Our Projects
From digital libraries to teacher training, every project is designed to close the education gap for students in Kellem and across west Oromia.
Digital Literacy & Education
Provide a digital library to primary schools in rural areas where there is no electricity or internet. This digital library solution leverages open education resources (OER) platform that runs on a lightweight local server with low power consumption. The library is also customized and extended by USA-based volunteers to provide relevant resources.
Books for Kellem
In partnership with Books for Africa, we are in the process of sending a forty-footer container books shipment to Kellem — putting thousands of titles directly into the hands of students and educators across the region.
Digital Literacy Classes
We offer digital literacy classes to children, youth and adults in the Kellem area. These classes provide the basic knowledge of how to use and get the most out of the digital library, basic knowledge of computers, Microsoft Office, Google products and the internet.
Teacher Training
We train teachers in the basics of computing, best teaching practices and how to incorporate technology into classrooms. We provide a digital library containing teaching resources for innovative teaching techniques.
Early Education Center
Our long-term plan is to open a primary school where students will be brought up with quality education. Kids will have similar resources to students in developed countries. We will build a model school that gives kids a world-class education regardless of financial status — and once we have a working model, we will duplicate and open similar schools or adapt similar curricula in existing schools all over the province.
Why Education in Oromia Matters
Improving education performance of children has long been regarded as one of the most important targets of Oromo people for many years because education is the sole outlet out of poverty for Oromo children. However, recent changes to education in the Oromia region have crippled education across the area.
In most Oromia regions, few children who graduate from secondary school have a good foundation to help them compete nationally or internationally — whereas their counterparts in other parts of Ethiopia are better prepared for success. In other parts of Ethiopia, many kids have access to private primary schools that teach in English starting from kindergarten, with better exposure to internet and technology, and fluency in more than one language.
Even high-performing students in Oromia regions face a much different future from their counterparts elsewhere, as key higher-level professional job opportunities are located in central Ethiopia or in NGOs where Oromia kids compete poorly due to limited language and technology skills. This translates to political and economic instability due to high youth unemployment or underemployment.
Education is truly one of the most powerful instruments for reducing poverty and inequality — and it sets the foundation for sustained economic growth.
Help Us Expand These Programs
100% of your donation goes toward supporting our education programs in Kellem.