From Exclusion to Empowerment

Born with autism in Negash Kebele, a densely populated village in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region, 13-year-old Fierdos Mohammed’s’ childhood was shaped by profound challenges. After losing her father at a young age, she and her mother, Jemila Ahemedi, who also lives with an impairment, faced extreme poverty and societal rejection.

However, things changed thanks to the comprehensive Social Behavior Change program in Negash Primary School, which created a more supportive environment for children like Fierdos.

“I used to be unhappy because of bullying in my previous school,” said Fierdos. “But now I have supportive classmates and teachers.”

The program launched community-wide awareness campaigns. Parent-Teacher-Student Associations members visited households, sharing that all children, including those with impairments, deserve access to education. Community dialogues involving parents, religious leaders, and teachers addressed misconceptions and fostered acceptance.

At the same time, the school construction including additional classrooms, MHH room and Library ensured accessibility for children with impairments. Ramps were constructed, classrooms were adapted, and training to support children with impairment was provided to teachers. Four student-led clubs—focusing on gender, environmental science, WASH (Water, Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and mini-media—were established to promote including children with impairments and peer education.

These efforts paid off. Fierdos, once dismissed from a neighboring school in Wukro due to her impairment, was welcomed to Negash Primary School. Now at 13 years old, she began her education in Grade 1, supported by teachers, peers, and her community.

The headmaster of Negash Primary School, Hailemariam Reda, noted, “Fierdos is proof that when we invest in creating an environment that includes all children, we uplift the entire community. Today, she is thriving, and her story has motivated us to enroll more children with special needs.”

Her story also had a ripple effect. Thanks to the initiative, the number of children with impairments enrolled in Negash Primary School rose to 44 (23f) from 19 students. The program targeted to enroll 42,558 for JICA supported schools in its program duration and the enrollment has reached 53,285 demonstrating the program's broader impact.

For Fierdos, school is no longer a dream but a reality.  "I love learning English, Amharic, and Tigrigna, and I enjoy writing,” says Fierdos, “I want to be a teacher.”

Her mother, Jemila, expressed her gratitude, saying, “I see my daughter learning and smiling. She is no longer hidden. She has a future.”

The program’s long-term goals include continuing to train teachers in education that includes all children, expanding infrastructure to accommodate more students with impairments, and fostering a culture of acceptance across the region.

Fierdos and her peers' success was only possible with the collaboration of UNICEF under the JICA fund, Imagine One Day, and local stakeholders. The initiative was part of a more significant effort to promote education that includes all children through social behavior change, community dialogue, and infrastructure improvements.