through facilitating trainings, ongoing development and improvement of manuals and curriculum that can easily be used by teachers, care providers, and parents.

WWO also provides care and support for children and youth previously living in Des’s Village. This temporary children’s home was opened in 2009 at the request of the Ethiopian government. There were 42 children transferred into the care of WWO from a poorly run orphanage. Today, 14 children have been; successfully reunited with family, adopted, or have aged out of care and are living independently. WWO remains committed to seeing the other 27 children find similar outcomes and will honor this commitment until the youngest (age 13) is also successfully living independently.

Camp Addis

Since 2008, in partnership with SeriousFun Children’s Network, WWO has facilitated an annual, summer camp experience – fun-filled and 100%-free, these camps for children living with serious illnesses, bring bonding, friendship, and self-confidence to young campers.

In Ethiopia, Camp Addis activities are designed to teach children life-skills, interpersonal-skills, healthcare knowledge, and to renew their resilience and sense of hope in the most exciting and creative ways.

An external outcomes evaluation, in partnership with San Diego State University and SeriousFun, found significant improvements in camper life skills and social connectedness as a result of participating in Camp Addis -a 4-day residential camp. Camp is also having the greatest impact among campers who need the most help in living with serious illness.