A project that carries on the legacy of Paolo Dieci and his commitment to improving access to quality education for girls in Ethiopia.
Women and girls in Ethiopia are severely disadvantaged compared to boys and men in a number of areas, including literacy, health, livelihoods and basic human rights. 80% of the population resides in rural areas and women provide most of the agricultural work in these communities. Although the primary school enrollment rate of girls in Ethiopia has drastically improved from 21% to 91% in recent years, most girls are unable to enter secondary and tertiary education due to distance, personal security and financial difficulties.
As girls grow up, access to educational opportunities becomes increasingly difficult as it takes time away from essential housework and income-generating activities that are mainly the responsibility of girls and women.
Only 35% of university students are female and 5% drop out within the first year. At the same time, female education at university level is extremely low, only 11%. In general, women in Ethiopia face different and more basic economic constraints than men, including less access to credit and limited access to the market.
The project aims to allow access to education for girls through scholarships and other mechanisms that promote sustenance for their families. It also seeks to improve the quality of education by ensuring adequate space and equipment.