Girls' education Archives - Camara Education

Empowering Dreams Through Technology: Yoas Mulatu’s Journey with Camara Education Ethiopia

October 31, 2024

by Sean Miskelly Camara Ethiopia Girls' education ICT in Education Youth Skills & Development

At Camara Education Ethiopia, providing internships and volunteer opportunities is one of the key ways we nurture the next generation of digital changemakers. Each year, approximately 40 young people join Camara as interns and volunteers, bringing with them ambition, dedication, and an eagerness to learn. For some, it’s a stepping stone to fulfilling careers in technology, while for others, like Yoas Mulatu, it’s an opportunity to explore, challenge, and realise their dreams.

Yoas Mulatu, a 20-year-old Information Technology (IT) student at Kirokos Manufacturing College, exemplifies the transformative power of our internship program. Growing up with a fascination for computers, Yoas pursued an IT degree to turn her passion into a lifelong skill. This drive to learn and grow brought her to Camara, where her journey began with a school-organised group internship. Having heard positive feedback from former interns, she was excited to see firsthand what Camara’s program could offer.

A Hands-On Experience in IT

Since joining, Yoas has had an immersive experience with Camara, gaining practical skills that extend beyond the classroom. Her internship has been hands-on from the start, including tasks like installing educational operating systems, diagnosing and solving hardware issues, and maintaining school computers. For Yoas, each project is an opportunity to dive deeper into her chosen field, developing her expertise in the Ubuntu operating system and learning how to troubleshoot complex hardware problems. “Each task teaches me something new,” says Yoas, “whether it’s problem-solving or better understanding computer systems. This experience is not just about learning technical skills; it’s about growing into a confident IT professional.”

Beyond the technical aspects, Yoas has benefited from Camara’s collaborative and supportive environment. Our programs encourage interns and volunteers to connect, share ideas, and support one another, fostering an inclusive culture where young women and men feel empowered to lead and innovate. For Yoas, working with a diverse team has expanded her professional network and strengthened her communication skills, providing her with tools that are critical to succeeding in the tech industry.

Breaking Barriers as a Woman in Tech

One of the most rewarding aspects of Yoas’s journey has been the confidence she’s gained working in a male-dominated field. “Initially, I had little knowledge of computer internals or how to solve hardware issues,” Yoas reflects. “But over time, I’ve learned through hands-on experience, and now, I feel empowered to handle challenges I once thought were beyond my reach.” She’s particularly proud to be part of a team that champions diversity and encourages women in tech, which is critical for breaking down stereotypes and inspiring more young women to enter the field.

Yoas believes that the industry needs more women and girls, and her message to other aspiring female IT professionals is to pursue their dreams boldly. “In my classroom, the number of women is quite low, and the same is true in the IT field,” she says. “We need to change that by encouraging more girls to explore technology. We all have the potential to achieve great things if we leverage the tools and knowledge available to us.”

Looking to the Future

As Yoas is near her graduation, she has her sights set on a future that blends her passion for technology with her desire to give back to her community. She hopes to open a computer maintenance store, providing reliable, affordable tech support and creating a welcoming space for community members to learn about technology. Her vision includes building a platform that not only serves her community’s needs but also inspires young people—especially girls—to see tech as a field where they belong and can thrive.

Camara Education Ethiopia is proud to be part of Yoas’s journey, and her story is a testament to the power of hands-on learning, mentorship, and the resilience of young people ready to create positive change.

Are you inspired by Yoas’s journey? Camara Education Ethiopia is always looking for passionate volunteers and interns eager to make a difference. Join us, and be part of a team committed to transforming lives through technology, by sending us an email to ethiopia@camara.org.

Empowering Girls’ Education in Tanzania: A Visit from WAGE

April 22, 2024

by John Fisher Girls' education School Sponsorship & Support Tanzania

Camara Tanzania was honoured to host a group of remarkable ladies from Ireland in February. These ten inspiring women formed a group that they called WAGE (Women Advocating for Girls’ Education), dedicated to advancing educational opportunities for girls in Tanzania through Edtech.

During their visit, the WAGE group immersed themselves in the vibrant educational landscape of Tanzania, engaging directly with students and teachers. Their journey took them to several schools across the country, where they witnessed first-hand the impact of their support and shared valuable insights on the importance of girls’ education.

In Dar es Salaam, they visited Jamhuri Secondary School, Uhamiaji Secondary and Aboud Jumbe Secondary School, where students and staff warmly welcomed them. The exchange of experiences and perspectives was enriching, highlighting the transformative power of education in shaping young minds.

In Arusha, the WAGE group had a memorable experience at Arusha Secondary School, engaging in meaningful discussions with students about their educational journeys and aspirations. The interactions underscored the critical role of mentorship and support in empowering girls to fulfil their potential.

