Student Initiative Rahel

Street scene in Adigrat, 2014

The idea for the educational project was developed in 2010 during a research trip on the subject of AIDS by the then head of the IWM, Albert-Peter Rethmann. It was in the context of a research project of the German Bishops' Conference (German: Deutsche Bischofskonferenz) in Adigrat in Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia.[3] In this region, many young people have no access to higher education due to lack of family support, many are AIDS orphans. Young women are particularly affected by this situation through discrimination. An initiative of the Adigrat Diocesan Catholic Secretariat (ADCS) of the Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat has already supported ten young people with micro-scholarships for obtaining a university entrance qualification and at least one bachelor's degree in their own country. One of the sponsored students was the AIDS orphan Rahel Hailay.[3] The result of the journey resulting from the trip was an international initiative of students for students in the age of globalization as an overall project.[3][4]

In November 2017, the project was announced to be phasing out. In a farewell letter to the donors, the Rahel team wrote that it expected its work to be gradually taken over by the Adigrat Diocesan Catholic Secretariat (ADCS) and former graduates in Ethiopia.[5] The Rahel team conveyed the same message on Facebook in January 2018, clarifying that it would not accept any further donations.[6]

The project supports disadvantaged, primarily female, young people in the Tigray Region who lack equal access to education for reasons of poverty or gender.[7] The financial support consists of micro-scholarships. The scholarship holders are accompanied during their studies or education. The name of the project comes from Rahel Hailay, who completed the study of biology and zoology at the universities in Axum and Mek'ele from 2009 to 2014.[8][9][10][11] By 2015 the training of 47 young Ethiopians had been made possible. Nowadays the promotion of 40 young people at the same time is possible. In addition to financial support, an important further aspect is the promotion of networking among scholarship holders and the promotion of ethical behaviour in Christian sense. Through women who are given a higher level of education through this project, others should be given the idea of achieving a higher level of education.[12]

This development cooperation is intended to give freedom to the beneficiaries without material needs and making their lives self-responsible. An important factor for a lasting effect is, in particular, the motivation of those who want this development. Central is therefore the promotion of the autonomy and self-initiative of the scholarship holders in the sense of the Catholic social doctrine. The initiative of the students from Germany can serve as a model for the students in Ethiopia. It is possible that the project will in the future develop into an Ethiopian alumni project where graduates who are in work assist other young people in their education.[13]

As a secondary effect, training programs such as the Rahel project are also a medium to long-term contribution to the fight against become a refugee due to lack of education and resulting poverty.[14]

Ethiopian coffee ceremony in Tigray Region, 2012

The educational project is financed through public donations and campaigns, such as at the Frankfurter Stadtkirchenfest at Frankfurt Cathedral (German: Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus),[15] collects in Catholic church parishes and the Centre for Christian Meditation and Spirituality of the Diocese of Limburg, as well as the salvation of festivities such as the summer festival of the Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology[16] with an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, auctions and other revenues. In addition, these actions also serve to create new contacts, information and exchange on the project.[2] These actions are also supported by the Network of Frankfurt One World Groups in Frankfurt.[17]

The Rachel educational project is funded by the Cusanuswerk, a gifted support program under the supervision of the Catholic German Bishops' Conference[18] and by the Center for Christian Meditation and Spirituality of the Diocese of Limburg.[19]

The project is supported by the Pontifical Mission Societies (German: missio) in all financial matters, such as account management, the administrative costs or the transfer of money to Ethiopia.

In addition to the internet, public relations activities also include media such as Radio Horeb.[20]

Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat

In Ethiopia the project is referred to as an OVC project (orphans and vulnerable children). It is supervised locally by the Adigrat Diocesan Catholic Secretariat (ADCS) of the Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat under the patronage of the diocesan bishop Tesfay Medhin.[21] The OVC project is active in the areas of Adigrat and other areas particularly affected by poverty.

The project manager of the ADCS Woldemariam Besirat selects the scholarship holders[15] and organizes religious education workshops on scholarship meetings with their own and external lecturers on topics such as AIDS, the consequences of emigration as refugees or on other medical or ethical issues. In addition to financial support, the promotion of self-reliance, self-confidence and self-esteem, the promotion of self-responsibility, the awareness of responsibility and the ability to work together are important aspects of the work of the OVC project.[3][12]

• Judith Breunig, Madeleine Helbig, Claudia Berg, Stefanie Matulla, Magdalena Strauch, Marita Wagner, Benedikt Winkler (June 2015), Rahel - Ein Bildungsprojekt für Adigrat - Festschrift der Studierendeninitiative - Ein Blick durch die Zeit: 2010-2015 (in German), Frankfurt: Institut für Weltkirche und MissionCS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

• Rahel - ein Bildungsprojekt für Adigrat (= Rahel - an education project for Adigrat) on Facebook