The U-GIRLS 2 Project, a six-year initiative to break barriers to girls’ education in Benishangul-Gumuz, officially concluded last week at Haile Grand Hotel. Launched in 2020 with 14.9 million Canadian dollars, the program reached 28,611 direct beneficiaries and nearly 700,000 indirect beneficiaries, surpassing initial targets. 84pc of participants transitioned into higher education or vocational training. The project delivered broad impact: 1,886 girls received tutorials and school materials; Positive Masculinity training reshaped boys’ attitudes, with 97.6pc actively supporting girls’ education; and the country’s first Multi-Family Healing Spaces assisted 972 girls and 720 parents, strengthening family communication and trauma recovery. Families also gained skills in entrepreneurship and green agriculture, boosting household incomes. "U-GIRLS 2 shows that removing barriers to education doesn’t just change a girl’s life; it transforms an entire community," said Wendwossen Kebede, CUSO International’s Country Representative. He highlighted students like Silvana Daniel, who raised her grades from 60 to nearly 80pc, as proof of lasting impact. Implemented by CUSO International with Global Affairs Canada and the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, organisers urged institutions to adopt the program’s models to create sustainable pathways for girls nationwide.

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