Success Stories

Tinsae Estifanos, 18, reflects on her journey, highlighting the profound impact of the human rights training on her education and life, provided by NEWA with support from the Malala Fund. I am a student, where I take pride in excelling in my studies. Both of my parents are high school teachers who have instilled in me the value of learning and the power of knowledge. Their dedication to education has inspired me to pursue excellence in my academic journey. In addition to my studies, I actively participate in various extracurricular activities. In the future, I aim to become a successful software designer and a women’s rights lawyer. This dual career path reflects my commitment not only to technology and design but also to social justice and advocacy. As the sun rises, I dream of a world where every girl receives an education, free from the chains of sexual violence. Girls face barriers to education, leadership, and decision-making. But through support systems and educational programs, girls are finding their voices and standing up for their rights. My journey began when I was given the opportunity to participate in a life-changing trainings and workshops organized by NEWA, supported by the MALALA Fund. This experience not only opened my eyes to the power of knowledge and collective action but also inspired me to take meaningful steps in my own community. As a high school student and the leader of my school’s girls’ club, I was both excited and nervous when I learned I had been selected for the training. I knew this was a chance to gain valuable insights that could help me improve the club and make a difference in the lives of my peers. The training brought together students from various backgrounds and knowledgeable trainers who taught us about national and international laws protecting girls and women’s rights. Before attending, my understanding of these laws was rudimentary, but the trainers elucidated them in ways that made them relevant to our daily lives. We also discussed the challenges girls face in education, leadership, and personal development. One of the most impactful moments came during an activity where we were asked to identify the major challenges we face as girls. This exercise forced us to reflect on our personal struggles and the systemic barriers that hold us back. As we shared our stories, I realized I wasn’t alone, many of us faced similar obstacles. This sense of unity was empowering. We left the session feeling supported, knowing that there were organizations and individuals committed to standing with us and helping us find solutions. The workshop wasn’t confined to one region. Similar sessions were held across Ethiopia, and later, representatives from each region gathered in Addis Ababa for a larger conference. There, we shared our experiences, discussed our findings, and worked together to draft a collective conclusion. It was incredible to see how widespread these issues were and how girls from diverse backgrounds could come together to advocate for change. By the end of the conference, I felt a renewed sense of confidence and responsibility. I realized that knowledge is a powerful tool, and with it, I could help empower other girls in my school and community. When I returned to school, I knew I had to act. The girls’ club at my school had existed for some time, but it was inactive and disorganized. Many students didn’t see its value, and participation was low. But I saw its potential. I began by sharing what I had learned at the training and consultation workshop with the club members. We discussed our rights, leadership, and the importance of collective action. Many of the girls were surprised to learn about the legal protections available to them. Some had faced challenges but didn’t know they had rights that could protect them. By educating them, I hoped to build their confidence and encourage them to stand up for themselves and others. Next, I focused on revitalizing the club. I proposed new activities, such as discussion sessions, mentorship programs, and awareness campaigns. These initiatives aimed to make the club more engaging and relevant to the students. I also encouraged more girls to take on leadership roles, fostering a sense of teamwork and shared responsibility. Inspired by the workshop, I encouraged everyone to share their concerns. We identified issues like lack of confidence, limited leadership opportunities, and gender-based challenges. Together, we brainstormed solutions and ways to address these problems. I also worked on building connections with teachers and school administrators to gain their support. I explained how an active girls’ club could benefit the entire school community. Thankfully, many teachers were supportive and offered to help facilitate events and discussions. Their encouragement was invaluable. Slowly but surely, I began to see a change. More students joined the club, and conversations about girls’ empowerment became more common. While there’s still much work to be done, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made. This experience taught me that change starts with small steps. By taking action, even in modest ways, we can create a ripple effect that inspires others and transforms our community. Looking to the future, I’m hopeful that the seeds of change planted during the workshop will grow into a movement that empowers girls everywhere. I envision a world where educational opportunities for girls are not limited by societal norms or economic barriers. I hope to collaborate with local organizations to create programs that provide support, mentorship, and resources for girls struggling to access education. By fostering a supportive environment, we can encourage more girls to stay in school and achieve their dreams. In conclusion, NEWA with the supported by MALALA Fund, the trainings and consultation workshop was a transformative experience that equipped me with knowledge, confidence, and a sense of purpose. I’m deeply grateful to the organizers, facilitators, and my fellow participants for their support and inspiration. I’m also thankful to my school, family, and friends for believing in me. Together, we can continue to advocate for our

