From November 2020 to November 2022, the Tigray region of Ethiopia was ravaged by a brutal war waged by the Ethiopian federal government, supported by militias and military forces from the state of Eritrea. Pupuls were deprived of education for about four years. Nearly 90% of schools in Tigray were completely or partially destroyed or looted. 

Many people displaced during the war have arrived in Maichew Town, a town in southern Tigray. At the Daughters of Charity school, the sisters are fighting to provide access to education for 700 children. 

The “On the Way to School” project aimed to restore dignity, hope, and the opportunity to learn to disadvantaged children by providing them with uniforms and school supplies. This project was initiated by Sr. LH and then carried out by Sr. Adoni following a change in assignment.

As soon as the funds were received, the sisters proceeded to purchase uniforms and school supplies to prevent inflation from reducing their purchasing power! Everything was purchased in May and June 2025, and distributed to the children at the start of the school year on September 15, 2025.
The project is now complete in terms of its material aspects, but the school continues its daily work.

Rodas' story perfectly illustrates the impact of this project.

Rodas was 9 years old when she lost her father in an accident. Her mother is raising several children on her own. Before receiving support, Rodas was discouraged, without school supplies or a uniform.
Today, she is one of the best students in her class. Now she can study with peace of mind. And with the daily meal provided by Mary's Meals, she starts each day with a full stomach and a light heart.

The school has:

- 235 children in preschool (ages 3 to 6)
- 396 elementary school students (grades 1 to 8)
- 28 teachers (10 in preschool, 18 in elementary school).

Among them, 220 children (80 in kindergarten and 140 in elementary school) received directly: 
- school uniforms
- notebooks and pens.

The project has had a very positive impact on the children's lives by offering them the opportunity to:
- continue their education; without this, they would have had to leave school
- feel proud and dignified with a uniform, a notebook, a pen... this is also part of the right to childhood
- be diligent and succeed: they go to class, make progress, and flourish!

The project is not financially self-sufficient. The school depends mainly on tuition fees, which many parents can no longer afford to pay. These revenues barely cover teachers' salaries, without allowing for operating costs, maintenance of buildings (damaged during the conflict), and regular requests for salary increases from teachers.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your donations have enabled the children to continue their education in dignified conditions, despite an extremely difficult economic and social context. Your help has been a breath of fresh air, but the school's sustainability remains a daily challenge...” Sr Adoli