Our Impact

h2 empower’s Impact

The work of h2 Empower in southern Ethiopia and Burundi aligns directly with the United Nation’s Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are the targeting initiative to end poverty for a more inclusive, prosperous 2030. Countering poverty and hunger, boosting education and equality, ensuring clean water and good health;  h2 Empower's projects contribute to the forward momentum of these communities.

 Ethiopia, with a population of 116 million, has the second-largest population on the African continent. In 2021 its per capita income stood at $1,475 (US). On the other hand, Burundi, a landlocked country between the African Great Lakes and East Africa, has a population of 12.55 million and one of the lowest GDPs in the world, at $221.5 (US). h2 Empower collaborates with national and local government agencies, other NGOs, and each community to foster development and increase momentum.

H2 Empower works directly on the most potent factors for boosting human development: literacy development, reliable clean water, women and girls’ empowerment. Change begins in the classroom, and we make those classrooms and schools as beneficial as possible to every member of the communities they serve.From there we work with families and staff to empower people and enhance communities.

Education

  • H2 Empower built and furnished 26 primary public school classrooms with the support of the local parent community. In Ethiopia, if the school builds classrooms the government has to provide the teachers. The result is that we have cut class size in half and increased the quality of education for thousands of Ethiopian children.

    According to studies by UNESCO researchers “Class size impacts on teaching, grouping practices and classroom management, the quality of peer relations, tasks given to pupils, and on the time teachers have for marking, assessments and understanding the strengths and challenges for individual pupils.”

    H2 Empower Builds Classrooms to Reduce Class Size.

    • Ersa Adada Primary School, 1899 total students – 4 new rooms for 195 students

    • Misrack Bir Primary School, 932 total students – 4 new rooms for 300 students

    • Belilo Wonso Primary School, 2987 total students – 7 new rooms serving 750 students

    • Abyichi Herano Metesbyia Primary School, 969 students – 8 new rooms serving 450 students

    • Girma Bekele Primary School 1553 total students – 3 new rooms serving 400 students

    *Most schools are half day classes in two shifts to accommodate all the children.

  • The existence of books increases access to knowledge, enables increased literacy, is a source of motivation and inspiration.. According to a study by Richard Mabmerger for UNESCO, “All state, community and school authorities, every teacher, parent, and pedagogue must be seriously convinced of the importance of reading and books for individual, social, and cultural life If they are to work towards improvement of the situation. This situation must be transmitted to students of reading in a way appropriate to their stage of development.”

    In Ethiopia, we have given 95,000 books to universities & colleges throughout Ethiopia. H2 Empower has worked in coordination with the Ministry of Education, as well as to local primary and secondary schools, hospital libraries and even supplementing the Hadiya Zone Prison. These books include fiction, nonfiction, encyclopedias, reference books, study guides, textbooks and others.

    For Burundians in a refugee camp in Rwanda, we provided $1000 worth of English books and supplies for students to learn English while in the camps so that they can succeed in work and in schools in Rwanda. ·

  • Providing access to information and enabling students to build knowledge and skills transforms lives and gives youth a bright future. In ‘The Role of the Public Libraries in Enriching the African Rural Information Environment Information Environment’ by Dr. Justina E. Ogbonna, he states, “ Public library has been very close to the people and can contribute or play an important role in the sustainable information environment in the rural community. “

    • Alemu Woldehanna Primary School in Hossana- The library has 25,500 visits per year by students from Primary, Secondary, University, and parents, teachers

    • Abyichi Herano Metesbyia Primary School in Tetema- The library has 4,000 visits per year.

  • Youth in rural Hosanna, Ethiopia now have access to computers in a specialized room in the Alemu Woldehanna Primary School Library. Students learn to use computers, digital literacy, create documents, using computers to communicate, solve problems, and create new paradigms.

    This one computer center we built within the community library serves 1800 student/ teacher visits a month! We also provided flat screen television with DVD capacity, tablets and other media to enrich and expand learning.

Specialized Expert Training for Educators

  • Librarian Training improves the quality of service, expands the use of resources and enhances the literacy environment of the school and community.

    H2 Empower trained school librarians for the first time in Ethiopian history, maximizing library usage and access to a range of books, motivating staff and students to read more, study, and increase literacy skills.

    H2 Empower Librarians’ Training Results:

    • 210 librarians trained from 4 higher-education institutions,

    • 40 secondary school librarians

    • 35 primary school librarians

    • 8 school administrators

  • Teacher Training is essential for continual professional growth and motivation, not only enhancing instruction, but developing skills and solving everyday classroom challenges.

    H2 Empower offers teacher training in literacy, language, health and safety, physical education and girls empowerment. This vital work is pivotal towards transforming classroom instruction, motivating teachers, expanding knowledge and skills to improve the quality of education.

