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Education

Several people, including Iyya, express deep concern about the future of the next generation: “We are worried that our children will not have a good life.” With the decline in natural resources, education is seen as essential for the future.

Yet he and Ibrahim both make it clear that drought and desertification have had a serious impact on education. Children are often malnourished and unable to concentrate; teacher turnover is high; and many families can’t afford essentials such as stationery.

Education beyond the primary level is out of the question for many as there are no local secondary schools and parents “can’t afford to rent houses in towns for the further education of their children either,” says Ibrahim. All the same, he is certain that “only education can bring about transformation”.

Project

Education is a key theme of the Desert voices: Ethiopia oral testimony project.

Testimonies

Arima: punishment from God

Chuqulisa: love is lacking

Diramo: tied to our cattle

Duba: solutions to problems

Gurracha: conflict devastated it

Huqa: pleasure from family

Ibrahim: the crazy heat

Iyya: conserving the forest

Loko: farming from necessity

Rufo: goodbye to farmland

Key themes

Introduction to the project

Pastoralism

Conflict

Agriculture

Food security

Desertification

Forestry

Water

Social institutions

Government assistance

Health

Gender

Education