ESD'S FOCUS AREAS
Focus Areas
Early Childhood Development
At ESD, we believe in laying the groundwork for lifelong success. Our Child Development program nurtures disadvantaged children (ages 0-6) by enhancing early childhood education and development. We create safe environments, implement innovative WASH initiatives, and strengthen our Pedagogical Resource Center to ensure every child is prepared to thrive both in school and beyond.
- We built 126 community and school-based ECD centers.
- Nutrition, health, WASH, and learning materials for
48,000 children under six
Join us in shaping a brighter future for our youngest generation!
Girl’s and Women Empowerment
Empowerment starts here! Our program focuses on providing adolescent girls and women with vital Sexual and Reproductive Health services while fighting against child marriage and harmful traditional practices. By enhancing leadership skills and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through Self-Help Groups and Village Savings and Loans Associations, we are transforming lives and communities.
- Self-Help Groups & VSLAs supporting 63,000+ women
- SRH services, GBV prevention, scholastic materials support, and leadership training for adolescent girls
Be part of the change!
Quality Education
Imagine a world where every school is a nurturing, inclusive, and tech-savvy environment. Our education program strives to create child-friendly schools that promote girls’ education and intercultural competency. We prioritize the development of 21st-century skills, ensuring that our youth are equipped to innovate and lead.
- Child-friendly schools, Digital learning, and safe learning spaces for 89,000 students
- Advocacy for girls’ education and scale-up of the Gender Safe School Bill
Together, we can inspire the next generation of change makers!
Youth Skill Development and Job Creation
Unlock potential with our Youth Skill Development program! We empower disadvantaged youth by enhancing vocational, entrepreneurship, and life skills, connecting them to rewarding job opportunities. Through market assessments, mentorship, and financial support, we pave the way for young people to succeed in the workforce.
- Vocational
training for 7,001 youth (60% female) in high-demand sectors. - Support for cooperatives, startups, and mentoring.
Invest in their future and watch them thrive!
Environment Protection and Renewable Energy
Join us in the fight against climate change!
Our program focuses on building climate-resilient communities through environmental protection and renewable energy initiatives. We promote sustainable practices, train households in soil and water conservation, and encourage the use of alternative energy sources.
- Solar energy and biogas for 1,103 rural households.
- Climate change education and resilience training for 19,007 individuals.
Together, we can safeguard our planet and empower rural communities!
Emergency response and resilience
In times of crisis, ESD stands strong. Our Emergency Response program aims to
reduce vulnerability and support victims through psychosocial care,reconciliation efforts, and educational opportunities for affected children. We provide essential resources and training to help families rebuild their lives.
- Protection, WASH, nutrition, and education services for nearly 10,000 displaced individuals.
- Livelihood recovery and psychosocial support for GBV survivors.
Together, we can foster resilience and hope in even the
toughest times.
At ESD, our commitment goes beyond individual programs; we tackle critical cross-cutting issues that shape a better future for all:
Gender Equality
In a society where gender
disparities persist, ESD is dedicated to transforming the narrative. We believe
that empowering girls and women is essential for community development. Our
initiatives aim to address gender biases, ensuring that all voices are heard
and valued.
Together, we can break down barriers
and create a more equitable world!
Inclusive
Education for All
Education should be a right, not a
privilege! ESD champions special needs and inclusive education, ensuring that
every individual, regardless of ability, has access to our programs. We strive
for equal opportunities in education, employment, and social protection, paving
the way for a more inclusive society.
Join us in making education accessible for everyone!
HIV/AIDS
Awareness and Protection
Knowledge is power! ESD is actively
raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and promoting sexual and reproductive health.
By fostering understanding and providing vital resources, we aim to protect
communities and empower individuals to make informed choices.
Support our mission to spread awareness and save lives!
3rd Quarterly Newsletter of 2023
4th Quarterly Newsletter of 2023
1st Quarterly Newsletter of 2024
2nd Quarterly Newsletter of 2024
Education in Emergency;
Fostering Peace Initiative
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been actively working in the Bakelo IDP center in Debrebirhan as a core component of its peace-building initiatives. Upon the commencement of our intervention, numerous challenges surfaced, primarily stemming from existing conflicts between the host community and the newly arrived internally displaced persons (IDP). These tensions were rooted in issues surrounding space, religious and language differences, and the host community’s reluctance to accept IDPs due to resource limitations and other concerns. These challenges were particularly evident within the school environment, where host community parents contributed to the conflict over scarce resources and insufficient school facilities, making it difficult to accommodate the growing number of IDP students.
Faced with these gaps and tensions, ESD’s Devised Peace Initiative strategies to deal with these conflict situations include dialogs, community conversations for adults, sports, and games for children. ESD took proactive steps to facilitate dialogue between the host community and IDP groups. Through continuous discussions and negotiations, the peace initiative gradually gained traction, leading to mutual understanding and cooperation between the IDP community and host community. A formal agreement was established between the host community and the IDPs, which included community-driven efforts to pool resources and In addition, ESD worked diligently to secure funding from a donor, which facilitated the construction of additional classrooms to accommodate IDP schoolchildren across six schools in the Debrebirhan city administration and North Shoa Zone.
This collaborative effort has significantly contributed to creating an inclusive educational environment, fostering peace and unity within the community.
Marshet Begena
Hi, my name is Marshet Begena, and I am a 27-year-old woman born in Hawassa. I was unemployed and struggling financially. It was a tough time for me until I discovered ESD’s professional hairdressing training program.
I enrolled in the program and completed three months of training at Solomon Abegaz Beauty Training Institute. With the skills I learned, I launched a beauty salon business with my friends. We offer a variety of services, including hair styling, Shuruba/braid, pedicures, manicures, and bridal makeup. Our top customers are brides who come from rural areas.
Thanks to the training we received from ESD, we are now profitable and able to cover our running costs. We have even started saving money to expand our business by establishing a beauty training institution and a children’s beauty salon.
I am so grateful to ESD for their support and follow-up. Without their help, I would not have been able to start my own business and achieve the success I have today.
Eyob Mikias
My name is Eyob Mikias, and I am a 30-year-old man born in Debrebirhan town. I had to drop out of school after the 9th grade due to my family’s economic problems. I started working as a daily laborer to support my family, but it was still challenging to have a secure income to provide for them.
One day, while I was struggling with my finances, I heard some good news. The kebele was recruiting beneficiaries for vocational training, and I decided to apply. I was fortunate enough to be selected by the kebele recruiting committee, and I joined the three-month theoretical and practical training.
After completing the training, I launched a dairy farm with my friends. ESD provided us with a startup-capital, which helped us get started. Our hard work and dedication paid off, and our dairy farm became successful. We now earn Birr 60,000 per month, and we produce mozzarella cheese and other dairy products from our six cows.
Thanks to ESD’s support and the vocational training, my friends and I have been able to live a better life. This success has encouraged us to dream of a brighter future and a bigger dairy farm. We are grateful to ESD and its donors for enabling us to achieve this success and envisioning a better future for ourselves and our families.
Bitaniya Abebayehu