    H2 Empower trained 1,780 Primary and Secondary teachers over the past 20 years in Ethiopia with support from the local education department. Providing professional development helps teachers, students, and administrators alike.

Girls Empowerment and Civic Engagement

  • Female Empowerment engages women and girls to achieve their dreams and to impact their families and community.

    According to the UN, “Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore also half of its potential. But, today gender inequality persists everywhere and stagnates social progress.”

  • H2 Empower facilitated an African-designed comprehensive curriculum to provide high school girl club teachers with tools, skills and guidance to keep girls in school, support their education, improve their health and elevate self-confidence.

    H2 Empower in collaboration with an Ethiopian female expert, facilitated training for 60 teachers and school administrators with a focus on high school girls education.

    Annual H2 Empower Impact: 300 female students from 5 high schools per year experience this program which supports the girls and teachers.

  • The Civic Engagement Club

    The Civic Engagement Club demonstrates to students the value and knowledge base to create and execute community service projects, develop leadership skills, civic education, and global awareness.

    H2 Empower worked with 375 students and their teachers each year encouraging community service projects, inter school visits, and dynamic lessons to explore character education, global awareness, responsibility and respect for others.

Scholarships

Dr. Larbaud Justin Gatore graduated from medical school in Burundi and is now working to support the health and wellbeing of his community.

Scholarships provide opportunities to economically disadvantaged bright and eager youth to complete their education and build a productive life for themselves and their families. 

H2 Empower provides vulnerable youth with university and trade school scholarships so that they can become self sufficient and contribute to their families and community. 

Through the Edward L. Nyankanzi Scholarship Program for Burundi students, H2 Empower has supported 25 Burundian university students who have graduated in fields such as medicine, nursing, medical laboratory,  psychology, business, statistics, nutrition, social work, and teaching. 

In addition, H2 Empower has provided scholarships for 8 trade school graduates,  2 secondary school graduates, and 10 orphans who have completed middle school.  

Water, Sanitation, Sustainablity

  • Providing clean potable water to schools and communities results in better health, less work for women and children in fetching water, and meeting community needs. According to the United Nations, “Water is vital for life. Clean fresh water is necessary for drinking and sanitation, providing for our crops, livestock and industry, and creating and sustaining the ecosystems on which all life depends.”

    H2 Empower has provided water to seven schools and communities, benefiting 9,000 students annually and their surrounding area.

    In Ethiopia

    • Doyegena Community Spring served a community of 40,000 people in rural Kembata- Tambora Zone

    • Bobicho Primary School- served 60 families in the beginning and now 10,000 homes.

    • Haile Bubamo Primary School- served 200 families and now 3,000 families

    • Misreck Bar Primary School- served 500 families and now 20,000 families

    • Ersa Adada Primary School- Served 400 families and now 5, 000 families

    • Bir Wachimo Primary School- served 100 families and now 10,000 families

    In Burundi

    500 families in one rural community, including a primary school and three villages, now have access to water thanks to a recent installation.

  • Good sanitation is essential for the health of people and the environment. It prevents disease and contamination of the water supply and protects the family and neighbors. According to the World Health Organization, “Poor sanitation is linked to transmission of diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid, intestinal worm infections and polio. It exacerbates stunting and contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.”

    H2 Empower built 14 toilet stalls at 2 Ethiopian schools serving 5,000 girls and boys a year.

    Sustainability

    Training adults to use alternative methods for cooking for safety and efficiency, environmental protection, and self-employment.

    • Trained 8 college instructors in building solar ovens at the Hosanna Polytechnical College in order to encourage cooking with solar ovens without cutting down trees and buying kerosene.

    • Trained 35 teachers, students, engineers, and community leaders to make briquettes from natural waste for self-employment income generation, to stop cutting down trees, and eliminate using dangerous and expensive kerosene.

    • Supported 8 Burundi youths in building a business for self-employment and community building in Kigali, Rwanda

    • Developed a Refugee Microloan and Literacy project in Burundi for 100 participants.

    • Donated 100 long-lasting One World Futbols to Ethiopian schools and provided soccer clinics to improve coaching skills.

  • Training adults to use alternative methods for cooking for safety and efficiency, environmental protection, and self-employment.

    ● Trained 8 college instructors in building solar ovens at the Hosanna Polytechnical College in order to encourage cooking with solar ovens without cutting down trees and buying kerosene.

    ● Trained 35 teachers, students, engineers, and community leaders to make briquettes from natural waste for self-employment income generation, to stop cutting down trees, and eliminate using dangerous and expensive kerosene.

    ● Supported 8 Burundi youths in building a business for self-employment and community building in Kigali, Rwanda

    ● Developed a Refugee Microloan and Literacy project in Burundi for 100 participants.

