ODI Global
Dire, Ethiopia
In the past in Ethiopia, children started to go to school very late at around nine years old. Girls especially would travel very far to reach schools, 10km by foot, which would put them at risk of kidnapping for early marriage.
Sometimes when a man wants to marry an underage girl, but her parents refuse, he will kidnap her when she is without the protection of her family. Due to this problem, many parents won’t send their daughters to school, if they have to travel long distances to get there, whereas boys are able to travel alone or live closer to the schools on their own.
The building of more schools in rural areas has improved this issue. In the area where I live, we changed the mosque into a school, with the assistance of EMRDA. The community recognise the importance of educating more girls, as it is good for the economy of Ethiopia as a whole.
Dire Said, 23
Secretary for the Mayor
© Dire Said / EMRDA / ODI / PhotoVoice
Dire, Ethiopia
In the past in Ethiopia, children started to go to school very late at around nine years old. Girls especially would travel very far to reach schools, 10km by foot, which would put them at risk of kidnapping for early marriage.
Sometimes when a man wants to marry an underage girl, but her parents refuse, he will kidnap her when she is without the protection of her family. Due to this problem, many parents won’t send their daughters to school, if they have to travel long distances to get there, whereas boys are able to travel alone or live closer to the schools on their own.
The building of more schools in rural areas has improved this issue. In the area where I live, we changed the mosque into a school, with the assistance of EMRDA. The community recognise the importance of educating more girls, as it is good for the economy of Ethiopia as a whole.
Dire Said, 23
Secretary for the Mayor
© Dire Said / EMRDA / ODI / PhotoVoice