In the rural heartlands of Ethiopia, where access to structured extracurriculars is limited, sports are becoming a powerful tool to uplift youth and transform communities.
Across Ethiopia’s rural and under-resourced regions, education-focused NGOs like Roots Ethiopia and UNICEF are leveraging sports as an intervention tool for youth development.
In a country where poverty, early marriage, and traditional gender roles often limit educational opportunities, especially for girls, sports are offering new possibilities. Programs implemented through schools introduce structured games—primarily soccer and volleyball—as a means to promote teamwork, gender inclusion, and resilience.
In Shone, a town in southern Ethiopia, students gather daily after class to play. Not only does this improve school attendance, but students are also learning problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills in real time. These informal “training grounds” also serve as a safe space for youth to express themselves.
“Before we had sports, many students left school early. Now, they stay after classes and even help each other with homework,” says a teacher in the Hadiya Zone.
Sports may not solve all problems, but they provide a safe, fun outlet for Ethiopia’s youth to dream, grow, and connect.