In 2023, we intervened in Adwa, in the Tigray region, one of the areas most severely affected by the armed conflict of 2020–2022. The project supported the local Catholic Mission, which, despite serious material losses, continued to offer education and support to the community.
The intervention guaranteed one hot meal a day to over 1,800 students for three months, distributed school materials, and activated psychosocial support services for children and teachers affected by the traumas of war. The goal was to reduce school dropout, improve attendance, and encourage the return to class of girls, who are particularly exposed to the risk of educational exclusion.
Directly involved were:
1,800 students (300 in kindergarten, 1,223 in primary, 277 in secondary)
70 teachers and school staff
over 10,800 indirect beneficiaries, including families and local communities
In a region where over 70% of schools were damaged or destroyed and more than 1 million children lost access to education (UNICEF/OCHA), this intervention represented a concrete sign of hope and resilience.
Special support arises to respond to urgent and specific needs that emerge in the communities we work with. These are targeted interventions—such as medical supplies, means of transport, school equipment, or support in emergency situations—that allow concrete difficulties to be addressed immediately. These special projects complement our educational and social work, ensuring timely and high-impact responses. Every extraordinary help is a gesture that brings immediate relief and strengthens the hope of those living in vulnerable conditions.
Direct: 1,870
Indirect: 10,800
Adwa is a city in northern Tigray, known for its historical value as the site of the 1896 battle that consolidated Ethiopian independence. Today it is home to about 60,000 inhabitants and is a cultural and religious reference center for the entire region. In recent years, however, the population has had to face the consequences of the armed conflict that affected Tigray, with serious interruptions to school, health, and economic services. Many children have lost years of education and several schools have been damaged or used as temporary shelters. Despite these difficulties, the community of Adwa maintains a strong sense of identity and resilience, fueled by a long tradition of resistance and solidarity. The city today represents both an open wound of the recent past and an essential starting point for the educational and social reconstruction of the entire region.
Each project is developed in collaboration with local communities and aims to promote education, personal growth, and sustainable development.
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