Project Details

The Child Sponsorship Project, funded by Woord en Daad (WD) of the Netherlands and implemented in Wolayta Zone, Sodo Town, aims to improve the overall well-being of 275 highly vulnerable children and their families through a holistic, child-centered approach. During the reporting year, the project focused on ensuring safe and inclusive access to education for all sponsored children while strengthening the livelihoods of families and guardians to enhance household stability and child protection.

Key accomplishments include the transparent selection of 66 program participants; delivery of national TOT training on Core Life Skills, Disability Inclusion, and Entrepreneurship for 10 trainers with curricula adapted to local language and context; orientation of 40 personal assistants on disability support and inclusive service delivery; and coordination meetings with 185 stakeholders to align on project objectives and strategies. A 14-day training was delivered to participants and personal assistants, after which participants chose their livelihood pathways: 4 toward wage employment, 9 toward technical and vocational training, and 53 toward entrepreneurship.

Comprehensive MHPSS services were provided, including counseling, play therapy, home visits, seizure management, and awareness workshops. Fifty-three participants and 39 personal assistants received eight-day entrepreneurship training with ongoing coaching and mentorship. Twenty-three participants received assistive devices including wheelchairs, crutches, and white canes, significantly enhancing their mobility, independence, and participation. The project demonstrates a systems-based, inclusive development model that strengthens economic independence, promotes dignity, and creates sustainable pathways for inclusion and resilience among persons with disabilities.