The community of Agena has strongly expressed its desire to offer children an educational opportunity that has so far been missing: a kindergarten. In this town, most children start primary school without any preschool preparation, resulting in clear learning difficulties and challenges in adapting to school life.
The new St. Gabriel Kindergarten is designed to fill this gap, providing a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment for children aged 5 to 7.
The project is promoted by the Ethiopian Catholic Church through the Emdeber Catholic Secretariat, with support from the local government and the wider community. The land was donated by the district, and local families contributed actively in the early phases through materials and labor.
The school will be a modern two-storey building with eight classrooms, a dining hall, kitchen, offices, sanitation facilities and playgrounds. It will be equipped with Montessori materials and audiovisual tools to encourage active and engaging learning.
Around 320 children will be enrolled each year. The project is designed to be sustainable: 25% of the students will be fully exempt from fees, while the remaining families will contribute according to their financial capacity. Parents will be actively involved in management and school support, strengthening community participation and responsibility.
The staff will include twelve members — qualified teachers, kitchen helpers, guards and cleaning personnel.
The expected impact is significant: increased school enrollment, reduced dropout rates, greater participation of girls, promotion of ethical values and protection against harmful traditional practices.
The school will be open to all children, without religious or economic discrimination, and will follow the national Ethiopian curriculum.
The project is designed to last over time. The Church, the local government and the community will work together to ensure its long-term sustainability.
School infrastructure is at the heart of our work in Africa: without safe classrooms, adequate spaces and modern tools, learning remains a privilege for a few. That’s why we build and renovate schools, create laboratories and educational environments that allow children and young people to grow in dignity. Every new classroom is not just a building, but a seed of hope and future for entire communities.
Direct beneficiaries:
320 children per year
Indirect beneficiaries:
35,000 people in the Agena community
Agena is a rural town in the Ezha district, located in the Guraghe Zone of southwestern Ethiopia. The area has a temperate climate, with elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,800 meters above sea level. The land is densely populated and highly exploited, resulting in the loss of much of its natural fertility. Deforestation is widespread, often driven by the need to create new agricultural plots.
The population relies mainly on subsistence farming and has limited access to essential services such as clean water, electricity and basic healthcare facilities. Education also faces severe challenges: preschools are almost non-existent, and most children begin primary school without any early learning foundation.
Despite these difficulties, the community is active and cooperative, with a strong commitment to improving educational opportunities for young children. The social context is marked by gender inequalities and traditional practices that hinder girls’ full participation in education.
However, the presence of the Catholic Church and the support of local authorities have created the right conditions to launch an inclusive educational project.
The St. Gabriel Kindergarten responds to this urgent need, offering a safe and stimulating environment that promotes the holistic development of children and strengthens community cohesion.
Each project is developed in collaboration with local communities and aims to promote education, personal growth, and sustainable development.
Support the mission of the Foundation
The Nuovo Fiore in Africa Foundation is recognized as a public utility organization, registered with the Federal Supervisory Authority, and all donations made are tax-deductible.