The ABC of a better future

Dear reader

The lack of economic development threatens the future of the younger generation in Africa. Behind this lies a more fundamental problem: in many regions, population and resources are not growing at the same rate. Where arable land, jobs, and education are scarce, poverty worsens from generation to generation.

The key lies with women. Where girls have no voice, don't go to school, or are married off young, development is stunted. That's why gender equality is a central concern for people. It determines health, income, and family size. Women who receive an education and can determine their own lives have fewer children later in life, provide better care for their families, and contribute to the economic stability of their communities.

That's why we focus on girls. They should go to school until graduation. They should receive an education and be able to pursue a career. By empowering girls, we empower the next generation.

This is about the well-being of an entire country and a more just world. But it's also about the happiness of every single girl. Please join us in making this happen with Menschen für Menschen.

Claudio Capaul and Michael Kesselring
Co-Managing Director Menschen für Menschen

CO-Geschäftsführer Claudio Capaul und Michael Kesselring

Periods under pressure

Only about 65 percent of girls in Ethiopia have access to disposable sanitary pads, at least partially, during their menstrual cycle. Over half of the girls also use, or even exclusively use, scraps of fabric, cut-up clothing, foam scraps, or paper. Many girls feel uncomfortable with this. Around 32 percent of girls miss one to three days of school during their period – thus losing educational opportunities month after month.

Mädchen zeigt anderen Mädchen die Monatsbinden

WHAT WE DO: We distribute sanitary pads to female teachers for distribution to girls.

A heavy burden

In Ethiopia, fetching water is the responsibility of girls and women. Often, the water sources are kilometers away. The full jerrycans weigh 20 kilograms. This daily exhausting task is very strenuous and keeps the girls from their studies.

Wasserstelle in Abaya — Schwere Last: Ein gefüllter Wasserkanister wiegt rund 20 Kilogramm

WHAT WE DO: We build wells near the houses. We accompany our measures with awareness campaigns and discussions. For example, we promote "model families for equality" in which boys and men also fetch water. The neighbors recognize how families benefit from the division of labor.

Unequal

A first-grade class in our project area in the Raphe district: There are only three girls for every seven boys. Parents primarily send their sons to school.

Grafik zeigt Schülerinnen und Schüler im Unterreicht

Kreisdiagramm mit Anteil Mädchen: 89 / Knaben: 810

Teenagers at Grammar School

After primary school, the ratio becomes even more unbalanced. At the only secondary school in Raphe, there are nine boys for every girl .

Bound to poverty

Many poor parents marry their daughters off early due to economic hardship. Tradition also plays a role: girls are expected to enter marriage untouched. In Ethiopia, one in seven girls is married before her 15th birthday. In our project area, Raphe, one in two girls becomes a wife before her 18th birthday.

Grafik: "Mädchen / Knaben" und Bild von Mädchen

WHAT WE DO: We train so-called "peer educators." These educators explain why early marriage is harmful. We also strengthen girls' clubs in schools, where girls learn about their rights.

Who can read and write?

Proportion of people over 15 years of age in Ethiopia who are literate: The gap between the sexes is still large. 71% of Men can read and write, but only 50% of Women.