Bakalcho Primary Education Project

Implemented in collaboration with Pestalozzi Children's Foundation — a Swiss-based international NGO founded in 1946 — the Bakalcho Primary Education Project ran in Melga district, Sidama Region, with the district education office co-funding 30%, 50%, and 70% of costs across the project's three phases, respectively, to strengthen long-term sustainability.

Starting with pre-primary education centers based in community institutions such as local churches, the project built four primary schools — Chamo Yangela, Abiyo Jiru, Kacha Gomorcho, and Wujigra — with Kacha Gomorcho and Chamo Yangela later scaled up to full primary school level. Before the project, the district's 23 kebeles were served by only five schools, and girls in particular faced barriers to access due to distance and harmful practices such as early marriage.

The project ran in three 3-year phases (2006–2009, 2009–2012, 2012–2014), the third focused on consolidating earlier gains. Activities included teacher and school-committee capacity building, community conversations, school libraries and resource centers, vocational skills training (candle making, hairdressing, embroidery) for children from extremely poor families, tutorial programs, and student leadership clubs.

Results included equal enrollment of girls and boys, reduced dropout and repetition, two project schools passing 100% of grade 8 examinees to grade 9, and community/government co-ownership of the schools through labor and material contributions.

Aster, a graduate of the project's hairdressing vocational training, used her skills to open her own salon in Wottera Rassa town and later expanded into running a small shop — both documented in real photos above. She has since become financially independent, married, and describes her turnaround simply: "bye… bye poverty."

Markos, enrolled at the project's Chamo Yangala center at age 7, scored 97% on the regional grade 8 examination and won a full scholarship to Furra Model Academy in Hawassa, where he is now pursuing his goal of becoming a medical doctor.