World Vision Ethiopia’s peacebuilding initiatives enable over 43,000 children to go to school, access health services

(Addis Ababa, 26 August 2025) – World Vision Ethiopia (WVE), in collaboration with local governments and community-based structures, will mark the successful completion of the Wollega-Kamashi Peacebuilding Project on 26 August 2025 at Nexus Hotel, Addis Ababa. The event will bring together stakeholders from both Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz regions, including government officials, community elders, faith leaders, youth peace builders, and media representatives. 

The €1.2 million (158 million ETB) project, funded by the European Union, was implemented in the border areas of Western Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz, aiming to strengthen community resilience, conflict prevention, and peace-building mechanisms between the Oromo and Gumuz communities.

Over the course of the project, more than 91,000 people (including 21,000 girls, 22,875 boys, 47,700 women) have been supported through capacity-building efforts for youth peace builders, faith leaders, elders, livelihood youth groups, and local government conflict prevention experts to bring about sustainable peace and resilience within communities living in the border areas of Western Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz. 

“World Vision supports communities, families, and children affected by conflict in Ethiopia with the view to create a safer environment where children can grow protected and educated for life in order to ensure a peaceful future for them to dream and live up to their God-given potential,” said Karmen Till, National Director of World Vision Ethiopia.  

Through this project, various peacebuilding and social cohesion restoration activities have been undertaken, including community dialogues de-escalating tensions, rehabilitating shared community connector institutions such as health centres, schools, and bridges damaged by the conflict, and reopening shared worship and religious places. Further, WVE trained and deployed 300 peacebuilders from Wollega and Kamashi as agents of change as well as supported 422 youth through income generating activities. 

“The Wollega-Kamashi Peacebuilding Project is truly unique. When we first arrived, the story we found was one of pain and loss — broken relationships, schools in ruins, health centres devastated, and bridges destroyed by conflict. But today, there is a different story. Today, we stand together to witness hope rising from division. Instead of destruction, we experience restoration. Instead of separation, we see unity. Instead of despair, we celebrate peace. This is the story of two communities who chose to walk together, to rebuild together, and to live together in harmony," said the National Director.

“The mistrust and suspicion that once reigned among the two communities has now washed away, and now we can see the spirit of forgiveness and kindness to each other as they worship together at shared churches, trade together at shared marketplaces. As we speak now, children from the two communities are learning together at rehabilitated schools damaged during the conflict. Mothers from the two communities go to rehabilitated health centres for themselves and their children. Amazingly, both the children and mothers have to cross a rehabilitated bridge symbolising the restored relationship for mutual peace and shared hope,” said Alemayehu Bonsa, Wollega-Kamashi Peacebuilding Project Manager. 

Since 2018, including the Gedeo-Guji IDPs crisis, World Vision Ethiopia, in collaboration with its donors, partners, faith-based organisations, and the community, has been working on peace building and community resilience, transforming the lives and livelihoods and ensuring sustainable peace to 3.3 million people, including 475,000 girls and 465,500 boys.  

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About World Vision:

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kebede Gizachew, Integrated Communications Manager

Email: Kebede_GizachewAyalew@wvi.org,

Phone: +251966270109