I plan to be the best, and I will be the best - Ajieri (12)

Summary

Ajieri Ojulu Omod is a 12-year-old student in class 6, living in Abobo woreda of the Gambella region in Ethiopia. She was unable to continue her education due to severe financial constraints. Thanks to the “Increased Access to Quality Basic Education for OOSC” project, a joint initiative by Save the Children and Educate A Child (EAC), a global programme of the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), Ajieri has resumed her schooling and aspires to achieve academic excellence.

Ajieri, in her own words

My name is Ajieri Ojulu Omod. I'm 12 years old. I live in Abobo with my two brothers and parents. I love going to school and I'm a grade six student. I get up early in the mornings everyday so that I won't miss school. You see, since I live far away from the compound, unless I rise early and finish up my house chores I won't make it to class on time. However, despite all my efforts, I was unable to attend school last year since my parents have a meagre income. My mother works as a custodian in a government institution while my father tills on the farm. We make do with what we have. But, no matter how much they tried or my efforts to lend them a helping hand, we couldn't get enough supplies for school. So, I stopped going to school. I couldn't learn without anything to write with or on. I was disheartened. But, there was nothing I could do. However, I heard some good news this year. Save the Children was conducting an OOSC (out of school children) data collection survey to identify children like me. I managed to register and I qualified for the EAC programme that assisted students like me. I was happy when I received supplies, such as a schoolbag, pen, pencils and exercise books. Going back to school was a very happy experience for me. I was so eager to learn and I studied very hard. When we had our first semester examination I scored 74.5 percentile and came 1st in my class! I don't think this is a very great achievement, as I plan to do the same for all grades until I go off to the university. I want to do very well. I know how it feels to be away from school, so I want to be the best at all my studies. I thank Save the Children and Educate A Child. I wouldn't have had this opportunity, if it wasn't for their assistance.

What Save the Children is doing to help Ajieri and others like her:

Save the Children Ethiopia and Save the Children Korea in partnership with Educate A Child, have launched the “Increased Access to Quality Basic Education for OOSC in the Gambella Region of Ethiopia” project. This joint initiative project has been working in refugee camps and host communities since January 2020. The project aims to reach more than 35,000 out of school children with quality primary education, and necessary materials, such as school kits and uniforms, as well as construct classrooms and gender-segregated latrines and WASH facilities.