In Jimma, one of Ethiopia’s largest and oldest cities, hundreds of children are growing up in families affected by leprosy. The disease continues to lead to rejection and exclusion, condemning many families to live on the margins of society in extreme poverty.

“The stigma associated with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) remains very strong in the city.” Sr. Tsege

For over 30 years, the Daughters of Charity have refused to accept this as inevitable. They work to encourage the financial empowerment of stigmatised people: helping them to set up micro-enterprises, small shops, agricultural projects and home-based craft activities… When families’ incomes rise, they are better able to provide for their children.
The sisters have also set up the ‘Pope John Paul II’ nursery and primary school and the ‘Saint Louise’ primary school, where every child is welcomed with the same conviction: that education can change a life.

Children unable to attend school 

These schools are currently facing a very real problem: they can no longer afford to provide the children with the essential learning materials. 

“At present, our schools are operating with a budget deficit and we are unable to provide education on a regular basis. Almost all the pupils come from families affected by leprosy, disability and extreme poverty.” Sr. Tsege

They cannot afford to pay school fees or buy basic school supplies – it’s an impossible expense! These families survive by begging, relying on donations or doing odd jobs. Many children also suffer from the stigma associated with leprosy, which continues to isolate their parents from social and economic life. Some children turn up for class with nothing to write with. Others drop out of school, discouraged or embarrassed at not having the bare minimum needed to learn alongside their peers. 

The project: School supplies to help children stay in school

The sisters aim to improve pupils’ standard of education, in particular by providing basic school supplies and the teaching resources necessary to ensure high-quality teaching. 

Thanks to this equipment, 200 children will be able to continue their studies in suitable conditions, and teachers will have the right tools to deliver engaging and practical lessons. The schools will continue to provide a high-quality education to those who need it most.

Providing a notebook or a pencil may seem like a small thing. Yet, for a child who has never had one, it can be the first step towards a different future.

“For these children, receiving a schoolbag, exercise books, books or a uniform is not just a matter of material support. It means regaining their place amongst their fellow pupils, rebuilding their self-confidence and being able to learn with dignity. 
And behind each of these 200 pupils, there is also a whole family that finds a reason to hope.” Sr. Tsege

With these young Ethiopian schoolchildren,
Thanks to you!

If the project raises more than its goal, any excess funds received will be allocated to a similar project.