    ● Donated 100 long-lasting One World Futbols to Ethiopian schools and provided soccer clinics to improve coaching skills.

Children showing their appreciation for us bringing water to this community

Click on map to enlarge

Empowering Students And Communities in Burundi

  • Bujumbura, Burundi

    These orphans now have access to attend school which is free up to only grade 6. h2 Empower has paid for their school fees along with some secondary school students, and trade school students. Over 25 scholarship students have graduated and are working in a variety of professional fields such as medicine, nursing, teaching, social work, psychology, nutrition, and more. Now they are ‘paying it forward’.

  • The power of ‘paying it forward'

    This is Yves, a university graduate who is now financing his cousin’s university fees to study architecture. He stated, “You supported me. Now it is my turn to support others.” So many graduates are working in their communities providing a variety of services and all are helping to support their families.

    One scholarship recipient, Aloys, has started his own Nonprofit, Umwizero, in partnership with his sponsor, Arnt. Currently they operate four community centers, cooperative farming projects, job training, tree planting and are sending 300 deserving students to boarding school. We found that helping one person ends up providing benefits to countless other individuals, families and communities.

  • Rutana, Burundi

    We congratulate Belyse, our first university graduate, who is now a teacher. Belyse will now be empowering students to learn, grow and achieve their dreams.

  • Gitega, Burundi

    H2 Empower’s water project brought water to a rural school and three villages, housing 1,000 people. This will ensure clean water, eliminating waterborne disease plus it releases women and older children from the difficult challenge of regularly bringing water to their family. Now they have more time to be productive for themselves and their families.

  • Kigali, Rwanda

    Our Edward L. Nyankanzi Burundi Scholarship recipients graduated with a degree in Medical Laboratory Science and Medical Doctor from universities in Rwanda.

  • Entrepreneurship

    These ambitious young adults formed a cooperative business where each person worked in the store, setting up a system to save a percent of income to improve their business, salaries and savings. They were able to move their business to a bigger store, provide temporary housing for Burundians in an emergency, offer support, referrals, and a place of camaraderie, which has been a safe haven for Burundi refugees in Kigali, Rwanda.

  • Mahama Camp, Rwanda

    h2 Empower provided hundreds of English books for Burundian adults to learn English while living in the UNRC Mahama Refugee Camp. In Burundi, the national languages are French and Kirundi. Now in Rwanda English has been added as a national language. Students realize the value of increasing their English language skills for future school and job opportunities.

School children who now have water

Jeanine was able to leave the Mahama Refugee Camp with her family to attend university. She is the first mother who was awarded our scholarship and is completing her studies in Medical Laboratory Science. She is grateful to now have a future.  

Empowering Students And Communities in Ethiopia

Click on map to enlarge

  h2 Empower built a community library with nearly 15,000 books in English and local languages with the support of the town, county, US. Ambassador’s Self Help Grant, and other grants. There is a children’s room and learning materials, a main reading room for 75 visitors, a computer center with 24 computers, internet access, printers and a librarian’s working room.  

This library is on the grounds of a primary school serving 1659 students in 2023,  but has daily visitors of high school students, parents, teachers and university students. Many students have succeeded in their national exams and our library supported their efforts through the utilization of textbooks and study guides available to them. The space is used for training and local meetings as well. 

The school has received recognition for its achievement with the presence of this library as an important factor. h2 Empower provided all the books, learning materials, and furniture. We facilitated the training of 212 school librarians with two cohorts focusing in depth on library management. The emphasis is in creating a community library in their schools, and enhancing librarians’ skills, motivation and potential to grow literacy in their communities.  In addition we built 12 sanitation facilities to provide a healthy and clean environment for the students. 

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Belilo Wonschecho Primary School

h2 Empower built three classrooms and provided classroom furniture to further enhance the educational facilities at this school as per teacher recommendations. In addition, we provided the books for their library and sun panels to increase access to

h2 Empower built three classrooms and provided classroom furniture to further enhance the educational facilities at this school as per teacher recommendations. In addition, we provided the books for their library and sun panels to increase access to light for reading within the school.

This kindergarten class alone has 114 children enrolled and 2097 students in the entire primary school in 2023. We are building four classrooms with furniture built by local carpenters to cut the class size in each kindergarten room, with the support

This kindergarten class alone has 114 children enrolled and 2097 students in the entire primary school in 2023. We are building four classrooms with furniture built by local carpenters to cut the class size in each kindergarten room, with the support of the parents. These new classrooms will increase motivation for both students and teachers and help provide more attention to each learner. These classrooms will serve hundreds of students for years to come.

