A home for street girls

Girls at Busajo Campus: Education and Rebirth in Ethiopia

In the vibrant heart of southern Ethiopia, in Soddo, a beacon of hope stands tall: the Busajo Campus. Established in 2013 through the initiative of Busajo NGO Ets, founded in 2009, this project isn't merely an aid center; it's a genuine ecosystem dedicated to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of children and youth, with a special focus on girls living on the streets, one of the community's most vulnerable groups.

Soddo, like many Ethiopian cities, has witnessed an explosion in the number of "street children," with approximately 3,000 minors living on the streets, having fled rural villages in search of a better life they rarely find. For girls, this reality is even harsher. Often illiterate, with histories of family conflict, early marriage, sexual abuse, physical violence, parental loss, and extreme poverty, they find themselves forced into prostitution or working in slave-like conditions to survive. The consequences, such as stress, depression, addictions, diseases, and unwanted pregnancies, leave deep wounds on both body and soul.

A Sanctuary for Rebirth: The Girls House

It's in this dramatic context that the Busajo Campus Girls Project takes root. The Girls House, a dedicated building within the Campus, can accommodate up to 30 girls in a residential program. Here, away from the violence of the streets, they find a safe haven and a carefully individualized recovery path. The Campus, managed entirely by Ethiopian staff, is a true community that includes, in addition to living quarters, vocational training workshops, sports facilities, gardens, and animal stables, creating a stimulating and protected environment.

An Integrated Path to Autonomy

The rehabilitation program for girls at Busajo Campus is structured in four fundamental phases:

1. First Contact and Prevention: While in the past contact often happened directly on the streets, today the project increasingly focuses on prevention, reaching out to girls in their villages of origin before despair drives them to the city. This approach has proven far more effective in ensuring lasting recovery, rescuing minors from situations of extreme poverty, suffering, and abuse in time.

2. Campus Entry and Holistic Recovery: Once welcomed into the Girls House, the girls embark on a journey of medical, physical, psychological, and emotional recovery. They are cared for day and night by educators, learn basic hygiene and self-care, and receive essential psychological support to address past traumas.

3. Personalized Educational and Vocational Path: Depending on their age and aptitudes, girls are enrolled in local schools, while older girls can opt for vocational training workshops (baking, weaving, tailoring, soap making, carpentry, painting, and welding) and attend evening classes. Recreational and sports activities are also provided to foster socialization and teach rules of coexistence. The goal is to provide technical and cultural skills that empower them to become self-aware and independent individuals.

4. Community Reintegration: The ultimate goal is the reintegration of girls into society. The possibility of reunification with their families of origin is assessed, but for older girls, who often have children and are rejected by their families, the solution is placement in adoptive family homes or shared rental houses. Here, girls can live with their own children or with orphaned children, creating a new family unit. Once they acquire the necessary work skills, they are assisted in finding employment in the city and are followed for a year by educators, on a path of true rebirth.

An Investment in a Sustainable Future

The Busajo Campus project is a concrete example of effective and sustainable cooperation. With an annual budget of approximately €28,709, it exclusively employs Ethiopian staff, ensuring the transfer and retention of skills within the local community. Sustainability is at the core of its actions: girls are actively involved, activities respect the cultural and religious context, and the project is strongly desired and supported by local authorities.

The medium and long-term impact is significant: the recovery and prevention of the street girl phenomenon not only improve the lives of direct beneficiaries but also trigger a positive change that extends to the entire community and future generations. It's not just assistance; it's a profound investment in human dignity and in people's ability to build a better future.