Building a school is the easy part. Sustaining a quality learning environment that addresses the needs of girls and boys requires vision, commitment and partnership.

A Story from Abada

Late in 2009, the community of Abada submitted a proposal to imagine1day requesting support in constructing a Grade 5-8 school for its children. Though this community has always been committed to education, its children have faced significant barriers in continuing their schooling beyond the 4th Grade as the nearest Grade 5-8 second cycle primary school is more than 15km (a four to five hour round trip on foot). This challenge has been particularly serious for young girls given the dangers associated with walking such distances, combined with the alternative of having them support their families with household chores. Unfortunately it is at this vulnerable age, when girls are entering and passing through puberty, that early childhood marriage and pregnancy are imposed if they are not enrolled in school.

imagine1day works with over 30 schools in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, and Abada was by far at the top of our list to receive support in building a Grade 5-8 school. However, our ability to do so was contingent on one major obstacle that had to be overcome by the community in collaboration with the local government in order to proceed: road construction.  The only access to this remote community was on foot, either up a steep 55 minute mountain climb or along a 15km/2.5 hour traverse. Given the magnitude of the industrial materials needed to construct the school, vehicle access was necessary. So, for the past year, the community of Abada, with the support of imagine1day’s dedicated program team, worked hard to get their government and local cement factory to supply and fund a bulldozer. Just a few months ago, that same bulldozer successfully paved a new road, suitable for our construction vehicles.