Project Overview:
Ubuntu Roots is proud to support education in northern Ethiopia through the Ethiopia Digital Access & Economics Initiative, launched in May 2025.
This project focuses on two key goals:
- Restoring connectivity and digital access for students affected by years of disrupted schooling.
- Introducing interactive online economics lessons that help students understand the systems shaping their daily lives from trade and agriculture to community markets.
Our first collaboration began with Mekelle Unity School, where Ubuntu Roots donated a small but meaningful batch of laptops, creating a bridge between students in Ethiopia and volunteer educators around the world.
Impact at a Glance:
- 7 laptops donated to Mekelle Unity School
- 145 students connected to online classes
- 15 international volunteer teachers involved
1️⃣ Connecting a School, Connecting Hope
When Ubuntu Roots first reached Mekelle Unity School, many students hadn’t attended consistent online lessons in years. The school had power, but no devices; students took turns writing notes from a single teacher’s phone display.
So, in May, our team delivered 7 laptops; enough to form two small digital classrooms.
Within a week, for the first time, 85 students were able to join group online sessions with volunteers across Asia, Europe, and Africa. The first call opened with cheers as students saw their teachers’ faces appear on screen from Japan and Kenya.
2️⃣ Learning Economics Through Everyday Life
Once connectivity was stable, Ubuntu Roots launched its Intro to Economics course — designed to make economics relatable to rural Ethiopian contexts.
Lessons covered:
- Markets and Trade: students mapped out local products like teff, coffee, and honey, comparing how prices change across regions.
- Scarcity and Opportunity Cost: taught through a game where students managed limited resources for school events.
- Inflation and Currency Value: linked to real stories about how the birr affects daily shopping and transport.
3️⃣ Beyond Devices: A Community of Learning
The laptops were more than equipment; they became symbols of connection. Students now use them not only for Ubuntu Roots sessions, but also for independent study, research, and peer tutoring.
Teachers at Mekelle Unity School have begun incorporating online materials into their regular lessons, building on the digital confidence the students gained.
One student, Selam, said after her final economics class:
“Before, we learned about numbers. Now, we learn about how the world works — and how we can change it.”
Ubuntu Roots plans to expand the program to two nearby schools in early 2026, adding lessons in financial literacy and entrepreneurship.