Children dancing in their thanks improving their school 

Misreck Bar Primary School

 This school served 500 families when h2 Empower first started working with them in 2015 and in 2023 there are 20,000 families in that community. When we first came to the school, we found it to be the most remote rural area of all schools in Hosanna. The education department staff had not been to visit the school and it was run down and inadequate. We brought water to the community and Misreck Bar Primary school, donated books to their library, and built four new classrooms. 

The town government noticed the conditions of the area and improved the roads in the neighborhood to the main part of town, installed water points in various parts of the community, and the government brought water into 40 homes which is very rare. Not only that, the government gave people deeds to their homes which they did not have!!! The parents were thrilled and so moved by such a change in their lives. Later another NGO collaborator built a beautiful Kindergarten, and the school was fenced in for protection. The entire compound was transformed and the staff and children were delighted. Enrollment tripled and the school won awards for academic success.

  • Haile Bubamo Primary School

    h2 Empower originally served 200 families when we first began to work in Ethiopia and now there are 3,000 families who benefit from the water project we completed.

    This school is in the highest point of the town and extremely remote. We were able to bring water up the mountain to this school with great engineering. Then there were many water points installed on the way for the residential community there. In addition, once the water was installed, another NGO, Roots Ethiopia, installed modern toilets for the school, an example of the power of collaboration.

  • H2 Empower donated books to this school library and used it for teacher and librarians training. This photo shows the teachers getting the books to go to the school from the teacher’s college…via a donkey!

  • Hosanna School for the Deaf

    This is the only boarding school for deaf students in the country, serving children in Kindergarten through High School.The students are taught numerous trades as they pursue academic courses. We purchased well-made furniture for the library, which helps support this school. H2 Empower provided the school library with books, including specialized sign language books and trained the classroom teachers, librarians, and girls club leaders.

    One of their teachers is also working with the Girls Clubs in high schools across the town to empower female students and to make their own pads. We also implemented a permaculture training so the students could provide for themselves when they were living on their own. The school used that garden to feed the students fresh organic vegetables.

  • Watchamo Comprehensive High School

    This school of over 2,000 students, has historically nurtured university-ready students. H2 Empower has provided books, scientific equipment and staff training there. H2 Empower has trained all the teacher advisors in all the local public schools and the Deaf School in Hosanna, to share strategies and information to support girls to develop leadership skills, study skills, health education and more.

    In this school, H2 Empower contracted an Ethiopian master teacher to train all the Girls Club teachers. We met with over 100 girls in this high school to give them an opportunity to discuss their challenges and concerns as high school students and their future. An example of what we learned is that many parents didn’t support their female students to continue learning since they thought they would, “just get married.”

    The girls had scheduling and safe space issues, lack of textbooks, bullying from some male students and more. We cataloged their concerns and presented them to the School Director, who in turn held a faculty meeting to discuss how to resolve some of these issues. The girls reported that there were some helpful changes in the school and continued to meet with their advisor for support and motivation.

  • Hosanna Teacher Training College

    This institution provides training for future primary school teachers from four surrounding counties in southern Ethiopia. Helen Boxwill, our Executive Director spent her first full year here in 2003-2004, implementing a certification program for college teachers using government sponsored new teaching methods such as active and student-centered learning. During that year, she organized the school library from a space with no books to a fully operating library with books on every subject, including reference books. Helen facilitated workshops for primary and kindergarten teachers as well as for the college professors. She spearheaded, with a local college teacher, a Girls Club to support the female students in their desire to achieve success at college and in the future. Helen Boxwill visited many local schools and consulted with teachers and education bureau staff, building a network for communication of ideas and strategies to support their efforts. Many books and materials were distributed to public schools throughout the town to benefit the larger community.

Data Dashboard

Enhancing Education

  • Built 28 classrooms in public elementary schools

  • Cut class size in half from over 100 students each

  • Provided multilingual books – 1000 to primary schools

  • Distributed school supplies to 70 students in need.

Libraries and Books

  • Built /  developed 10 community libraries

  • Created 1 computer and audio visual center

  • Sent 95,000 books to Universities, Colleges, High Schools, Primary Schools

Educator Trainings

  • Trained 207 School, College, University librarians.

  • Held workshops for 1,780 primary School teachers

  • Trained 102 High school teachers and administrators

Personal Growth

  • Awarded 30 Scholarships

  • Supported 110 new entrepreneurs

  • Trained 700  female high school students in life skills development

Ethiopia h2 Empower Report

Providing Clean Water & Sanitation

  • Brought water to 6  public primary schools

  • Developed clean water facilities to 6 communities

  • Enabled building clean latrines for 2 schools

Sustainable projects

  • Trained 35 local community people in using Permaculture on their farms

  • Trained 30 community members on creating briquettes for home cooking

  • Distributed 110 soccer balls

  • Built 2 Solar ovens

Burundi & Rwanda h2 Empower Report