News – Wednesday 21^st June 2006

Prime Minister donates $200,000 to help education

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi yesterday signed an agreement to donate the US $200,000 award he received from the Yara Foundation last year to the “Frae” Addis Women’s Fund, where it will be used to help expand educational opportunities for rural women. Prime Minister Meles, who was the first winner of the Yara Foundation Prize for his contribution to improving food security and human nutrition in environmental friendly ways, said he was pleased to be donating the money to the cause.

“Providing opportunities for education is crucial to the protection of women’s rights,” said Meles. “Women who completed their primary education are still facing problems progressing to secondary and higher level education.”

Minister of Youth and Sports, Aster Mamo, commended the Prime Minister’s decision to donate the money in support of financially impoverished female students, and said the fund would be used to support some 550 academically outstanding but economically challenged students over the next three years. Minister Aster also called on investors, governmental and non-governmental organisations to follow the Prime Minister’s footsteps in assisting impoverished students.

The Frae Addis Ethiopian Youth Fund was established earlier this year by leading Ethiopian women, who have volunteered time and resources to support women in all woredas to further their education.

The Yara award, was created in 2005 by the Oslo based agricultural group Yara International ASA, in response to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s challenge that the private sector should help create a ‘green revolution’ in Africa. The prize consists of a $200,000 bursary, a diploma and a work of art.