Sara Ali, a 16-year-old girl in the 10th grade at Gemeharu Secondary School. She was born in the Banishangul Gumuz region of Ethiopia in Assosa city. Her favorite subjects are civics and mathematics. She has always dreamed of becoming a Psychiatry. She enjoys praying and spending time with her family. Growing up in a family of farmers, her parents valued education but faced significant economic challenges that made it difficult to prioritize schooling for their children. Sara is the second of four siblings, and like many girls in her community, she encountered numerous obstacles on her path to education. From a young age, Sara showed a keen interest in learning. She would often accompany her older brother to school, listening intently as he shared stories about his lessons. However, when it was time for Sara to enroll in school, her parents hesitated. The family struggled to make ends meet, and they believed that investing in a girl’s education was less important than that of a boy. Moreover, the cultural norms in her village posed additional barriers. Many families believed that girls should marry young and focus on household responsibilities rather than pursue education. Sara faced pressure from her peers and even some family members who questioned her commitment to schooling. Despite these challenges, Sara remained focused on her studies. She would often study late into the night by candlelight, determined to keep up with her lessons. Her teachers recognized her potential and encouraged her to continue, but the societal pressures weighed heavily on her. When Sara was in the 10th grade, her family faced a significant crisis. Her father fell ill and could no longer work on the farm. The family’s financial situation deteriorated, and Sara’s parents considered withdrawing her from school to help support the family. On her own; “Although I wanted to learn, my family did not encourage me to study. They help my brother follow his studies, but they don’t encourage me. My father was ill and I had to leave school to support the family. Also, they were going to marry me a rich man, I didn’t know how to convince my family that I should continue my education, and I didn’t know about my rights.”  When was Sara feeling desperate, NEWA provided a two days human rights training in Benishangul Gumuz region, Assosa city. To create awareness on their rights, gender-based violence, gender equality, women human rights…etc. Sara was participated the training session and she shared her story with NEWA, that was moved by her challenges, determination and resilience. Moreover, NEWA trained and provided Sara with a psychosocial support that allowing her to continue her education without burdening her family. In the meantime, Sara received the human rights training and she understand the rights and she know about all girls and women rights. The training was the greater impact to her families. she can lead to a reduction in the burden on Sara’s family by fostering Sara’s emotional well-being, problem-solving skills and coping strategies. Through building stronger relationships with her family; improving her communication skills to express her needs more clearly and build better interpersonal dynamics; building self-confidence; building a positive connection with her family by forming friendship that helped to convince them to continue her education and it helps Sara gain a sense of empowerment and control over her own lives. Sara would likely have been introduced to coping strategies that empower her to handle life’s difficulties more effectively. After the training, Sara understands her rights and she know how to convince her parents to continue her education. Despite her parents’ initial reluctance, Sara’s determination shone through. She pleaded with them, emphasizing the importance of education for her future. After much discussion, they agreed to let her attend school. With the support of the NEWA, Sara not only continued her education but also became involved in advocacy for girls’ rights in her community. She participated in workshops that educated girls about their rights and the importance of education. Sara learned to speak confidently about the challenges girls face and the need for equal opportunities. Inspired by her own journey explained;  “Now I have full of understanding about women rights and I protect my rights and advocate for the rights of education and gender equality started from my families. Therefore, I began to mentor younger girls in my village, encouraging them to pursue their education despite societal pressures. I organized a group of girls who had trained to collecting financial resources to support girls who couldn’t afford, fostering a supportive environment for my peers. My efforts began to change perceptions in my family, as more my families recognized the value of educating. This opportunity was a significant milestone in my journey, as it allowed my access better understanding about my rights and a more advocates for other girls who struggling their education. And finally, I really thank NEWA and my educators to give me this opportunity because it’s meaningful in my life journey.” Sara’s story is a testament to the resilience and determination of girls in Ethiopia who face significant barriers to education. Through her struggles, she not only fought for her own right to learn but also became an advocate for change in her family and also community. Sara’s journey highlights the importance of community engagement in education especially girls. As she continues her studies, Sara remains committed to her dream of becoming a Psychiatry, determined to make a difference in the lives of other girls like herself.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ethiopia, with more than 115 million people, was challenged tremendously. Reaching key groups in a country in which 80 percent of the population resides in peri-rural areas was difficult, and worsened by the ongoing conflict concentrated in the north. JSI, through its Last 10 Kilometers (L10K) project and with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, partnered with the Network of Ethiopian Women Association (NEWA) to strengthen risk communication and community engagement to thwart the spread COVID-19. Through a series of consultative sessions with over 850 women and girls in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, and Sidama Regions, it was found that the low vaccine acceptance rate of the was attributable to incorrect information. These included false claims that the vaccine led to infertility, that the vaccination was prohibited by religious beliefs, and that vaccination is the West’s attempt to impose its values on Africa. JSI helped NEWA members work with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) to design social and behavior