ARCO Project
Art, Growth, and Opportunities at Auxilium Catholic School
The context
Today, Ethiopia is one of the most populous countries in Africa, with over 120 million inhabitants, and also one of the continent’s fastest-growing economies. Bole-Bulbula is a neighborhood in Addis Ababa marked by economic and social challenges—a densely populated area with a diverse demographic, predominantly composed of low-income families. As a result, access to quality education is limited, and many public schools struggle to meet the needs of a growing population. Educational disparities, especially for girls and young women, are exacerbated by economic and social barriers such as early marriage and child labor.
In this context, Auxilium Catholic School has stood out as a beacon of hope since 2013, providing inclusive education focused on holistic development. Its main goal is to continue promoting educational and cultural growth in various forms, expanding extracurricular opportunities within the school for everyone.
The project
The project “ARCO: Art, Growth, and Opportunities” was created precisely to respond to these needs, with the goal of fostering an integrated approach to combating educational poverty and promoting social inclusion. The expansion of the preschool and the creation of art workshops aim to offer children and youth a stimulating environment that encourages not only academic learning but also creative and personal development.
The project combines two key components: the infrastructural expansion of the school and the introduction of artistic activities to stimulate creativity, personal growth, and the empowerment of the student population. Over the course of two years, around 200 students will be involved.
The objectives
Activities
Among the planned activities of the project are the construction of new classrooms within the school, the upgrading of furniture and educational equipment, the setup and planning of extracurricular activities and art workshops; and finally, the implementation of these through music, painting, and theater classes, culminating in end-of-year performances and exhibitions open to the community. These activities will provide numerous opportunities for cultural, social, and personal growth.
Our partner
We wish to express our gratitude for the valuable collaboration with the Salesian Sisters of Ethiopia, who play a fundamental role in the operational and educational management of the project. ASPEm, for its part, is responsible for overall coordination, monitoring activities, and the administrative management of the initiative.
Funding
The project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), which funds the planned infrastructure and activities.
