Adolescent girls are often subjected to inequality, limited opportunities and harmful practices, such as missing and dropping out of school because of their periods, female genital mutilation, gender-based violence and child marriage.
These challenges not only threaten their education, health and livelihood, but also compromise the well-being and opportunities of the next generation.
We partner with three local organisations who provide support and opportunities for women and girls:
• Dignity Period provide menstruation packs to girls to keep them in school
• APDA educate families, communities and leaders about harmful practices such as FGM and early marriage
• AWSAD provide safe houses for the survivors of gender based violence and work with authorities to bring perpetrators to justice
Ethiopiaid supporter Sara shares her journey through Afar with the Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) and its founder Valerie Browning .
Freweini has dedicated her life to helping girls stay in school by providing them with menstruation packs. In 2009, she opened a local Ethiopian business with huge social impact.
Rediet was raped by her own father. Scared to speak out Rediet was able to find support, guidance and a safety with the Association for Women’s Sanctuary and Development (AWSAD).
Dignity Period helps Ethiopian girls stay in school by providing the supplies and education they need to manage menstruation. In areas where menstruation is a highly taboo subject and school dropout rates for girls are as high as 51% (over 20% higher than that for boys), this enables girls not only to finish their education but also to enjoy better joy and life prospects. Dignity Period works across the regions of Afar and Tigray, distributing locally-made, reusable sanitary pads and hygiene kits to girls in school, and also providing educational booklets to both girls and boys which help dispel myths and reduce the stigma behind menstruation.
With five safe houses across Ethiopia, the Association for Women’s Sanctuary & Development (AWSAD) is a beacon of hope to those who have experienced domestic violence or abuse. Staffed 24 hours a day by AWSAD staff, they offer more than a safe place to sleep. Along with food and medication, AWSAD provides counselling and legal follow-up, basic literacy courses, art and dance therapy, self-defence classes and vocational skills training so that women can leave the shelter as confident, independent and workplace-ready individuals.
Founded by Australian nurse Valerie Browning in 1993, the Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) was created alongside local Afar leaders who felt their needs were not being met by formal government services. Today, in addition to life-changing work in water harvesting, mobile health and education, APDA is dedicated to ending harmful practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and the lack of rights for women in marriage.
Studio Samuel are based in Addis Ababa. They provide after school and weekend education for vulnerable girls aged 9-18 years, teaching employable skills whilst making menstrual kits. The girls learn design, production, team working and sewing skills, whilst producing menstrual hygiene packs for their peers, so that they too can stay in school and complete their education.
In 2020, your donations and the hard work of our local partners have helped make lasting changes to the lives of Ethiopian women and girls.
traditional birth attendants were trained to work closely with health extension workers to ensure safe labours
survivors of violence and 1,223 of their children were provided with safe shelter and support
FGM cutters were re-educated, pledging to stop the harmful practice and encourage others to do the same
safe houses across Ethiopia provided shelter, food, medical care, legal assistance and counselling
With your donation, our local partners can restore a vulnerable Ethiopian’s dignity and help them rewrite their story.
Ethiopia has over four million people over the age of 60. Many of these people have no access to a state pension and are unable to save for their old age.
Around 60,000 children live on the streets of Addis Ababa. More than half have no access to shelter, adequate food, or an education.
People living with disabilities are routinely denied their most basic human rights, and are cut off from education, employment and healthcare. In Ethiopia, many live in extreme poverty.
With your donation, our local partners can restore a vulnerable Ethiopian’s dignity and help them rewrite their story.
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