Vermont Organization Takes Expanded Role
In U.S.-Funded Education Project In Ethiopia

(Thurs., Jan. 31) -- A Vermont organization Thursday was awarded an expanded role in U.S. efforts to help establish and strengthen basic education in Ethiopia, according to Sen. Patrick Leahy.

Leahy said the U.S. Agency for International Development's Mission to Ethiopia Thursday signed a five-year, $8.25 million cooperative grant agreement with Brattleboro-based World Learning Inc. to expand its work in implementing the Basic Education Systems Overhaul Program in Ethiopia, an $80 million, six-year basic education program. World Learning has been involved with the project in Ethiopia for five years, and today's grant will allow them to expand their efforts to other regions in the country.

The Vermont organization was selected over others competing for this work because of their record and their proven capabilities, said Leahy. "Education is a keystone in our efforts to help struggling societies break free of poverty. Education is essential for economic development, for social progress and for building democracy and political stability. World Learning is perfectly suited for this challenging work in one of the world's poorest nations. I'm proud that Vermonters are deeply involved in U.S. humanitarian projects like this one, and that they are recognized for their expertise."

Leahy chairs the Senate's Subcommittee on Foreign Operations -- a panel of the Senate Appropriations Committee -- which writes and oversees the annual budgets of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

World Learning offers international and inter-cultural training and education through the programs in its two operating divisions. World Learning's accredited college, the School for International Training, offers master's degree programs in inter-cultural management and the teaching of languages, college semester abroad programs in more than 40 countries, and summer abroad programs for high school participants. Projects in international development and training are dedicated to furthering world peace through economic and social training and development initiatives.

USAID's basic education program focuses on strengthening primary school education in two regions of Ethiopia. With this additional $8.25 million grant to World Learning, USAID will expand these initiatives from two to four regions. The program strengthens the relationship between the local community and the school system to promote education. The program also includes community outreach programs, which promote gender equity through such efforts as campaigns against abduction, childhood marriage and female circumcision; it develops alternative systems for children in disadvantaged circumstances -- for example, in the recruitment of teachers and the development of flexible timetables; and it strengthens the HIV/AIDS awareness efforts of school clubs. To date there are more than 1,500 schools involved in the community-school grants program.

Under the annual Foreign Operations Appropriations bills overseen by Leahy, USAID currently provides about $40 million in development assistance and more than $100 million in food aid a year to Ethiopia. USAID's program in Ethiopia focuses on food security, health, education and democracy and governance.

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