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What We Do

Improve Schools

Every child deserves a school ready to support their learning and success. Your gift stocks libraries, creates hands-on science labs, builds desks, replaces broken blackboards, and supports teachers to bring their best to the classroom. When a school is improved, entire villages are improved! 

What are School Improvement Projects?

Your support brings life-changing resources to rural schools: microscopes to discover the wonders of science, desks so students have a seat in the classroom, books that spark deeper learning, and more! When you give, you provide teachers with quality materials for teaching, and school classrooms that are ready to inspire young minds. Your loving support helps a rural classroom come alive with possibility and promise.

Why are School Improvement Projects so important?

School Improvement Projects are the perfect complement to School Sponsorships and represent Roots Ethiopia’s comprehensive strategy to unite individual and institutional support. We build long-term relationships with School Improvement Project schools in order to support, encourage, and respond to school needs. Each project reflects the feedback and input of the community.

Yemisarech, a student at Mugunja School

Meet Yemisarech, a student at Mugunja School. We partnered with Mugunja School on a School Improvement Project – Yemisarech now enjoys new textbooks, robust reference materials, improved classroom facilities, and teachers motivated by professional development.

Yemisarech loves chemistry and now conducts hands-on experiments in Mugunja’s new science lab!

Building a Better Future: Ethiopian School Seeks Revival After 23 Years

The Story of Lalo Gerbe Primary School: A Community's Educational Journey

Twenty-three years ago, in Ethiopia's Hadiya Zone, the families of Shone town came together
with determination and hope. Using their own hands, they built Lalo Gerbe Primary School,
creating a place where their children could learn and grow. Today, this school serves over 1,100
students.

Current Challenges: A School in Need

But years of economic hardship have taken their toll. In this farming community, where families
depend on unpredictable rainfall for their crops, poor harvests have made it impossible to
maintain and upgrade their beloved school. The challenges are significant:

- Classrooms built for 40 students now squeeze in 90
- Students in grades 7-8 share one textbook among fifty children
- Younger students in grades 1-6 have no current textbooks at all
- Four or five students crowd onto benches meant for three
- There is no hands on science lab
- Blackboards are worn beyond repair
- The tiny 12x12 library holds only a handful of outdated reference books

Community Spirit: Unwavering Despite Obstacles

Despite these obstacles, the spirit of the community remains unbroken. Teachers arrive each
day, ready to inspire young minds. Students eagerly fill the crowded classrooms, sharing the
few books they have. Parents continue supporting the school however they can.

A Vision for Change: The School Improvement Project

Through strong community partnership and the same determined spirit that built this school 23
years ago, Lalo Gerbe Primary School is ready for positive change. The School Improvement
project brings together local families, teachers, and caring supporters like you to create better
learning opportunities for these eager students. 

Starting with essential improvements to infrastructure, providing much-needed educational resources, and supporting teacher
development, you can help fulfill the community's original vision: giving every child the chance to
learn and grow. 

Your support is needed to help over 1,100 students write their next chapter, starting with something as fundamental as having books to read.

Phase One: Building a Library for Learning

The project begins where it matters most - creating a real library.
The library renovation project will cost approximately $16,000 USD, which includes:
- Renovating and expanding the library space
- Installing proper bookshelves and reading tables
- Providing 60 comfortable chairs for students
- Purchasing 800 new curriculum reference books
- Training staff in library management

The Power of Books: Why This Matters

Every child deserves the chance to have books for learning. Books are places where the spark is nurtured. Books are places where students can find reference materials to expand their knowledge. And, a library is a beautiful, quiet, well-lit space to read and study. 
 

Are You Ready To Make a Difference?

Your loving support will:
-Dramatically improve the textbook-sharing ratio from 1:50 to 1:2
-Create a learning environment with books, chairs, tables, and a librarian
-Give more than 1,100 eager students the tools they need to learn
-Support 46 dedicated teachers with current teaching materials

The same community spirit that built this school 23 years ago is ready to rise again. Will you
help these determined students take their next step forward?

Yes, I want to help create a library at Lalo!

With your help, we can continue to improve educational opportunities for more students like Yemisarech.

Give $28 to give 4 books to a school's first library. 

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