Building Sustainability Through Community Ownership: The Story of Flege Abay Primary School

At Flege Abay Primary School in Bahir Dar, the WISE Project led by Partners in Education Ethiopia in collaboration with Splash International is demonstrating how sustainability can be achieved through innovation and strong community ownership.

With just 40,000 ETB allocated for materials, the school community came together to repair water connections, secure faucets, and construct a new underground water system. Thanks to their volunteer labor, the school saved more than 14,000 ETB, a remarkable example of collective action and resourcefulness.

Looking ahead, the school is taking further steps to ensure long term sustainability. A container shop will soon be rented out to fund maintenance activities, while a Menstrual Health and Hygiene Room is also being established. This new facility will include a shower, toilet, rest area, and a counseling corner to provide essential support and comfort to adolescent girls.

Through these efforts, Flege Abay Primary School is becoming a model of resilience, innovation, and dignity for every child, showing that when communities take ownership, lasting change becomes possible.