25 Years of Experience, Decades of Community Engagement, and a Shared Vision: Creating New Opportunities for Children Who Need Them Most
Angelus – Cahaya Anak is delighted to officially announce its strategic partnership with Eshet Children and Youth Development Organization (ECYDO), which has become the main strategic partner of the EduAI by Angelus initiative in Ethiopia.
This partnership marks an important milestone in the preparation of our humanitarian education initiative, designed to provide free and accessible learning opportunities to children who face significant barriers to attending traditional schools.
ECYDO – A Quarter-Century of Commitment to Children and Young People
ECYDO is an established Ethiopian non-governmental organization headquartered in Addis Ababa. Formally established in 2001, the organization grew from the efforts of young volunteers determined to address the social, educational, and health challenges facing their communities.
Its historical roots extend back to 1987, when an early arts-based initiative began using theatre and music to engage street-connected children and promote community awareness.
Over the following decades, ECYDO developed extensive experience in child protection, education, youth empowerment, gender equality, health awareness, and community development.
Its mission is to help create an environment where children and young people can grow safely, access education, and develop their potential regardless of their social or economic circumstances.
Achievements That Represent Real Human Stories
According to information published by ECYDO, the organization has implemented more than 40 projects and reached over 500,000 young people through its activities.
Its reported achievements include:
– Supporting more than 350 orphaned and vulnerable children through talent development and psychosocial assistance.
– Training approximately 5,000 peer educators who share knowledge and guidance with other young people.
– Providing counselling and support services to more than 2,000 young women and men.
– Developing the leadership capabilities of more than 200 young leaders.
– Supporting girls’ education, preventing school dropout, and promoting safer school environments.
– Creating opportunities for vocational development, employment, and economic independence among young people.
These achievements reflect years of sustained engagement, trust-building, and collaboration with local communities.
International Cooperation and Recognition
ECYDO has experience working with international development partners, including initiatives supported by the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia, Ethiopiaid, the British Council, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
Its projects have addressed girls’ education, youth protection, community development, violence prevention, and economic opportunities.
In July 2026, ECYDO received recognition from the Asella City Administration for its contributions to education and community development.
This recognition highlights the value of its long-standing engagement at the local level.
A Shared Vision with EduAI by Angelus
EduAI by Angelus is founded on a simple conviction: access to education should never depend on the distance to the nearest school, the safety of the journey, a family’s financial circumstances, or the availability of electricity and internet connectivity.
Our ambition is not merely to modernize existing schools.
We aim to develop an educational system that can bring learning directly to children, including those living in remote and underserved communities.
This is where we see exceptional value in our partnership with ECYDO.
Its long-standing knowledge of Ethiopia, experience working with local communities, and practical commitment to children and young people provide an important foundation for the responsible preparation of EduAI in Ethiopia.
At this stage, our collaboration focuses on project preparation, assessing local conditions, and establishing the foundations for future pilot implementation.
Our Appreciation to ECYDO
Angelus – Cahaya Anak extends its sincere appreciation to ECYDO and its Executive Director, Mr. Sisay Tarekegn, for their trust, openness, and willingness to collaborate on the EduAI by Angelus initiative.
We deeply value the decision of an organization with such a long history and substantial practical experience to support the preparation of our shared vision.
We believe that combining ECYDO’s local knowledge and community experience with the humanitarian and technological concept of EduAI by Angelus can help create new educational opportunities for children who currently remain beyond the reach of traditional schooling.
Education should not be a privilege determined by where a child is born. It should be an opportunity available to every child.
—
About Our Partner
Eshet Children and Youth Development Organization (ECYDO)
Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Established: 2001
Website: https://ecydo.org/
Main Strategic Partner of EduAI by Angelus in Ethiopia
