Rebuilding schools and a future for landslide survivors
In Kencho Woyiza, southern Ethiopia, the lives of hundreds of children were turned upside down by two devastating landslides in July 2024. Schools were destroyed, families torn apart, and a community’s future left hanging in the balance.
Amid this crisis, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is working to restore hope by ensuring children can return to education as quickly as possible.
NRC emergency staff visit the landslide site in July. Video: NRC
Among those affected are two individuals whose stories capture both the scale of the challenge and the sense of hope that the community is now feeling, with NRC’s support.
A teacher’s dedication amidst crisis
Nehemya Negash, a 27-year-old teacher and newly appointed school principal, has been at the heart of the efforts to rebuild education in Kencho Woyiza.
Before the landslides, Nehemya worked as a deputy headteacher at Kencho Woyiza Primary School, which was known for its commitment to providing quality education despite its ageing infrastructure. The landslide not only destroyed the school but also claimed the lives of the former principal and several students. Nehemya found herself thrust into the role of leading the school's recovery.
“Our school was a model in the area, even though it was old. We were proud of what we had built,” says Nehemya. “But after the landslide, everything was gone. The school was declared unsafe, and we were left with nothing – no classrooms, no learning materials, nothing.”
Working closely with the local authorities, Nehemya helped identify a new school site. But the challenges remained immense. “We were told to re-open the school on 16 September 2024, but how could we? We didn’t even have paper or pens to register the children, let alone classrooms to teach them in,” she says.
It was in this moment of despair that NRC offered to assist. “The support from NRC was a lifeline,” says Nehemya. “They provided us with basic teaching materials, like paper, pens, and even a rechargeable speaker for the back-to-school campaign. It wasn’t just about the materials – NRC’s involvement gave us hope that we could rebuild.”
The school has also received plastic sheets to create temporary shelters while more permanent structures are being built. In addition, the parent, teacher and student associations (PTSAs) have been re-established and have received training to strengthen the community’s ability to manage and support the school.
“We still have a long way to go, but I am committed to leading this school and ensuring that children in our community can continue their education,” says Nehemya.
Nehemya Negash (left), the principal of Kencho Woyiza Primary School, sits down with NRC's education specialist Haile Tadese. Photo: Kalkidan Tamirat/NRC
Nehemya Negash (left), the principal of Kencho Woyiza Primary School, sits down with NRC's education specialist Haile Tadese. Photo: Kalkidan Tamirat/NRC
What remains of the school in Kencho Woyiza after the landslides. Photo: Solomon Terefe/NRC
What remains of the school in Kencho Woyiza after the landslides. Photo: Solomon Terefe/NRC
Tarikua Israel (left) talks to NRC’s Haile Tadese in the open field where education has resumed after landslides wiped out the school buildings. Photo: Kalkidan Tamirat/NRC
Tarikua Israel (left) talks to NRC’s Haile Tadese in the open field where education has resumed after landslides wiped out the school buildings. Photo: Kalkidan Tamirat/NRC
A student’s dream of a better future
Fifteen-year-old Tarikua Israel is one of the hundreds of students whose education was disrupted by the landslides. A bright student with dreams of becoming a scientist, Tarikua was devastated when she heard about the destruction of her school while she was visiting her sister in Addis Ababa during the summer break.
“I lost classmates and friends in the landslide. My father almost died trying to save relatives. When I came back, everything had changed – families were grieving, and our school was gone,” she says.
The community was left in shock, with many children unsure whether they would be able to continue their education.
“We were all worried,” Tarikua recalls. “Some of my friends lost their families and had to move to the site for displaced people. We didn’t know if we would even have a school to go back to.”
But Tarikua’s hope was reignited when NRC began its back-to-school campaign in September. “I was so happy when I heard NRC was helping us. I registered for grade seven on 19 September, and even though we are learning in an open space, I have hope again.”
Still, like Nehemya, Tarikua is aware of the challenges that remain.
“We need proper classrooms, water, sanitation facilities, and learning materials,” she says. “Without them, some of us might have to drop out, and I don’t want that. I want to stay in school and become a scientist one day.”
A lifeline for the future
NRC’s education specialist in Ethiopia, Haile Tadese, emphasises the importance of restoring education in emergencies like this.
“Education is more than just learning. It’s about restoring a sense of normalcy and giving children hope for the future,” he says.
“The landslide in Kencho Woyiza has had a profound impact on the community, but we are working closely with local authorities, teachers and parents to ensure children can return to school as quickly as possible.”
Through its rapid response project, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), NRC has provided essential teaching materials, recreational supplies and temporary shelter for the children and teachers in Kencho Woyiza. We are also advocating for further support to build proper temporary learning spaces and provide water and sanitation facilities.
“Our immediate priority is to ensure that children can continue their education in a safe environment,” Tadese adds. “But we also recognise the need for more comprehensive, long-term education support, including the construction of proper learning spaces and further training for teachers and PTSAs.”
Looking ahead: hope in action
For Nehemya, Tarikua and the entire community of Kencho Woyiza, NRC’s support has helped rekindle hope in the aftermath of tragedy. While the challenges remain significant, the swift mobilisation of resources and the community’s commitment to rebuild their school offer a path forward.
“With NRC’s help, we have hope,” Tarikua says. “I know education is the key to my future, and I am determined to continue, no matter what.”
Children playing on the site of their new open-air school. Video: Solomon Terefe/NRC
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