Spark Your Inner Change Maker

Prioritizing survival over school

Farah: Can you tell me about what it’s like for girls in conflict zones? Are girls getting [an] education?

Wudasemariam: Education in conflict zones is usually seen as a privilege. It’s seen as a fantasy, because for everyone in the refugee camp, or for someone still seeking refuge, the main concern is all about being alive and having something to eat. It’s really hard to even find schools in refugee camps.

Even the students and the girls willing to go to school, they used to have dreams like everyone. They used to aspire to be a leader or a doctor or a lawyer or whatever they want to be and whatever they want to change in the world. But once there’s a conflict, everything changes for them. And what they really need is just to be alive at that moment.

The resilience of girls in conflict

Farah: What have you learned seeing girls in conflict through your work with Plan?

Wudasemariam: Once they get the right support system, once they get motivated, and once they have an education and are aware of their rights, they have very big potential, and they can advocate for themselves. They don’t even need anyone to advocate for their rights or to make their voices heard.

Overcoming barriers means uniting for peace

Farah: [The State of the World’s Girls report] surveyed girls in 10 different conflict zones. They reported 50% are missing out on school. And we know that girls have been left behind, especially after COVID...So how do we address these types of barriers during this time, during conflicts?

Wudasemariam: In Ethiopia, for example, there are 7.8 million children out of school. The northern conflict alone led 2.3 million children to be out of school. So this is a very huge crisis that we’re talking about here.

I believe that conflict leads to not only the right to education being neglected but also gender-based violence, the right to food, a healthy environment and any other human rights that we know of and most of us enjoy. But this conflict should not take all these rights from a girl or anyone.

What we should do is avoid conflict so that we can protect these girls, not only to help them attend school but also to give them the life that they deserve and that they want.

Poverty alone is a huge barrier for education. When it’s coupled with conflict, every budget is moved to conflict and to warfare, and that really affects the lives of everyone.

The strength to make a difference

Farah: You have gone through so much and you’ve seen so much. How did you do it? How were you able to get a law degree? How are you able to help other people, given what’s happening in your country?

Wudasemariam: It’s because if I don’t do something, then who would? That’s what I always think when I do volunteering or any other work with Plan International. I believe I am privileged to get an education and to get such platforms to advocate for housing crisis or the youth. So, if I don’t do that, then who would be able to help them stand out for themselves and to give them the little support that they need?

A promising future for Ethiopian youth

Farah: What are you optimistic about?

Wudasemariam: Lately, what we hear about Ethiopia [on the news] is usually about conflict and the drought. But I also see that the youth are trying their best to help themselves. Everyone in their personal lives is trying their best and working hard to pull themselves out of poverty, or any other crisis that they face. I see that there is huge potential, especially in a country where a majority of the population is youth.

That’s a very promising future. I believe that with the right support and with the right assistance, everyone would be able to change the country and make it a better one. I think that the potential I see is what keeps me optimistic.

How can Canadian youth help?

Farah: What can we tell the young girls here [in Canada] who don’t have the same challenges you do? How can we get them inspired to help?

Wudasemariam: Helping is not just donating money. It could be advocating for rights, educating, influencing policies. Being willing to help is what’s needed. It’s just putting that little stone that actually matters, no matter how big or small – it’s going to be a stepping stone for the future generation to move forward and for a brighter future to come.