A Journey and a Dream: Bchiote’s Story

#222MillionDreams✨📚: ECW investments delivered by UNICEF and UKAID increase continuity of education for conflict-affected girls and boys in Ethiopia.

By Education Cannot Wait

July 29^th, 2022

Originally published by UNICEF Ethiopia (Original).

When a journey of survival leads to a future of hope and promise, one young girl is able to further her education and pursue her dreams. Her story is one of perseverance and determination. Bchiote Moorice is one of the 222 million crisis-impacted children that require urgent educational support today.

At only 9 years old, Bchiote and her three younger brothers fled from war-ridden Democratic Republic of the Congo. During their journey, they traveled without food, water and the basic necessities to survive. Oftentimes, they slept in the streets, exposed to harsh weather conditions and street violence.

After a harrowing escape, Bchiote and her siblings finally found refuge in Uganda. A few years later, Bchiote’s parents joined them in Uganda and, together, the entire family relocated to Sherkole Refugee Camp in Ethiopia, one of the oldest Camp in western Ethiopia.

Photo Credit: UNICEF Ethiopia/2022/Eyerusalem Yitna Tekaligne

At the Bambasi Refugee Camp, Bchiote and her brothers were finally able to focus on their education through the Multi-Year Resilience Programme funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and delivered by UNICEF Ethiopia. The programme supported the construction of primary classrooms, along with the expansion of additional secondary schools in the Benishangul-Gumuz and Gambella regions, along with other holistic education supports.

Part of the overall multi-year investments, the Building Self Reliance Programme was made possible with funding from ECW and UKAID. The self-reliance programme has reached over 140,000 refugees and half a million host community members across five regions in Ethiopia by integrating education, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, nutrition, and child protection services.

Through these various programmes, children and adolescents in Ethiopia are benefitting from accelerated school-readiness programming – and conflict-affected girls and boys finally have the opportunity to continue their education in Ethiopia

Bchiote has excelled in school. Her grades have improved and she has quickly become one of the top-ranking students in her class.

“I hope to attend university one year from now and work in a big corporate bank,” says Bchiote with a big smile.

To continue supporting children like Bchiote to achieve their dreams, ECW calls for support from strategic partners to help make quality education accessible to all girls and boys and to deliver on our 222 Million Dreams promise.

Button Label