The sponsorship program, which has been successfully implemented since 2021, adapts this year to a complex situation in Ethiopia., marked by a renewed surge in political and military tensions. There is also a systemic problem with the education our students undergo: this year, the primary school final exam failed the majority of Ethiopian students. Without understanding the reason, we are facing the consequences.
To date, no Grade 8 student Sona has been allowed to continue their schooling at the secondary school of Chirolaba. Therefore, we are not able to select, as we have every year, the top 5 girls and top 5 boys to be included in the sponsorship program. We are deeply disappointed but we do not give up on our mission to ensure a future through quality education for the children of Simien!
From then on, we have decided to open the sponsorship program to 4 students already enrolled in school at the secondary school of Chirolaba, natives of the surrounding villages of Sona and whose academic results are remarkable. While hoping that the situation of the Sona students will improve in the coming weeks thanks to a twist of fate that the country use to have…
We fervently hope that you will continue to support our work in the service of these children, despite the uncertainties of this troubled era. More than ever, we need to stay true to the goal of education, the true beacon that guides our actions and those of the local population in these chaotic times.
The Foundation offers Children in the Cloud you the opportunity to sponsor a child from the region of Sona Ethiopia. For 60 CHF per month (tax-deductible), we offer you the opportunity to change the life and destiny of these children. (see the charter of commitment and detailed terms and conditions at the bottom of the page).
We present you these children below:
I am a tax resident in Switzerland and want to pay directly:
I want to sponsor a child and pay directly
I need support in the sponsorship process:
You can also contribute to the maintenance of the Primary School of Sona, by making a donation.
Bosena Mulusimien Abebe
Girl, still 3 years to finance her to finish high school
Grade : 10 Average 82/100
Adino Zenaw Kebed
Boy, still 2 years to finance to help him finish high school
Grade: 11 Average 93/100
Bimirish Tamie Tadese
Girl, another year to fund to help her finish high school
Grade : 12 Average 85/100
Ayto Birhanu Sitotaw
Boy, another year to fund to help him finish high school
Grade : 12 average 91/100
Sponsor a child in Ethiopia
Sponsoring a child from Sona in Ethiopia is particularly useful. These children are among the most deprived in the world and nowhere else can your money be better invested if you think that the future of humanity will be common or not! Here are some details on what we propose.
The Ethiopian school system
The Sona school provides education for children up to grade 8, known as primary school in Ethiopia. This corresponds to primary school in Switzerland, which includes the elementary and junior cycles. In France, this corresponds to primary schools and collège, from CP to 3e. Pupils leave school at Sona, on average, around the age of 14. They then go on to secondary school, the equivalent of gymnasium for the Swiss and lycée for the French. In Ethiopia, as in Switzerland and France, secondary school culminates in a national diploma of the Maturité-Baccalauréat type.
Ethiopian secondary school comprises four years of study. The first two are secondary school. The next two, known as preparatory school, are intended for students wishing to continue their studies in higher education. This is the logical route for students continuing their studies in secondary school. Joining the secondary school is therefore a multi-year project, and we're offering you the chance to support the children of Sona by becoming their sponsor for 4 years!
Commitment charter
By accepting to sponsor a child, the sponsor makes a moral commitment for the duration of the child's secondary school studies, i.e. 4 years. This is not a contractual commitment, of course, and the sponsorship can be interrupted at any time by the sponsor in case of force majeure. It is a moral commitment, in keeping with the importance of the future of the children we support.
The Children in the Cloud Foundation is committed to ensuring that your entire donation is used for the children's board and tuition at the secondary school.
How to sponsor a child from Sona
In order to guarantee an exemplary schooling to the children of Sona who will be sponsored, we have defined with our partners the following working and living conditions:
- The children attend secondary school at Chirolaba. This is a recent school, built in 2018, with high-quality facilities (laboratories, library, computer room, etc.) and large, welcoming grounds.
- The children are housed and fed in a dormitory built inside the school campus. This construction is co-financed by the Children in the Cloud Foundation because it is the best way of ensuring their safety and school supervision. They are autonomous in their daily tasks.
- The safety of the children is guaranteed by the municipality of Chirolaba. The mayor of the municipality is an ex-officio member of the committee managing the sponsored pupils.
- the school work of the sponsored students is guaranteed by the teaching staff, under the responsibility of the school Director, who is an ex-officio member and President of the committee managing the sponsored students. A daily tutoring is set up under the responsibility of the Director of the secondary school of Chirolaba.
- The Children in the Cloud Foundation ensures the follow-up of the children, the payment of their school costs via the committee and is an ex-officio member of the committee where our local director sits. The Foundation reports regularly to the donors.
- The godparent pays CHF 60 per month (CHF 720 per year) towards all his or her godchild's school fees. This includes accommodation, food, school supplies and textbooks.
International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. The CRC was voted unanimously. It aims to guarantee the rights of children under the age of 18. The Convention has 54 articles, stating that every child has :
- the right to have a name, a nationality, an identity
- the right to be cared for, to be protected from diseases, to have an adequate and balanced diet
- the right to go to school
- the right to be protected from violence, maltreatment and all forms of abuse and exploitation
- the right to be protected against all forms of discrimination
- the right not to make war, nor to be subjected to it
- the right to have a shelter, to be rescued, and to have decent living conditions
- the right to play and have leisure time
- the right to freedom of information, expression and participation
- the right to have a family, to be surrounded and loved
This Convention is the basis for action by UNICEF. It is also our overarching reference document and guides our action for access to education. In particular Article 28 which states that every child has the right to education and to quality learning opportunities. We also feel committed to the full range of rights set out in the CRC for the well-being and development of the children of Sona.