As we head into 2023, svexa is honoured to continue our support for Girls Gotta Run, a team that invests in girls who use running and education to empower themselves and their communities in Ethiopia. GGR recently shared their highlights below from the past year, we’re happy to congratulate them on their great progress!
- Kept Girls Running through Covid with Coach Fatiya in Bekoji, leading to TV coverage in Ethiopia
- Hired new Program Manager Kidist Daniel in Soddo, who launched Summer Tutoring to make up for lost learning
- Kathleen Ralls’ academic research was published, offering strong validation of our programs’ empowerment of girls through running & Life Skills classes
- All GGRF 8th graders passed the Ethiopian exams to continue to 9th grade
- Rebuilt US leadership under a new Board of Directors Chair and with a new Executive Director joining mid-year
- Began the new school year with a full cohort of Athletic Scholars in both locations — the first normal start to the school year since 2019
- Held a successful IDG “Run Where You Are” Fundraiser, with supporters pitching in from around the world to help us smash our fundraising goal
- Distributed school uniforms, sanitary pads, notebooks, backpacks and pencils to over 100 Athletic Scholars
- Won “Best Documentary” at the For Every Run film festival with Bekoji 100, and reconnected with Bekoji 100 participant and Olympic medalist Molly Seidel
- Fed our Athletic Scholars a hot lunch every school day — truly life saving as famine is again a reality in Ethiopia
- Stayed connected with and supported GGRF Alumni, including more than 40 young women now in University
- Provided running practice, kits, shoes, socks, and sports bras to our Athletic Scholars
- Invested in the mothers of our Athletic Scholars with the Mothers Savings Group
- In short… successfully invested in Ethiopian girls who are empowering themselves & their communities through running & education!
