ETHIOPIA


Ethiopia is not only a nation characterized by diverse ethnic, linguistic and religious groups, it is also a young country--of the 70 million inhabitants, 60% are individuals 25 years of age and under. In addition to the constant threat of famine and communicable disease that plague the country, Ethiopia's young people also face many other obstacles in education and evelopment.


Currently, Ethiopia bears the unfortunate distinction of having the lowest access to education sub-Saharan Africa. Only 51% of all school-age children in Ethiopia attend primary schools and only 10% go on to receive a secondary-education. Making matters even worse, for those in Ethiopia able to go to school, the lack of adequate teaching materials and inadequate teacher training combined with curricula that do not meet international standards, result in an education that barely offers the skills and knowledge necessary to address the nation's challenges. And although the large youth population will unavoidably be the ones to bear the burden of the country's underdevelopment, widespread poverty and health-related crises, Ethiopia's youth are largely excluded from the identification of solutions to these key challenges.

Believing that change is realized in the promise of future generations to come, but that the seeds of progress and democracy must be planted in youths today, the A. Scott Foundation and its partners launched The African Promise (TAP) in the Yeka Kifle Ketema of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to assist in the growth and personal development of promising young Ethiopians.