Franciscan Aid has been involved in supporting a settlement for Internally Displaced Persons at Bishan Guracha near Hawassa in southern Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is a large country (with 140 million population. It’s the second largest in Africa). It is making progress in economic growth and is committed to democratic and participatory government. There are over 80 ethnic groups and languages, creating a rich cultural diversity. It is also religiously mixed with around 40% Ethiopian Orthodox. 30% Muslim and 20% Evangelical.

Sadly there has been violence in some areas of the country. it is an essential part of Ethiopia’s develoment to resolve ethnic conflicts and so this needs new communities for those displaced from their homes. In Bishan Guracha there are over 6500 people in 1100 households, with 3200 adults and 3300 children. They are from the Oromo people and were driven from their homes as a result of conflict with Somali people.
The aim of the project is to build a sustainable and well supported new community to ensure a good life, schooling for children, income generating small businesses for families, and active local leadership. So far the government has built a school, but they are desperately short of books and other teaching materials.

We are asked to support 150 families with emergency food, water and shelter.

As part of a school programme aiming to create sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for schools in the mmost deprived areas of Ethiopia, Franciscan Aid was approached for a grant to fund the following activities:

3 day Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) training and life skills for 400 girls aged 12 to 16; provision of sanitary pads, underwear and soap to 400 trained girls. Poor hygiene facilities in school combined with lack of access to sanitary pads had led to high absenteeism and grade repetition rate amongst girls and an overall lower academic performance compared to boys. Through the school programme, it was hoped to reach girls at a critical stage of thierr transition period to secondary education, so that through intervention they could complete their education.

MHM training would be provided by health professionals from government health institutions through school Child protection and girl’s club and will include training on reproductive health as well as life-skills training in communication and interpersonal skills.



Franciscan Aid was able to support the community in July 2014 by sending funds for 1 month of food, food supplements and sanitary pads. It was explained that we usually only provide for sustainable equipment etc. However, after discussion Trustees recognized the dire need for food and food supplements.

In February 2023 Franciscan Aid was able to fund sanitary pads, soap, 3 day training course for 400 girls, advocacy meetings for 200 community reps and fliers, brushes + billboards.

In November 2023 Franciscan Aid funded some school uniforms and educational materials.