LiGA School
Date project was established - 2005
Location - Akaki Kality Sub-City Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Local Partner - Yenega Tesfa Hitsanate Mahiber (YTH) and the Italian Center for Children Aid (CIAI)
Benefits to the community - Preschool for 200 children ages 3-5. After school tutoring for children from 6-8. Tuition, uniforms, books and school materials.
Project Description - LiGA School is located about 20 mins outside of Addis Ababa in a semi rural area. The children in the school along with their families were relocated to this community because their homes were demolished in Addis Ababa to make way for new construction. Small homes were built in the country side, about 10km outside of the city to accommodate them. There is little infrastructure and few jobs in this area. Access to water and electricity is limited.
A group of journalists, artist, teachers and musicians that were among the displaced people decided to use their talents to help others. When Canadian Humanitarian first visited LiGA School the children were crammed under a blue tarp held by sticks and used rows of other sticks tied together for desks. In 2006, Canadian Humanitarian built a three room school to replace the tarp and stick version. The community helped crush rock for the foundation as well as assisting with other parts of the construction.
The school recently expanded to include 250 children and now has three compounds where teaching takes place.
Program Success - LiGA School has had many successes. The children enrolled are going onto primary school and being successful. Mothers and care givers who are many times the only bread winners in their families have been able to return to work because their children are in school. Another success came in 2007, when 40 children from LiGA School were invited to participate in the Millennium Race in down town Addis Ababa with Olympic runner Hailia Gebresaillase.