As a means of encouraging female students, raising awareness and promoting the importance of continuing high school education, the Gender, HIV AIDS and Special Needs Directorate and one VSO Volunteer (Helen Sivills) have arranged a program for an experience sharing opportunity for outstanding female students from Awaday High School. The aim was to enable them to find out about university life, what opportunities were available to them, and inspire them to continue their education past grade 12.
On Thursday 12th June, 38 grade 9 students and their teachers were brought to Haramaya University. They were taken to the libraries, dormitories, laboratories and zoo. The girls were keen to ask many questions about the services provided for all students, and girls in particular.
After the tour they reconvened at the resource centre where they had the opportunity to speak to some inspirational female role models within the university where Yordanos, from the College of Education and Behavioural Science, and Emebet, the Gender HIV AIDS and Special Needs Director took part.
During the reflections some of the girls remarked that the trip had been a great experience and had encouraged them to work even harder in order to carry on their education to university level and not become distracted by the other things in their lives.
Following the success of this pilot programme, the program coordinators hope that it will be possible to extend the programme further to more students in more of the local high schools by planning ahead and in collaboration with the schools.
The Directorate for Community Based Education has taken part by facilitating the visiting program in collaboration with concerned bodies. .