Creating the Conditions for Children to Learn and Thrive
At ALDO, we believe children learn best when they feel safe, nourished, supported, and valued. We also recognize that teachers need a supportive working environment to help students succeed. We address barriers to education through girls' empowerment, menstrual health support, school feeding, safe boarding, emotional well-being, and teacher welfare.
Our Approach
Protect. Nurture. Empower. Support.
We work with teachers, families, and communities to create a caring school environment where children can attend school with dignity and teachers feel supported. Our initiatives focus on student safety, nutrition, emotional well-being, and the practical needs that affect school attendance and teacher retention.
Our Focus
- Girls' Education and Menstrual Health: Promoting girls' dignity, safety, and continued education through empowerment and reusable sanitary pad support.
- Safe Boarding and Student Retention: Providing supervised accommodation and study support for students who live far from school.
- School Feeding and Nutrition: Providing meals and developing school gardening initiatives to support student nutrition and food security.
- Emotional Well-being and Character Development: Using Heart-to-Heart sessions and character education to encourage confidence, positive relationships, and responsible decision-making.
- Teacher Welfare and Retention: Supporting teachers through accommodation initiatives, meals, staff appreciation, and professional development.
Our Impact
ALDO works to reduce barriers that affect children's education while strengthening the well-being of students and teachers.
- Our reusable sanitary pad programme has operated for more than ten years, helping girls manage menstruation with greater dignity.
- Boarding and supervised study support help students who live far from school access education.
- School meals and gardens help support student nutrition.
- Heart-to-Heart sessions encourage emotional awareness, confidence, and positive relationships.
- Teacher support initiatives aim to strengthen staff well-being and continuity in teaching.
Our goal is to help children attend school consistently, learn in a supportive environment, and progress towards their aspirations.
Help a Child Learn. Grow. Thrive.
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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
Valuing Teachers. Strengthening Schools. Inspiring Better Learning.
At ALDO, we believe that investing in teachers is investing in the future of our children. We recognize the challenges teachers face, particularly financial pressures, housing difficulties, and the demands of balancing work and family life. We are committed to creating a supportive environment where teachers feel valued, motivated, and encouraged to grow professionally.
Through the support of our partners and well-wishers, we provide teacher accommodation, breakfast and lunch, and free education for one child of each teacher. We also recognize and celebrate teachers' contributions through staff appreciation, awards, special meals, and team-building activities.
We further invest in professional development and explore sustainable income-generating initiatives, particularly in agriculture, to strengthen our ability to provide fair and reliable salaries. Our daycare facility supports female teachers with young children by providing safe childcare during school hours, allowing them to focus on teaching with peace of mind.
Our goal is to attract and retain dedicated teachers, improve staff well-being, and create a stable, caring school environment where both teachers and students can thrive.
Your support helps us care for those who dedicate their lives to educating the next generation.
