Segment 1

TITLE

Millennium Promise: Extreme poverty ends here

TITLE

Forging the Future: Girls' education in Koraro, Ethiopia. March, 2010

REGBE GEBREMISKEL

My name is Regbe Gebremiskel. I am in grade six. My father is a farmer. I like to go to school.

VOICEOVER

In the remote Ethiopian village of Koraro, life is difficult, especially for the women. But the futures of girls like Regbe are looking brighter. Most now get a primary education, bringing much-needed skills to the community, and the Millennium Village Project in Koraro is also working to make sure that girls carry on learning despite high fees and a 30-kilometer walk to the nearest secondary school.

TEKLAY BERHE [Director, Koraro Primary School]

There are many obstacles facing the girls to go on to secondary school. One, economic problems; second, parents' influences and early marriage.

VOICEOVER

Supported by a scholarship, Smret Gabrickados is one of over 50 girls from Koraro primary who have cleared these hurdles and gone on to secondary school.

SMRET GABRICKADOS [Student]

I was born in Koraro, and now I live in Hawzien. From grade nine up to grade twelve, I have been assisted by the project. If I am not supported by the project, I would already be married because my family are not educated people, meaning that they haven't any knowledge about education.

TITLE

Soon to finish grade twelve, Smret will be the first girl from Koraro to finish secondary school and apply to university.

SMRET GABRICKADOS

I study all the time in order to be a doctor.

TADELE ATAKELTI [Education Coordinator, Koraro Millennium Village Project]

If a girl from Koraro doesn't go to secondary school, her fate will be to marry young and have a low standard of living as a farmer. Entering into high school will make the girls' future bright. It will create an opportunity to look for jobs, which will help the girls to help themselves as well as to serve their community. Out of the existing 52 girls in the program, if the scholarships were not there, not one of them would have come to high school to continue her education. So this is changing their lives. These students have a goal, a certain hope.

VOICEOVER

The successes of the girls at secondary school at Hawzien are inspiring their sisters and friends at Koraro primary school.

REGBE GEBREMISKEL

I want to be a doctor. I would like to study hard. > VOICEOVER: With continued support, Regbe's dreams and those of thousands of girls in Koraro can turn into reality, which, in turn, will ensure that the entire community can benefit.

TITLE

More than 70 million children are not enrolled at primary school.

TITLE

Hundreds of millions cannot afford to attend secondary school, even when they pass qualifying exams.

TITLE

It costs as little as USD$40 a month for a girl or boy to attend secondary school.

TITLE

Let's ensure that every girl and boy has the same opportunity as Smret to attend secondary school and achieve their dreams.

TITLE

Millennium Promise: Extreme poverty ends here. Join us today at www.millenniumpromise.org