Embaye: The Child’s Rights Club helped me and encouraged my friends to value  education

In a small village called Ziqualla district, in the Wagihimra zone, lives a bright young boy named Embaye*.

At just 14 years old, he is a dedicated student in Grade 7. Embaye is the second child in his family of seven children, with four brothers and two sisters. His parents, hardworking farmers, toiled the land to provide for their large family.

Life in Semen Ber Kebele like a very small town in the northern part of Ethiopia, was not easy. The harsh realities of war and drought forced Embaye’s family to flee to a nearby town. During this challenging time, Embaye and his two brothers remained in their village’s desert area, tirelessly taking care of their livestock under the scorching sun.

Embaye’s days were filled with routine and responsibility. Each morning, after a simple breakfast, he would set off for school, eager to learn and grow. The school day was long, but Embaye cherished every moment, engaging with his friends and asking questions during breaks and on the journey to and from school. Once home, he studied and helped his family with various chores, from drawing water to tending to their livestock.

Embaye’s school has a newly established Child Rights Club since the beginning of the school year 2024. Launched at the beginning of the academic year as part of the Ziqualla Woreda project, the Ethiopia Joint Response, the child rights club aimed to protect and promote the rights of children. With thirteen enthusiastic members, seven girls and six boys, Embaye found himself deeply involved in its activities.

Embaye talked about his activities in the Child Rights Club “Some students miss school because they do not eat, some students miss school for no reason, and some miss school because their families have to work in various jobs such as herding cattle. We encourage students to come to school on the weekends. We discourage early marriages and we advocate respect for children’s rights.”

The child rights club tackles serious issues affecting students, such as absenteeism due to famine or family responsibilities like herding cattle. The club encouraged students to attend school even on weekends and advocated for respect for children’s rights, including preventing early marriages.

Embaye highlights the achievements of the Child Rights Club: “Through our advocacy work, we have prevented children from early marriage and students who were absent from school have also started coming to school.”

“The Child Rights Club was established to protect children from exploitation and ensure their safety. We aim to prevent labour exploitation and help students return to school. Our campaigns focuses on protecting children from early marriage.”

— Teacher Misganaw, a passionate Natural Science and Civics teacher, explained the club’s mission

With each passing day, Embaye witnessed the transformative power of education and advocacy in his community. The Child Rights Club not only empowered him but also motivated his peers to pursue education and protect their rights. 

*Name changed to protect the identity of the project participant. All people involved in this story gave informed consent to participate.