To tackle these complex challenges that have been entrenched over time, we need to invest in visionary and holistic leaders. Moreover, we need to understand the communities we are serving, engage in thoughtful conversations with various stakeholders, and create plans of action to improve education outcomes. Several barriers come between a student and their education journey. Unless we look at these through the lenses of the student and their communities, our solutions will be superficial at best.

At Teach For Ethiopia, leadership and local ownership can ultimately bring about systemic and sustainable changes. Accordingly, we need to find a way to attract Ethiopia's best and brightest young leaders to take these challenges head-on and throughout their careers. Teach For Ethiopia will recruit Ethiopia's most promising recent college graduates and will facilitate a paid two-year teaching fellowship for them. The selected fellows will undergo rigorous training in leadership and teaching methodologies before they are placed in high-need schools, teaching and inspiring the educational journeys of students in disadvantaged communities across Ethiopia.

Our program will support gender equity at all levels to address historical imbalances and ensure women and girls are no longer left behind. Women will be well-represented in our fellowship and will be mentored to become role models. Moreover, our fellows will engage authentically with communities to include their voices and feedback.

The knowledge and wisdom they get from community members will guide and shape them into trusted leaders. Equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experiences in driving change and raising attainments in their classrooms, Teach For Ethiopia's alums will form a robust network that will work lifelong for systemic change to ensure educational equity for ALL Ethiopian children.