Back to school!

The Ethiopian New Year – Enkutatash – has just begun (on 11th September) ushering in new hope, and a new academic year. The great news is that primary education is free. The downside is that pens, exercise books and other essential school materials are not. This is a prohibitive expense for many, and for around a third of primary school age Ethiopian children education is just a dream.

Over 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) reside in camps in Adigrat near the Eritrean border, having fled the fierce fighting in Western Tigray during the war. Although hostilities officially ceased in November 2022, large swathes of territory along the border between Tigray and Amhara remain contested or under occupation, making a return home impossible. Many left their homes with nothing, many lost family members to the conflict. Living conditions in the camps are bad and deteriorating, life is precarious, and the future is uncertain. This is where education comes in.

Since 2023 we have been working together with the Catholic Diocese of Adigrat to provide school materials for IDPs in their care. We currently provide basic supplies to allow 380 of the most vulnerable children in the camps to go to school, giving them a chance to progress towards a better life.

We are a very small charity but in the right situation, and with the right partners, a little goes a long way. This simple, cost-effective intervention – made possible by you, our Desta supporters – is a game-changer for the future of these vulnerable children.

So, we are sending out a big THANK YOU to all of you for your contributions, whether these are one-off or regular monthly donations, anonymous gifts through JustGiving, or merchandise purchases at events. We are enormously grateful not only for your financial support, but for your love and compassion. Please keep it coming!