change communication (SBCC) materials and messages to facilitate COVID-19-prevention behavior among women. JSI supported NEWA on developing and adapting guides and tools and conducting research. NEWA collected data and produced more evidence on COVID-19 prevention measures and the need for medical intervention in response to severe infection. JSI’s technical assistance and NEWA’s research led to a thorough SBCC campaign that included gender-sensitive radio messages, house-to-house visits, and informal community meetings with women. NEWA staff and its partners disseminated SBCC materials throughout key woredas (districts) in the four regions where L10K works. The materials were also distributed to women in isolated rural communities and remote villages through regional health centers with support from the MOH, Ethiopia’s Women’s Development Army (a group of trained volunteer health workers), and certified health extension workers. Ultimately, these combined efforts helped the MOH design actions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and vaccinate 65 percent of the targeted population.Source: JSI – https://www.jsi.com/stories-of-capacity-development-changing-covid-19-perceptions-ethiopia/?fbclid=IwAR1_pXDIfwg-hWvU9zH-0bMHFH3mdAu27xM0IPToz6SMWz1YOPQmQUzFNhY

Edelawit Alemu, 24, is a passionate young woman currently working in Benshangul-Gumuz region of Metekel Zone, a place known for recurring conflicts. However, working under difficult circumstances is not intimidating for a young woman with vision like Edelawit. Rather, facing challenges and learning in the process is her way of growing professionally and personally. The organization she is working for is Mujejeguwa Loka Women’s Development Association, founded by the late Tirhas Mezgebe, the well-known women rights activist served the community for some 30 years. She is from the small town of Wonji, 103 Kms from the capital Addis Ababa. She studied ‘Early childhood care and education’ and graduated from Woldiya University one and half years ago. She was passionate about serving the society, especially working on issues affecting women and children and she has joined the new department despite the advice that the field of study won’t get her a job as it is new in the job market. Immediately after graduation she joined TARKANFI Sustainable Development Association as project coordinator for the organization’s Sheleads project. The project, implemented by TARKANFI as a subgrantee of Network of Ethiopia Women’s Associations (NEWA) aimed at empowering girls and young women. “Coordinating the activities aimed at helping girls and young women build their capacity around motivation, self-confidence and communication skills also helped me to be a better version of myself” said Edelawit. She also believes her experiences of the Sheleads helped her broaden her scope. Edelawit is member of the Ethiopian Young Women Voice (EYWV), aspiring young girls’ group recently established by NEWA under the Sheleads project. 40 young women from different regions of the country are members of the group. She describes herself as confident, someone who easily communicates her ideas and willing to learn and explore new things. According to Edelawit, as someone who as has been implementing Sheleads and now part of a group under the project, facing challenges, being confident and able to be a voice for the silenced, having the willingness and empathy to understand other women’s situation are the few skills she has acquired through Sheleads among others. She believes empowering young women is very critical to create a society that treats men and women equally. Establishing a foundation that helps children and women is Edelawit’s vision. Edelawit and her likes are the hopes that the country will have many more Tirhases.

H.E the state minister for Planning and Development, Mrs Tirumar Abate,38, is one of the young high government officials. She studied Business Management at undergrad and has an MA in Leadership and Governance. She was among the women leaders who have shared their experience to young women during the establishment of Young Ethiopian Women’s Voice (YEWV) in December 2022. She is also one of the women politicians who participated in the leadership and decision-making pre-election (Ethiopian national election 2021) training delivered by Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA), Timran and UN Women. She was an active participant in events at schools and Universities she has attended, and she recalled that those exposures helped her to be assertive and vocal. The passing away of her mother when she was just young, forced her to take responsibility for a family of five including looking after her younger siblings. This was where she started to learn how to face challenges and use them to her own advantage. She had sat down for the entrance exam for the masters program when it was about six days to her due date. She passed and started class when her baby was two months old, and she graduated with the highest grade. Though it’s challenging, she believes neither passing through pregnancy nor raising a baby should stop women from advancing in their education or career. “Women shouldn’t shy away from taking chances to grab leadership roles at any stage” is her advice for young women. She was a teacher and served at different posts in the lower administrative tiers before joining Enat Party, opposition party. She remembers she used to mentor three students to participate in different activities in their community and grab chances. She has never let any capacity building training or workshops organized by women as she thinks such platforms are critical for women to build their capacity and confidence and to be assertive. She believes it’s the women’s responsibility to grab such opportunities. Having a vision is another important thing as Tirumar explained further. According to her, having a vision gives clarity and helps to keep motivated. She strongly believes platforms like YEWV are important for young women to build their capacity and learn from each other’s experiences. Regarding women’s participation in politics, she said politics is nothing but problem solving. According to her, women shouldn’t shy away from politics, rather they have to participate in any capacity building training, build their capacity and confidence as this helps to face the challenges hindering them from joining politics. Tirumar’s vision is to continue serving her country while aspiring for higher positions.