WAGE’s commitment to supporting girls’ education in Tanzania has been invaluable. Through their fundraising efforts, they have contributed to advancing educational opportunities in ten schools and their focus on girls’ education reflects a deep understanding of the systemic barriers that hinder girls’ access to quality education and the urgent need for collective action to address them.

As we reflect on the visit of WAGE we kindly invite other individuals to join this initiative and fund schools. We can assist with fundraising, and if you can visit us in Tanzania, our local team will help to organise the entire trip, including a rest and recreation trip to Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Mt Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar. Contact us at tanzania@camara.org.

Girl doing science, Mekanisa Debre Genet St Michael Cathedral secondary

Celebrating Women & Girls in Science Day

February 11, 2024

by johnfisher Girls' education

Today, we shine a spotlight on some of the incredible women and girls teaching and studying science and technology with the help of Camara Education. Camara Education is not just transforming classrooms; it’s breaking gender stereotypes and ensuring that every girl has equal access to the tools of the future. Let’s honour the women & girls leading the charge, making education inclusive and accessible for all. Together, we are building a world where education knows no bounds.

Kamara Nyirenda is a teacher at Shitima Secondary in Zambia who has recently undergone training on the computers in the lab installed at her school. She says “I have benefited as a teacher from the skills and knowledge imparted, and the learners will benefit as well and be able to move forward with technology. To me as a teacher from now onwards, no more using manual because my life has been made easy.”

Meanwhile in Ethiopia, Hanan Nasir is an ICT club member and student at Hayrenzi Secondary School.

Hanan says “Since I started learning in this school I have been attending e-learning classes and I have been getting so many benefits by using these computers. I am a natural science student, and the main subjects are maths and physics. Now I am able to learn more by referring to different content and videos. The videos on physics subjects helped me a lot more than the lessons I take from the classroom. Not only for me but for the other students as well, especially for students who came from a very remote area, most of them don’t even know what a computer is. Now they can learn more about technology and use a computer and this is a big change for us. I have taken code training on Scratch from Camara and now have additional knowledge on coding. I want to become a software engineer and the basis for that is coding.”

Hewan, Yordanos, Feven and Rakeb are grade 11 students at Girls’ Cathedral School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “We have formed an ICT Club and started to practice more on the computers. Without getting frustrated we can easily learn in a fun way. We are also motivating and following up with other students to use and learn more about advanced technology. We have improved our academics.”

And finally, a parent’s viewpoint. Amina Ali’s daughter attends Mille Secondary School in a rural region of Afar in northern Ethiopia. She says “Even seeing girls in school, let alone using technology, makes me very happy. We have an extremely distinctive society when it comes to raising girls in our area. The majority of girls were not permitted to attend school, were forced into arranged marriages, and were forced to miss school because they were menstruating. But things are progressively changing now, and it’s wonderful to see girls being given the chance to use technology to help their education and learn more about the outside world. I’ve seen how helpful computers are even now that our daughters are becoming more interested in the future thanks to the new PCs. I have observed how easy the Camara computers can be, even when used without a teacher’s assistance.”

*Students in the eLearning centre, Mille Secondary School*

Coding and Machine Learning workshop

November 9, 2023

by johnfisher Ethiopia Girls' education

We recently organized a remarkable training workshop in Ethiopia, the first of its kind for our schools. In conjunction with Dr Solomon Gizaw, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science at Addis Ababa University, who trained at and retains links with the University of Limerick in Ireland, Train the Trainer workshops were held on October 9 and 10 at the Addis Ababa University 4 Kilo campus. 40 IT teachers from 20 Camara supported schools, as well as Camara volunteers and staff, participated in the training.

The workshop covered coding, concentrating on the free Scratch programming language, and Machine Learning, featuring TinyML. Dr Solomon and his colleague delivered the Machine Learning components and Camara’s head trainer delivered the Scratch sessions as part of our Africa Code Week initiative. The training was hands-on and engaging, and the teachers were very excited about it.

*Dr Solomon Gizaw explaining machine learning*

Almost all of the teachers who took part were new to TinyML, so the workshop covered everything from the basics to its potential applications in various sectors, including education. This initiative is just one of the ways in which Camara seeks to impact the country’s education sector and empower teachers and students with the knowledge and skills they need to effect change for the better.

Crosspoint School – practical results

One of the teachers who took part in the October workshop was Mr. Hayleyesus, an IT teacher at Crosspoint School in Dukem, some 37km southeast of Addis Ababa. He wasted no time in passing on his enhanced coding skills to some of his students, who are preparing to take part in the 2023 AfriCAN Code Challenge. The AfriCAN Code Challenge is a coding contest open to 8-16-year-olds across Africa, in which they have to develop an original game using the Scratch programming language. Camara Ethiopia is the organiser of the ACC in Ethiopia.

