New School Year in Ethiopia!

The new school year in Ethiopia started in September, and our Girls Gotta Run programs returned to full strength with running practice, life skills groups, school supplies, tutoring, and mothers' groups.

Our mission since our founding has been to to keep girls in school, reduce early marriage, and - most importantly but hardest to measure - increase the number of girls with access to information, supportive social networks, increased self-confidence and influence over their own life choices. We are optimistic as the school year starts that we are making progress toward that mission.

You may have seen on social media that our 8th graders passed their National Exams! This an important accomplishment for what has traditionally been a point when girls drop out of school in Ethiopia. Contributions from our supporters help to ensure that our program participants have what they need to succeed in school and running. In addition to the distribution of sanitary supplies and soap as part of our "school supply" packages, we also prepared school uniforms and notebooks for our student athletes.

We also have new goals as an organization, including engagement with our growing network of alumni -- our first classes from 2017 are now young women, many in University, some studying in vocational programs. We are thrilled that several of these alumni have agreed to serve as mentors and role models for our current Student Athletes in our Soddo location -- they will come to Saturday Life Skills classes and help lead group activities. 

Below is a photo of 12 of these young women who stopped by our Girls Gotta Run office in Soddo to connect with our program manager, Kidist. In addition to providing small GGRF living stipends for the alumni who have graduated from secondary school and are continuing their education, Kidist has also helped them set up bank accounts, and serves as an informal advisor.

We are focused on getting our core programs, which we know are making a difference, back to full speed. But in the next year, we have high hopes for what we can accomplish.

If you would like to help, or know someone who would, either through volunteer time, advice, or donations, please email arbora@girlsgottarun.org. We value your input!