Fight against gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation, early marriage and teenage pregnancy
The project will promote the education of girls among themselves and their families. Half of girls in Oromia get married before they reach 17.4 years of age. Once they get married, a vast majority drops out of school to take care of the household.
They do not use their full potential. In addition, women with low or no education are according to the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016 more vulnerable to poverty, experiencing gender-based violence, have limited access to health care and maternal health care, including delivery with a professional assistance and therefore threatening their lives or the lives of their child. Children of mothers with low or no education are less likely to get proper vaccinations and more likely to be undernourished.
The project will explain to girls and their families the impact of low education and benefits of higher education, provide girls with live and business skill trainings, link them with employers, education and financing opportunities. Counselors will be established at schools to assist girls to develop their individual plans to continue school if necessary, to assist them in gaining support from their families. By economic and social empowerment of girls and shift of attitudes in the society, we will reduce traditional practices, such as early marriages and teenage pregnancy, enhance education of girls, and prevent poverty and pertaining negative phenomena.
Funding Agency: ETHIOPIAID UK
Implementation period: September 2018 – July 2019
Implementation area: Oromia Region, Arsi Zone, Bekoji, Digelona Tijo (sagure), Tiyo and Dodota Districts