These pictures show students at Crosspoint taking part in their own coding workshop. The eLearning centre at Crosspoint is sponsored by one of our local partners, Edify.

*Crosspoint students enjoy the coding workshop*

Progress in Tigray

August 31, 2023

by johnfisher Ethiopia Girls' education

Some great news from our colleagues in Ethiopia, as our first rehabilitation project in the Tigray region following the conflict there has been completed. The fighting between Tigrayan forces and the Ethiopian government began in November 2020 and dragged on for more than two years – during which time around 85% of the 253 government high schools in the region suffered significant damage. Now, things are slowly returning to normal.

*Staff at Camara Ethiopia checking and loading a consignment of computers bound for Tigrayan schools*

Having transported a lorry-load of computers north, the first of the new networked eLearning Centres was established at Kallamino High School in the Tigrayan capital, Mekele.

*The centre during installation, and complete*

The school’s teachers were trained in the use of ICT in education with a special focus on encouraging girls’ active and continuing participation – a project in partnership with British Council Ethiopia.

Turning Roses into Computers

June 30, 2023

by johnfisher Ethiopia Girls' education Partnerships

Sher High School in Ziway, Ethiopia, has received not one but two brand-new e-learning centres, thanks to generous funding from the Dutch Flower Foundation and Afriflora.

Afriflora/Sher Ethiopia grows, harvests, grades and packs roses at three farms, the largest of them on the shores of Lake Dembel just outside Ziway. Between 2.5 and 4 million roses are processed every day and transported to Europe for further distribution. This makes Afriflora/Sher Ethiopia the largest rose grower in the world and the biggest supplier of roses in Europe, as well as a major foreign currency earner for Ethiopia. Around half of the students at the Ziway Sher High School are children of Sher employees.

Camara installed 50 computers and two servers in the two centres, and our trainers spent a week training 26 teachers on how best to use the computers to deliver the curriculum and giving advice on basic maintenance. We’ll also provide ongoing support. Camara’s computers run on the Ubuntu open-source operating system. They are pre-loaded with a range of educational software, from simple games to specialized Camara Learning Studio resources for maths and science. All computers are also loaded with an offline version of Wikipedia, creating an extraordinary learning resource for schools with limited internet connections. And most important of all, the computers are installed with PDFs of Ministry of Education textbooks covering the entire school curriculum. Textbooks are in very short supply in many of Ethiopia’s 40,000 schools, so this alone is a crucial resource.

The Dutch Flower Foundation (DFF) aims to improve the living conditions and well-being of people in need and in particular children. They focus on countries where Dutch Flower Group (DFG) companies are active with an emphasis on connected community projects. Through the activities of DFF, DFG gives substance to its responsibility for the world in which we live.

Hundreds of students will benefit from the new computers according to Sher School director Mr Negusse Aga: ‘Computer-skills are extremely important for our students. Sher schools have an excellent reputation in Ethiopia. Almost all the students qualify to attend universities. New computers enable us to uphold our reputation and open the digital world to our students. On behalf of the students and teachers we would like to sincerely thank DFF and Camara for their highly appreciated contribution in this project.’

Aiming for Leadership

June 23, 2023

by johnfisher Ethiopia Girls' education

Meyram sits with her friends in the bustling e-learning lab in Semera Girls’ Boarding School. Outside the morning temperature is reaching 40 degrees, but inside the lab the air is cooled by fans and air conditioning. To protect the computers from dust all the students leave their shoes outside.

The lab is part of a project in which Camara Education Ethiopia has been collaborating with British Council Ethiopia. Computers were funded by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, while Camara Education supplied the hardware, networking and technical support, and the British Council provided educational resources.

“I started using the computers one month ago”. Meyram explained. “It’s difficult to get hard copies of books so the computers make it easy to find the relevant content. The teachers have the real books, but we don’t.”

Not only has the e-learning lab provided students with textbooks, but it also helps understanding. Meyram finds that “the videos on the computers help me a lot.” If she doesn’t understand something her teacher is trying to explain, she can come to the lab after class and learn more.

Inku Fasil, British Council Education Programme Manager, discusses e-learning with Meyram and her friends

Meyram uses the lab every day for an hour or so. Her ICT teacher is always there to help (she was trained by Camara Education). Meyram feels “excited to learn new things so I listen carefully to my e-learning lab teacher. I am proud of what I have learnt so far.”

As an ICT club member Meyram has the responsibility to show her friends how to use the computers. “I feel well trained and this makes me happy to share my knowledge and teach my friends”, she explained. Next she aims to teach her family too. Though she lives in the boarding school, every time she talks to her family she tells them about her e-learning, “My family know I am learning how to use computers and they are proud of me. In the future I want to share my knowledge with them too.”

