Summary

Ke-Ariam, a fourteen-year-old sixth grader at Serera Primary School in Doyogena, is at the forefront of change. Doyogena is unfortunately known for its harmful traditional practices such as early or forced marriages, female genital mutilation, child labor, and trafficking. To address these issues, Ke-Ariam and her peers have created a gender club at their school. This club, which they actively manage, is challenging these longstanding traditions. With the support of Save the Children and funding from UNICEF and KOICA, the club  strives to  achieve enduring changes in the behaviours and attitudes of both students and the wider community.

Through the club, Ke-Ariam and her peers prepare and deliver educational messages focused on ending harmful practices within their community. As a result of their efforts, they have observed significant changes in attitudes and behaviors of the community and students. Before the club was established, Save the Children trained would-be members. Essential knowledge and skills necessary to form and manage a school club were provided. Additionally, Save the Children supported the club with educational resources, including amplifiers and loudspeakers, along with various promotional materials. These tools have empowered the club to effectively communicate with peers while disseminating messages on the consequences of harmful traditional practices and addressing broader child protection issues within the school and the surrounding community.

Ke-Ariam’s Story in her own words (quotes)

“I live in Doyogena with my parents, three sisters, and an older brother. My parents are subsistence farmers engaged in small-scale agriculture. We cultivate various crops, including maize, wheat, and barley for food. Additionally, we grow enset (also known as the false banana), from which we prepare a traditional dish called kocho.”

“I consider myself to be an average student in class. Amharic and general science are the two subjects that I am most passionate about. As I grow up and complete my higher education, my ambition is to become a lawyer. I aspire to dedicate my time towards advocating for women’s rights and aim to represent and defend disadvantaged women who have suffered abuse or mistreatment.”

"Last year marked a pivotal chapter in my educational journey when  along with three dedicated peers, I was selected by our school for a unique opportunity. We were to take comprehensive training focused on club management, leadership excellence, and the foundational principles of child rights. This enlightening experience was organized by Save the Children at Doyogena town”,

“The training sessions taught us the skills we would need to start and run the school club. This club is like a guiding light, showing us how to know more and make changes. We learned how to run a club properly, what makes a good leader, and the importance of standing up for the rights of all children, especially girls.”

“With this new knowledge, we were excited to start a journey to teach our fellow students and the whole community. Our club has ten members, including six girls and four boys. We want our club to be the foundation for sharing important lessons. These lessons will make people think differently and start important conversations about the  issues we all face, and to take informed actions.”

“Our club became a vessel for change, a place where ideas flourished, and actions spoke louder than words. We crafted campaigns that resonated with the hearts and minds of our audiences, driving a significant shift in perceptions and behaviors towards the eradication of harmful traditional practices that had long been entrenched in our locality”.

“Save the Children has consistently supplied us with essential stationery as well as educational and promotional materials. These resources have been instrumental in crafting various educational messages, which we then share with students and their families. Additionally, Save the Children has provided our club with promotional tools, including a loudspeaker, microphone, and amplifier. We have utilized these devices to broadcast educational messages through the mini media in our school. Furthermore, these materials have been pivotal in facilitating mass mobilization events that we have organized in the district’s town and other venues.”

"These days, there has been a noticeable decline in the most common and harmful practices among students and the larger community as a result of the persistent education and awareness campaigns we have conducted. Our gratitude extends to Save the Children for its unwavering support. We aspire to see these programs broaden their scope, thereby benefiting an even greater number of communities. While challenges persist, we recognize that overcoming them requires substantial resources and a dedicated effort.”

Project background

The “Save the Children: Resilience, Peace, and Protection of Children Affected by Conflict and Displacement” project, jointly funded by UNICEF and KOICA, is currently active in Doyogena district of Kembata zone, Ethiopia. This initiative strives to foster community resilience and safeguard children who have been affected by conflict. It achieves this through the establishment of a community-based child protection system and the fortification of social and legal institutions. These efforts are directed towards creating a secure environment where children can thrive, leading healthy and joyful lives, shielded from any form of harm.

Save the Children, with funding support from UNICEF and KOICA, has established and supported eight child-led school clubs within the intervention area across three target schools. This initiative has reached over 1,300 schoolchildren and additional community members. Further more, the project has provided life skills training to over 40 club members. This training has empowered the clubs to create and share educational messages among their peers and parents, thereby increasing awareness of prevalent harmful traditional practices affecting girls and women.