Excelling Against the Odds
- P Project/Program
I Inactive
Key Information
This project aimed to support 16,480 marginalised girls in remote areas of Ethiopia who faced challenges of early marriage, street-life and heavy domestic work. It encouraged them to regularly attend primary and secondary school by creating stimulating and appropriate classrooms. It also equipped them with functional literacy and numeracy by providing teachers with training and mentoring necessary to tailor their teaching to the needs of individual girls. It empowered girls by offering life skills and raising their aspirations. As well as supporting individual girls, the project aimed to influence wider social change around issues of gender in Ethiopian society by instigating a ‘Girls’ Movement’. This movement is led by young female leaders of all age groups, who lead local campaigns promoting the value of girls’ education.
Lead Implementing Organization(s)
Location(s)
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ethiopia
Government Affiliation
Non-governmental programYears
2017 - 2021
Partner(s)
Ministry Affiliation
UnknownFunder(s)
FCDO funds this program through the Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC)
COVID-19 Response
AdaptedGeographic Scope
NationalMeets gender-transformative education criteria from the TES
UnknownAreas of Work Back to Top
Education areas
Attainment
- Post-secondary
- Primary completion
- Secondary completion
Other
- Remote Learning
- Transition from school to work
Other skills
- Life skills/sexuality education
- Vocational training
Quality
- Curricula/lesson plans
- School quality
- School violence
- Teacher training
Skills
- Literacy
- Numeracy
Cross-cutting areas
- Early/child marriage
- Empowerment
- Gender equality
- Mentorship
- Other cultural practices
- Social and gender norms and beliefs
- WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene)
Program participants
Other populations reached
- Brothers
- Fathers
- Mothers
- Other caregivers
Participants include
- Orphans and vulnerable children
Program Approaches Back to Top
Facilities construction/improvement
- Construction/improvement of schools
Learning while working
- Apprenticeship/internship
- Vocational training
- Work-study
Life skills education
- Gender, rights and power
Reducing economic barriers
- Addressing cost of school supplies
- Scholarships/stipends for school fees
School-related gender-based violence
- Anti-violence policies and codes of conduct
- Safe and welcoming schools
- Support in and around schools (e.g. peer counseling, adult-to-student counseling)
Teaching
- In-service teacher training – gender-responsive pedagogy
- In-service teacher training – pedagogy general
Tutoring/strengthening academic skills
- Literacy - in the classroom
- Literacy - outside the classroom
- Numeracy - in the classroom
- Numeracy - outside the classroom
- Tutoring - general
Women's empowerment programs
- Advocacy/action
- Leadership training
Program Goals Back to Top
Education goals
- Improved academic skills (literacy and numeracy)
- Improved social and emotional learning/skills and mindsets
- Increased progression to secondary school
- Increased school completion (general)
- Increased test scores
- Increased years of schooling
- Reduced absenteeism
Cross-cutting goals
- Improved mental health
- Increased agency and empowerment