Meyram has high ambitions for her future and uses e-learning to help her journey towards achieving them. “Using these computers, especially experimenting on Wikipedia, helps me to know more about the outside world and I am exploring more. This helps me get different information about other countries.“

“Because, when I grow up, I want to be the prime minister of Ethiopia.”

The interview with Meyram was conducted in Amharic and has been translated into English.

Empowering Female Students through Digital Literacy

May 17, 2023

by johnfisher Ethiopia Girls' education Partnerships

Camara Education Ethiopia in partnership with British Council Ethiopia

Camara Education Ethiopia has been collaborating with the British Council in Ethiopia on a project involving six secondary schools in the Afar region and fourteen in Amhara. Both areas are in northern Ethiopia and were impacted by the recent conflict there.

In each school the project set up a fully functioning e-Learning centre designed specifically for the school’s individual climate and context. Computers were funded by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, while Camara Education supplied the hardware, networking and technical support, ensuring that equipment was protected from power surges, heat and dust. The schools provided the rooms, furniture and their own dedication, committing to maintain the labs in the long term.

To support the use of the centres, the British Council and Camara Education provided initial and follow-up hardware support and software training. Each computer is loaded with educational resources and programmes working both on- and off-line. As well as British Council materials, these include resources from the Ministry of Education and Camara Education Ethiopia.

Empowering Girls

The centres aim to build skills and confidence specifically for female students. Gender and girls club members will be prioritised for using the labs and take on the responsibility to teach their peers. Two students per club will lead the training, which will cascade across all the students and staff at the school. This prioritisation aims to improve achievement levels for girls and gender club members, giving them status in the school and society and raising their ability, capacity and motivation to learn.

In Afar, training for teachers, club leaders, directors and education officers took place in the new e-Learning centre at Semera Girls’ Boarding School. The school is situated on the edge of Semera city, almost 600km northeast of Addis Ababa. The e-Learning centre is a clean, well-organized room at the heart of the school, now lined with desktop computers, with fans to cool them in Afar’s hot climate.

Putting Training into Action

Alem Tsehai, who works in another school in the project, explained the need for these e-Learning centres, “There are lots of challenges in my school”, she said, “there are only a few books and resources. This is a big opportunity to use this training and resources to improve my students’ learning outcomes. We used to have no computers in my school. Now Camara and the Ministry of Education have supplied more than 40”.

Another participant at the training talked about how labs can motivate teachers’ support for female students, “After this training I will have more resources for girls’ education and I will focus on girls’ education”.

Implementing Change

The training considered how to ensure this initiative is accepted and promoted across communities. Engaging the community will increase the impact on girls’ education.

As one of the teachers put it: “We need to work with religious leaders. We need to encourage them to send their girls to school. Once in school we need to support girls to engage more with school and with technology.”

Once back at their schools the teachers’ work must be two-fold, as one participant explained, “I will cascade this training for other teachers when I return to my school and focus on girls’ education”. Another recognised the project aims as sitting firmly within their own hopes for education: “If I was made the Minister of Education I would raise teachers’ professional competency. I would implement policies and improve learning outcomes.”

International Day of Women & Girls in Science

February 10, 2023

by John Fisher Girls' education

“We can all do our part to unleash our world’s enormous untapped talent – starting with filling classrooms, laboratories, and boardrooms with women scientists”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Camara’s work has always concentrated on STEM education, and on ensuring that at least half our beneficiaries are girls and women. These photos and video show natural science students at Nativity Girls’ School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who are members of the ICT club, using facilities installed by Camara.

Camara Education’s impact brought to life in interview with 13 year old Florence

August 2, 2017

by danny@greatgunsmarketing.co.uk Camara Girls' education ICT

Florence Kambole is 13 years old. She lives within “walkable distance” of her school- Chitanda Primary in Matero, Lusaka, Zambia. It was here that she was first introduced to Camara’s computers at the age of 12.

From assignments to educational games such as Zuma; the computers have assisted Florence in a vast array of areas on her journey to education.

She has found that using Camara computers has assisted her in her understanding of ICT, in turn, it has increased her interest in learning: “Using computers make it easier for us to understand Computer Studies. Computers make learning very interesting. Before we received the computers, it was difficult to practice what we were learning in ICT.”

Her enthusiasm with regards to education has grown since the Camara computers were introduced to her school; mentioning that she has spent more time than ever before in school since the computers arrived: “I spend more time in school than I used to before we had computers in the school.”

Even at 13, Florence has already recognised the significance technology enhanced education will have on her future: “I believe being educated will help me have a better future. The things we learn on the computers will help me get into college or university.”

With high hopes for the future, basic computer skills are necessary for her to succeed and excel: “When I grow up, I want to become an accountant. My dream is to become a leader in the government”.

Florence is one of over 24,000 Zambian students Camara Education has impacted. We are constantly striving to rise this figure and inspire young individuals like Florence to improve their life opportunities.