Girls’ Empowerment
At ALDO, we are committed to ensuring that girls have equal access to education, healthcare, and opportunities that empower them to reach their full potential. To address the challenges stemming from traditional cultural beliefs, we actively engage in community sensitization. Our goal is to remove barriers to education, offering a safe learning environment that protects students from exploitation and organized crime.
Sanitary Pad Program
ALDO recognizes the profound impact of widespread poverty, especially in rural areas, on women and girls' access to sanitary materials. To address this issue, we have run a Sanitary Pad Program for over ten years, providing girls with reusable pads, water, and handwashing facilities during their menstrual periods.
By addressing this critical need, we have observed reduced school absences among girls during their monthly periods. Looking ahead, we plan to empower children further by teaching them how to make reusable pads, ensuring sustainability and self-sufficiency.
ALDO remains committed to fostering an environment where every student, regardless of gender, can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. We sincerely thank you for your continued support in making these initiatives possible.
Boarding Section
The boarding section was initially established to facilitate nighttime study sessions for candidate classes, support students traveling long distances, and provide a secure environment for at-risk girls. Due to the overwhelming demand for girls' bed availability, we are constructing an additional dormitory.
Students in dormitories benefit from a supportive environment conducive to focused education and the development of essential life skills. Resident teachers provide additional support before and after school, enhancing students' overall learning experience.
The positive impact on girls has been significant, leading to improved performance and retention. Many of these students have successfully transitioned to high school, while others have found gainful employment, illustrating the success of our boarding program.
Sewing Program
Acquiring ten sewing machines was a significant step forward in our efforts to empower children, particularly girls, in our community.
Students learn how to create and mend clothing and other fabric items and develop valuable life skills that they can use personally and professionally.
Students are learning to express their creativity by designing and making their clothing, accessories, and crafts. This helps them to think outside the box, experiment with different fabrics and patterns, and develop their unique style.
We hope these skills will open up entrepreneurial opportunities for students interested in starting businesses or pursuing careers in fashion design, costume design, or textiles. They can create and sell their products or offer sewing services to others.
School Feeding and Nutrition Program
School feeding is a crucial component of our strategy to combat hunger among children and ensure that those from low-income families can remain in school throughout the day. Adequate nutrition supports good health and enhances school attendance, concentration, and academic performance.
Currently, our school provides most children with a cup of cornmeal porridge as part of our feeding program. Additionally, we utilize the produce from our school garden, which includes crops such as corn, beans, sweet potatoes, and soya beans, to provide nutritious meals for boarding students, particularly during seasons of abundant harvest. This ensures that students can access wholesome and locally sourced food, promoting their overall well-being and educational success.
Providing Fortified Meals
Offer fortified breakfast and lunch to all children, alleviating short-term hunger and addressing micronutrient deficiencies. Meals include essential nutrients like protein, iron, vitamin C, and iodine, promoting better health and cognitive development.
Animal Farming for Enhanced Nutrition
Our initiatives include animal farming of rabbits and goats. As the number of animals increases, we anticipate providing better nutrition, including proteins, for the children.
Large-Scale Gardens for Sustainable Nutrition
Rent or purchase land for large-scale gardens to grow a variety of foods and vegetables to ensure a steady supply of nutritious food for the children and serve as an educational platform for parents on nutrition and modern farming methods.
Supporting Teacher Well-being and Retention
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Teacher Retention
Recognizing the impact of teacher turnover, especially in high-poverty populations, we are actively working to minimize this challenge. By understanding and alleviating the stresses teachers face, we aim to create an environment that supports their well-being and professional growth.
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Teacher Motivation
Creating a positive school culture is crucial for the motivation and well-being of our teachers. To celebrate their achievements, we organize regular school assemblies, awards for outstanding contributions, special meals, and team-building events. By acknowledging the demanding nature of their work, we strive to create a sense of appreciation and support.
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Financial Support
We understand the financial challenges our teachers encounter. We provide breakfast and lunch to ease this burden, and one of their children can study for free. This is part of our commitment to supporting our teachers in managing their living expenses and fostering a community where they feel valued.
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Accommodation
Recognizing the difficulty in attracting teachers due to housing challenges, we've taken steps to address this issue. With housing funded by our supporters, we've accommodated ten teachers within the school environment, reducing absenteeism and lateness. Our plan includes building accommodation units for teachers' families.
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Daycare Facility
Our daycare facility was purposefully designed to cater to the needs of female teachers who are mothers of young children. Providing a safe and convenient environment for their children during school hours alleviates the burden on these dedicated educators. In the past, the alternative often involved mothers bringing their children to class, disrupting their teaching responsibilities and their children's learning experiences. With our daycare in place, these teachers can focus entirely on their profession, knowing their children are well cared for just steps away. This arrangement benefits the teachers and their children and enhances the overall educational environment by promoting undisturbed teaching and learning.
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Equitable Salaries and Income Generation:
We firmly believe that investing in teachers is investing in the entire community. While our primary costs involve teachers' salaries, we are actively working on income-generating initiatives, particularly in agriculture, to ensure we can provide equitable and sustainable salaries for our teachers.
We are committed to fostering an environment where teachers feel supported, valued, and motivated to contribute to the educational growth of our students and the broader community.
Your ongoing support is instrumental in making these initiatives possible, and we are grateful for your dedication to our shared mission.
