Education equips children to develop into adults who have the tools, resources and opportunities they need to reach their full potential, and it provides families with the support they need to break cycles of family separation and poverty.
Grounded in these beliefs, SOS Children’s Villages, with the support of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, launched EduCare—a holistic program that promotes quality education access, decreases dropout rates and strengthens families—in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia in 2014.
For a decade, EduCare Ethiopia has delivered transformative, sustainable impact for young people, their families and their communities, and on June 18, SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia celebrated the 10 years of EduCare’s life-changing influence across the Amhara region.
EduCare’s decade of impact
The celebration in Gondar City, themed “A decade of hope and impact: Transforming lives through education and empowerment,” showcased EduCare’s remarkable achievements and the power of a holistic education model.
EduCare by the numbers:
— Reached nearly 123,000 community members across Debre Tabor, Debre Markos, Woldia and Gondar.
— Renovated 22 schools across the Amhara region to provide thousands of students with safe, accessible learning environments.
— Constructed four new school blocks (16 classrooms) to increase children’s access to quality education.
— Built six additional classrooms with bathroom facilities to promote academic success, dignity and access for girls who previously had to skip school during menstruation.
— Completed two income-generating buildings so caregivers can provide a sustainable, reliable income for their children.
— Decreased grade repetition rates from 5% to 1%.
— Increased student pass rates to 93%.
These improvements represent lasting change in how children access and succeed in education—with the reduction in grade repetition and increase in pass rates indicating thousands more children progressing through school to build a brighter future.
Building resilience for vulnerable families
Family strengthening is a critical component of EduCare’s success.
Educational success requires stable families. When parents can provide for their children’s basic needs and support their learning, children thrive. EduCare’s holistic approach addresses this critical need for family stability through:
— Economic empowerment that provides the skills, resources and supports parents need to gain reliable employment.
— Income-generating activities so caregivers can provide a sustainable income for their children.
— Targeted support programs—like health care and nutrition—so families can meet their children’s basic needs.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the two income-generating facilities, Gizachew expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, particularly emphasizing the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s critical role in achieving educational transformation for children.
Building sustainable impact through community partnerships
Special recognition was given to Sahlemariam Abebe, national director of SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia, for his instrumental role in initiating and expanding EduCare. Gizachew’s remarks also emphasized the long-term educational and economic impacts, caregiver empowerment and the importance of partnerships with more than 64 organizations that contributed to the EduCare’s sustainability and continued impact.
Ebisa Jaleta, deputy national director of SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia, reinforced the project’s core belief that every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment to grow, thrive and build a brighter future.
He emphasized that the statistics showcasing EduCare’s success are more than just numbers—they represent real lives changed: children staying in school, caregivers becoming self-reliant and communities growing stronger. He closed by thanking all who played a role in bringing the project to life.
Video messages from Lindsay Harrington, associate director of programs and partnerships at SOS Children’s Villages USA, and Melissa Crutchfield, program director for vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa at the Helmsley Charitable Trust, conveyed their heartfelt congratulations on the project’s success.
Debre Yehuala, deputy mayor of Gondar, praised the project’s outcomes for its significant contributions to both the education sector and local economic empowerment.
The event also included a detailed impact presentation by Bekalu Biwota, supported by a short documentary film showcasing project milestones. Heartfelt testimonials from participating families moved the audience, offering personal insight into the positive changes brought by the project.
The day concluded with a partner recognition ceremony, certificate handover and the official transfer of income-generating facilities, followed by closing remarks from Semagne Birhan, representative of the Bureau of Finance.
We would like to thank the Helmsley Trust for their unwavering support of children, families and communities in Ethiopia.
Looking forward: A model for educational transformation
EduCare’s decade of success demonstrates how holistic, comprehensive educational approaches can transform entire communities—and that lasting change is possible when we work together for children.
Read more EduCare success stories through EduCare Mexico’s pilot program.
The celebration not only honored the work of SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia, but also the collective commitment of government agencies, partner organizations and community members who make sustainable change for children possible.
As SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia looks toward the future, the organization calls on supporters and stakeholders to continue investing in proven, impactful and sustainable models for educational transformation.
Together, we can ensure every child grows up safe, loved and educated!
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