The Increased Access to Inclusive Education Project, implemented by LM International Ethiopia from February 2022 to December 2024, worked to expand equitable access to quality education for children facing barriers to learning (CFBL) in Adama, Asela, Bishoftu, Modjo, and Batu in Oromia Region. The project focused on reducing stigma and gender-related barriers, strengthening inclusive and special needs education systems, and ensuring that children with disabilities can participate meaningfully in school and community life.

Through partnerships with government institutions, civil society organizations, schools, families, and communities, the project combined teacher training, advocacy, awareness creation, child support services, accessible infrastructure, parent empowerment, and community networks. Five Inclusive Education Networks and 19 family networks were established, while IE/SNE clubs were created in 14 targeted schools to promote peer support, participation, and disability inclusion.

The project trained 317 teachers in Braille and Sign Language, supported 445 children facing barriers to learning, established two Special Needs Education resource centers, constructed three disability-friendly toilets and renovated another, and trained 360 candidate teachers through collaboration with Asela College of Teacher Education. It also supported parents through income-generating activities, reaching 79 parents with 1,275,500 birr in startup capital.

Overall, the project strengthened local capacity, improved awareness of disability rights, expanded support for inclusive learning, and contributed to more accessible and supportive school environments. Its participatory approach emphasized local ownership and sustainability, while lessons from the project highlighted the importance of parent-led networks, economic empowerment, accessible infrastructure, and continued advocacy to overcome persistent attitudinal barriers.

A CHANCE for All is a child protection and empowerment initiative working to prevent and counter child labour and exploitation in Addis Ababa. The project supports vulnerable children by helping them move into safe living environments, access healthcare and psychosocial support, obtain legal identity documentation, reunite with families or access alternative care, and participate in education and vocational training.

The project also focuses on inclusive education for children with disabilities, strengthening families and communities, and improving the capacity of teachers, social services and other local actors. At a broader level, it brings together civil society, government and community stakeholders to raise awareness, build networks and strengthen collective action against child labour, exploitation and social exclusion.

The four main areas of focus

1. Safe and protective environments
   Withdrawing children from child labour, supporting family reunification, foster care and independent living, and helping children obtain identity and legal documentation.
2. Health and wellbeing
   Providing food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, psychosocial support, life-skills training and specialised support for children with disabilities.
3. Education and skills development
   Supporting children to access formal, informal and alternative education, inclusive schooling and vocational training, with particular attention to children with disabilities.
4. Partnership and awareness
   Bringing together government, civil society and community actors through networking, dialogue, workshops and awareness initiatives to prevent and counter child labour and exploitation.

The project takes a holistic approach to child labour, addressing not only the immediate removal of children from exploitative situations, but also the underlying needs that enable them to live safely, recover, return to education, develop skills and build more secure futures.