82 students benefit from Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

3rd August 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Chapter in Ethiopia today held a graduation ceremony for 82 bright young women and men who have completed their secondary school studies. This cohort is the first to graduate from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at FAWE Ethiopia. This scholarship program provides education and leadership development for 35,000 bright, young leaders across Africa with a deep personal commitment to changing the world around them and improving the lives of others.

Hon. Dr. Tilaye Gete, the Minister of Education for Ethiopia presided over the graduation ceremony held at the Federal TVET Institute Hall, Addis Ababa on 3rd August, 2018. Hon. Gete congratulated the Scholars for completing their secondary education.

The Scholars Program at FAWE provides students with the necessary scholastic material as well as skills training, leadership development, counselling, and mentoring. Over a ten-year period, the program aims to support 800 (600 girls and 200 boys) young leaders in secondary school (Grades 9–12) to acquire essential knowledge and skills through delivery of quality education. This will enable them to pursue their aspirations and contribute to the household, community, and national development.
While applauding the remarkable efforts by the young women, Martha Muhwezi, FAWE Africa Head of Programmes encouraged the next generation of leaders to consider contributing to their communities through application of knowledge and skills acquired in school.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of these young women and looking forward to see how they will leverage their education to give back to their communities” said Ms. Muhwezi. “They may consider mentoring other girls and young women or initiating special projects that will benefit their communities,” she noted.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at FAWE Ethiopia is currently implemented in eight partner schools, both private and public, located in four marginalized localities where gender disparities in education are most notable: Bahir Dar city in Amhara region, Adama city in National Regional State of Oromia, Hawassa city in the Southern Nations, and Nationalities People’s Region and marginalized parts of Addis Ababa city administration. Currently, the program has reached 400 Scholars and will run until December 2023.

ABOUT FORUM FOR AFRICAN WOMEN EDUCATIONALISTS (FAWE)
The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a pan-African Non-Governmental Organisation founded in 1992 by five women ministers of education to promote girls’ and women’s education in sub-Saharan Africa in line with Education for All. The organisation’s members include female ministers of education, university vice-chancellors, education policy-makers, researchers, gender specialists and human rights activists. www.FAWE.org

FAWE Ethiopia Chapter started in 1997 as a National Chapter of FAWE Africa and advocates the FAWE Africa cause in Ethiopia. The establishment of FAWE Ethiopia was coordinated and supported by Dr. Genet Zewdie, Ethiopia’s former Minister for Education. Currently, FAWE Ethiopia is registered as an indigenous, non-profit Ethiopian resident charity and is governed by a General Assembly composed of women educationalist and heads of the FAWE Ethiopia sub-chapters and represented on a day-to-day basis by an elected seven-member governing board comprised of women educationalists.

ABOUT MASTERCARD FOUNDATION
The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. The Foundation’s work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion for people living in poverty. One of the largest foundations in the world, it works almost exclusively in Africa. It was created in 2006 by Mastercard International and operates independently under the governance of its own Board of Directors. The Foundation is based in Toronto, Canada. For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org. Follow the Foundation at @MastercardFdn on Twitter.

CONTACTS:
Ayele Mideksa, Programme Coordinator, FAWE Ethiopia
Tel: +251983359088, ayumideksajima@gmail.com

Gabriel Waithaka, Programme Officer, FAWE Regional Secretariat
Tel: +250-788302427, GWaithaka@fawe.org

Visit the Graduation Photo album here

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PRESS RELEASE Next-Generation Ethiopian Leaders Graduate from Secondary School