Our Vision: The Yaya Girls’ vision is to develop a class of inspired and empowered Ethiopian women who have the life-skills and vocational-training to be empowered and financially independent. Girls who graduate from the
YG Program will not only be equipped to bring positive change to their own lives, but also the lives of other Ethiopian women. Community outreach and empowerment workshops will facilitate this change.
Our Plan: The Yaya Girls’ model uses a five-pillar approach to address the issue of Ethiopian gender inequality. Our scholarships provide Ethiopian young women, ages 16 to 25, housing and meals while they are given the
opportunity to participate in curriculum based education program addressing female empowerment, health and nutrition, vocational skills and English training. Athletics acts as a vehicle to promote the Program and former Ethiopian marathon head coach, Coach
Malaku, coaches the girls. The girls live on the grounds of the Yaya Village Hotel and are provided with a safe-space to live, learn and train. YG employs local staff.
Why I am passionate about this: Many young women in Ethiopia have turned to running to escape poverty after being pushed out or denied access to the education system because of their gender. Broadly, this limits their
chances at formal employment. Although many of these girls are talented runners, sustaining oneself financially on distance running alone is all too often unrealistic. Few viable options exist for Ethiopian women who pursue distance running to be financially
independent during or upon completion of their running career.
YG’s focus is on investing in adolescent females to develop a strong community of educated young women who can inspire others and work to reduce gender inequality in Ethiopia.
