KEY MESSAGES

“An important message for the children is that for them, if it is possible, to focus on their education before anything else.” - Urgessa Kuma

○ This evaluation estimated that having access to new community schools built helped ensure, on average, an additional 4.5 years of schooling for the children and adolescents who attended those schools. The estimated additional lifetime earnings for those children/adolescents amounted to US$137.5 million.

○ For every dollar invested by Save the Children in education there is a potential return of about US$12 in lifetime financial benefits to the (now) young women and men who attended the schools built by Save the Children.

○ Save the Children invested about US$4.7 million in building and maintaining water schemes and sanitation facilities. With no primary or secondary data available on the outcomes of this investment, the evaluators turned to a WHO study that calculated a return of US$2.7 to every dollar invested in water and sanitation in sub-Saharan Africa, from: (i) health care savings, (ii) reduced productivity losses, (iii) time saved fetching water, and (iv) premature deaths averted.

Ripple Effects

A number of positive changes were inspired by Save the Children's partnership with Woliso community members without having been originally planned or expected as an intentional effect, for example:

○ The development of a culture of community mobilization – examples included saving money collectively to resolve pressing issues in the communities and getting better organized to put pressure on government to help address important needs.

○ Changes in attitudes towards education, sanitation and hygiene – examples included families valuing sending their children to school, especially the girls, and open defecation being considered a shameful practice.

○ Creation of a national school health and nutrition (SHN) policy and plan of action for Ethiopia. This national-level change was inspired by sponsorship’s successful community-level SHN efforts in Woliso. Members from our child sponsorship teams were invited to sit at the table with the Ethiopian government to help develop this national policy and plan.

SUGGESTED POSTS

Good news – child sponsorship changes lives! An independent study of our work from 2002 to 2010 in Woliso, Ethiopia revealed the lasting, positive impact we can have when we partner with children and communities to achieve their goals, especially in the areas of education, lifetime earning potential and community engagement! Thank you to our incredible sponsors for investing in the future of children. [VIDEO: Save the Children's Impact 10 Years Later]

________________________________________

Thanks to supporters like you, we see a tangible, lasting difference in the lives of children in Woliso, Ethiopia. Meet Dirirsa, a community member who worked with Save the Children to become a water caretaker, and see how he has gone on to improve the health of his community. [VIDEO: Meet Dirirsa, a water caretaker in Ethiopia]

________________________________________

Child sponsorship makes a difference! A recent study explored the long-term impacts of our partnership with kids and families in Woliso, Ethiopia to help realize their goals – and the results were AMAZING! Everyone deserves access to clean water. Thanks to sponsors like you, communities are making that happen. [SHARECARD: Health and Sanitation]

________________________________________

Thanks to supporters like you, every dollar invested = nearly $12 in potential future benefits to the girls and boys who attended new schools in Woliso, Ethiopia, changing the lives of girls like Meskele. Watch her story here to see how she is now receiving the education she deserves to help reach her dreams. [VIDEO: Meet Meskele, a Sponsorship Graduate in Ethiopia]

________________________________________

A decade later, Save the Children went back to Woliso, Ethiopia to see the impact we can have when we partner with communities to helo children reach their full potential. Thanks to supporters like you, new schools were built and equipped, allowing children to receive an average of 4.5 MORE years of education - putting them on the path to a brighter future! [SHARECARD: 4.5 Years Additional Schooling]

________________________________________

Meet Urgessa Kuma, Director of the Maru Somba School. Learn how he partnered with Save the Children over ten years ago, and how he continues to invest in his community's children through education. [VIDEO: Meet Urgessa, a former teacher in Ethiopia]

Meet Meskele, whose life has changed through learning

16-year-old Meskele attends the sixth grade at the nearby school in her community that was built by her community members in partnership with Save the Children. Previously, many children were not attending school due to the dangers of sending young children long distances to the nearest school, about 6-10km. Parents were reluctant to send their young children, especially girls and children with disabilities, long distances to school for fear of traffic accidents, rape and other assaults, abductions, and harassment. The lack of nearby schools was seriously affecting equitable access to education. The vast majority of parents in these communities were not allowing their boys to attend school until they were about 10 years old, while girls were often held back until age 13. As a result, children like Meskele are left feeling awkward starting a lower grade at an older age.

For females it is necessary to continue their education because it helps them to learn good behavior, it makes them literate, it assists them to get a job opportunity, and then they can become professionals like doctors.”