We build schools with communities that are as deeply committed to their children’s education as we are.

imagine1day knows that to succeed, we need to focus.

We focus on children.

We focus on education.

We focus on Ethiopia.

We focus on working with remote, rural communities that need the most assistance, and that are already doing their utmost to build their own educational capacity. We ensure that the community you invest in is already as deeply committed to their children's education and their local school's long term success as we are.

We focus on building the four fundamental pillars of education in these communities: Access, Sustainability, Equality and Quality.

We focus on community empowerment at a grassroots level. From day one, parents, elders, teachers and community leaders are partners with a voice. We work together to create project goals, source construction materials, establish timelines and overcome challenges.

We focus on identifying and overcoming the unique barriers that are keeping children in each community from attending school, and on developing unique solutions to overcome them. Common barriers to education fall into four broad categories:

1. Shortage of Facilities or Resources:

Lack of classrooms, furniture, and teachers limit access to education for many children.

imagine1day's solution:

• 4 Classroom Schools and Add-on Classroom Blocks to Existing Schools: Schools and classrooms are built out of local materials (either stone or hollow concrete blocks) to replace and increase the capacity of existing open-air dass schools.
• Furniture: Stone seats are replaced with desks, teachers are provided with tables and chairs and classrooms are equipped with shelving, blackboards and notice boards.

2. Compromised Quality:

Lack of quality exists when student to teacher ratios are high, teachers are undertrained and teaching materials are limited, the learning environment is uncomfortable and distracting, and when students are sick, dehydrated or malnourished.

imagine1day's solution:

• Active Learning Teacher Training: Teachers are trained to deliver curriculum using a student-centered approach, encouraging the use of a variety of teaching aids and methodologies.
• Science Kits and Teacher Training: Teachers are trained to teach biology, chemistry and physics using interactive techniques with the equipment supplied in the science kits.
• Sports Materials: A full set of sports equipment including volleyballs, nets, basketballs, hoops, handballs, and skipping ropes are provided to encourage physical activity, team play and fun.
• Reading Corners and Reference Books: Each classroom is equipped with shelving and books chosen by the teachers to ensure cultural and curricular relevance. The teachers and students are taught how to maintain a sign-out system fostering responsibility and shared ownership of the books.
• Creative Writing: A creative writing program to encourage self-expression and to develop writing skills in the local languages and in English. Inter and intra school writing competitions are also established.
• School Clubs: Students are given the opportunity to lead school clubs in the areas of environment, health, writing, music and sports.

3. Cultural and Socioeconomic Issues:

Cultural and socioeconomic issues include safety concerns for children that have to travel long distances to get to school or do not have clean water or private latrine facilities available, child labor due to needs of the household, and lack of funds to pay for school expenses or supplies. These issues are especially significant for girls who are often excluded from education when their families prefer that they remain in the household and marry at a young age, or when their families have concerns over their daughters' safety at school.

imagine1day's solution:

• Water Point, Kit and Training: Either a shallow well, hand dug well or spring is developed to bring a clean source of water with child-friendly taps directly to the school. The water point is used by the entire community for consumption and agricultural irrigation. A committee is formed and receives training and equipment to manage and maintain the water point. A micro-irrigation system is provided to support the communities in growing gardens for consumption and sale.
• Tree Planting and Hand Tools: Fruit and shade trees are planted on each school's grounds and a set of tools is provided to maintain them. Income from the fruit is invested in the schools.
• Other Income Generation Activities: Considering the natural environment, we support the schools in developing income generation activities, including vegetable gardens, livestock fattening, poultry farming, bee-keeping and more.
• Latrine: Eight-stall latrines with gender division are built to provide a safe environment for girls at school.
• PTA Training: Parents, teachers and a principal become the leaders of the school and are trained in administration and financial management. Action plans to generate revenue for the ongoing sustainability of the school are created and seed funding is provided.
• Life Skills Teacher Training: Life Skills teacher training contributes to the promotion of personal and social development, the prevention of health and social problems, and the protection of human rights.

4. Lack of Policy:

State and national policies (or lack thereof) relating to budget, curriculum and planning can be a significant barrier to children's primary education.

imagine1day's solution:

• imagine1day partners with the regional and federal Education Ministries in Ethiopia to find opportunities to work with communities that are steadfast in their pursuit to mobilize resources and build capacity. Participatory planning exercises are undertaken with prospective communities to determine the educational requirements, visions and goals of the community. Women, men, children and elders are key contributors to this process.
• Where additional expertise or resources are needed, imagine1day works with other organizations or government bodies (such as the water or agriculture bureaus) to ensure the highest level of quality and integrity in all aspects of project implementation.

We focus on supporting the community's ability to own and sustain the project at every step of the way, and collaborate with them on an appropriate phase out strategy. You can be confident that the imagine1day school you support has the human and financial capacity to maintain and improve it for years to come.

We focus on actively monitoring and reporting the impact on each dollar invested. Through the latest in technology and multimedia, we connect our schools to our global network of supporters so that you can see progress with your very own eyes.