The HundrED has selected Link Education International’s work ‘Embedding Social Emotional Learning in Ethiopia Schools’ as one of the top 100 global innovations for impact and scalability for 2025.
At the end of the STAGES project 85% of Grade 8 girls had improved in literacy and 73% in numeracy, and significantly more girls said they wanted to continue to secondary school. Girls were more confident in making important decisions about their lives. Headteachers and teachers said they noticed how girls’ well-being and SEL skills had improved and that the formation of Girls’ Clubs was transformative.
“SEL training increases the emotional intelligence of girl students and builds their confidence. Because of this training a lot of shy students become confident and introduce themselves and present class activities in front of others with confidence. Even their families were surprised by their changes, and last year some of them joined university.” Headteacher
How do Link achieve this? Alongside, the Regional Education Bureau in South Ethiopia, Link developed a Social Emotional Learning programme that supported over 62,000 girls across 144 schools. This was part of a wider Girls’ Education Challenge project funded by FCDO, called STAGES. The SEL programme, delivered through Girls’ Clubs, supported (mostly) girls to develop emotional intelligence, better manage their feelings, become more confident communicators and improve their knowledge of topics such as sexual and reproductive health. Building these skills enabled girls to more fully engage with their school experience. Link also recognised that this extra-curricular club would benefit from wider support so also embedded SEL approaches within wider teacher and leadership training.
EYERUSALEM’S STORY
Eyerusalem, is 19 years old and a student supported by the STAGES project. When she was in Grade 7, her family faced economic challenges, and her family decided that she would be married. Eyerusalem wanted to continue her studies and become a doctor. Fortunately, Eyerusalem’s mother arranged for her to stay with an aunt, who supported her education until she passed Grade 9. When Eyerusalem entered Grade 9 she started getting support from the STAGES project. The project provided her with uniform, scholastic and sanitary materials. As she was able to continue her education, her father decided not to pursue a marriage for her. “The project is like a father to me and a light in the dark,” says Eyerusalem.
“If it wasn’t for the support of the project, I would have been forced to get married and drop out of school because of my father’s wishes. But the project made me believe that I can continue my education and achieve my dream of becoming a doctor in the future”.
Eyerusalem also received a bursary which enabled to fulfil her basic needs (e.g. rent) while she was in secondary school. She consulted the Girls Education Advisory Committee (GEAC) coordinator, who advised her to use the bursary to start an income-generating activity. Eyerusalem bought breeding goats as a source of income. This financial support relieved her parents from additional educational expenses, allowing her younger brother to pursue his education as well.
“I will never forget the training I attended in Grade 10,” says Eyerusalem. “It was a social and emotional learning training. It had a profound impact on how I perceived myself. I am now in Grade 12 and the training has significantly contributed to my journey, particularly in boosting my self-confidence. It has instilled in me the belief that I can overcome any challenge. Additionally, the training has enhanced my collaborative skills, leading to improved academic grades in my studies, and I’m grateful for this. I am very confident that I could be a doctor who will be competent with my counterparts.”
“Though my dream to be a doctor was a dream from my childhood, it seemed like an illusion. But now I am gearing it forward to be real. All this confidence is because of my consistent performance improvement. Particularly this year, I achieved exceptional scores in all subjects. My mathematics score is the highest score in the entire school. I convinced all my teachers, and they have recognised my abilities and invited me to participate in tutorial classes to motivate and support other students.”