Access to education is a challenge in many rural areas throughout the world. In Ethiopia rural school age children cannot access government schools concentrated in populated areas, the distance and sometimes cultural barriers are too great. The alternative is to build schools in these rural communities. This requires community commitment in order to make the schools sustainable. Throughout Ethiopia, with minimal financial support, rural communities are building schools from local, readily available and affordable materials. Once the students have completed the three year courses at these schools, they can attend the formal school system. Most do not, because location and time to travel are still huge barriers for these rural students. The informal community schools, however, provide rural communities with literate children, and are beginning to break down cultural barriers to education, especially for girls.

All Images ©2009 Susan Liebold