Raising Voices through Drama
In one of the South Wollo Zone small towns, at Gerba School, something powerful is happening beyond the classroom. Here, students are not just learning; they are leading change.
Through weekly peer education sessions and creative drama performances, members of the school’s gender club are bringing sensitive community issues into the spotlight. One particularly moving drama told the story of a young girl forced into illegal migration. It portrayed the painful reality of a mother, pressured by society to seek a “better life,” making a devastating decision for her daughter.
The story unfolded with heartbreak. The daughter, sent abroad through dangerous routes, never returns. The silence that follows leaves the audience with a powerful message: the cost of such choices can be irreversible. The performance didn’t just entertain; rather, it stirred emotions, sparked conversations, and challenged deeply rooted beliefs.
Challenging Everyday Inequality
At Yegof Elementary School, in Kombolcha town, another group of students used role play to reflect a common reality in many households. A daughter burdened with endless chores struggles to keep up with school, while her brother enjoys time to study and play.
As the story unfolds, a concerned teacher steps in, engaging the parents, opening dialogue, and helping them see the imbalance. As a result, a shift in understanding and a renewed commitment to support their daughter’s education.
These simple but powerful performances are helping families see their daily practices in a new light.
Protecting Girls, Changing Futures
The impact of these gender clubs goes far beyond awareness. In one inspiring case, a member of the gender club bravely reported that she was being forced into early marriage. The focal point of the gender club took action by following up, raising the issue, and ultimately helping to stop the marriage.
This is more than education. It is protection. It is empowerment.
For students like Zinet (name changed), the gender club has become a lifeline. Displaced by conflict and living in a shelter, she faced intense pressure from her family to leave school and marry early.
But through peer education, she found something stronger than fear: confidence.
For students like Zinet (name changed),
the gender club has become a lifeline. Displaced by conflict and living in a shelter, she faced intense pressure from her family to leave school and marry early.
But through peer education, she found something stronger than fear: confidence.
When her parents arranged her marriage, she spoke up. She reached out to her teacher and club focal person, Ahlam Belay. “When my parents decided to marry me off, I said no,” she recalls. “I spoke to my teacher, my uncle, and my club members. They stood with me.” She recalled.
With the support of her teacher, her family began to understand. Through discussion and guidance, her family began to understand her dreams and the value of education.
Today, Zinet is still in school, learning freely, speaking confidently, and no longer afraid.
“Now I am in school, learning freely, and I am not afraid anymore,” she says. “Now my family understands that I should continue my education.”
These gender clubs create a safe space for students to discuss significant discussion points. These sessions cover important topics such as improving study skills, preventing addiction, the value of education, building self-confidence, managing menstruation, and the prevention of illegal migration and early marriage. Students at Gerba School shared that the discussions have helped them gain essential skills that directly improve their academic performance.
Hikma Anwar, a 10th grade student at Gerba School, stated, “Before the training, my study habits were unorganized. After the peer-to-peer sessions, I learned how to study in a planned way, and my grades improved,”
One of Kelem Ethiopia’s key goals is to support quality education across the EQUIP-implementing schools. Through this commitment, many students are benefiting, especially through school-based initiatives.
With support from TERRA TECH Förderprojekte e.V., the EQUIP Project is strengthening gender clubs across 12 schools, enabling ongoing discussions that drive meaningful change. These student-led efforts show that lasting impact comes from within, as schools positively influence their communities.
Author: Hassina Ousman
