Homosha Alumni As Pharo Hallmark Ambassadors

Pharo Schools’ overarching mission is all-encompassing: it seeks to provide a locally relevant and globally competitive, high-quality learning experience, which empowers students to become lifelong learners and productive global citizens. Its values are curiosity, respect, excellence, responsibility and creativity. Pharo School Homosha reflects both this mission and the values associated with it, in line with the Pharo Hallmark of education. Yet the best test of a school’s achievement is the quality of its graduates. In this article we summarize the key statements from our interview with Homosha graduates Betelhem Yehuala and Belaynesh Gonete, both of whom are now enrolled in university on Pharo Foundation scholarships, despite an inauspicious start in life. Belaynesh has neither mother nor father, while Betlhem is a partial orphan. Other partial orphans such as Tsehaynesh Lebena Hegano (now the recipient of a Pharo Foundation Scholarship at Wolayita Sodo University), Tigest Adamu Nega (Assosa University), Rahmet Asefa Bekele (Wollo University), Iyerusalem Teklu Fekadu (Bule Hora University) or Erukya Endris Eshetu (now engaged in technical and vocational education training), were faced with similarly challenging circumstances. Another such circumstance is the massive displacement faced by our Metekel graduates, such as Aster Ayana (now at Bahir Dar University), whose whole family was affected by forced population movements driven by conflict and inter-community violence. They all embody how Pharo Schools can change the opportunity path of those who do not benefit from the best start in life, but have the steely determination to change their trajectory, under the guidance of the Pharo Hallmark and values.

Growing up with two brothers and her father, who worked in a government office, Betelhem faced various challenges early on in life. Her mother passed away when she was a small girl. However, the passing of her mother only made her father's efforts to care for the family even more remarkable.

From struggling with time management and the English language to excelling in her studies and being accepted into a university, the journey of this young woman is a testament to the transformative power of education and the commitment of the 21 teachers of the school. Out of the 130 students who passed the university entrance exam in Benishangul Gumuz Region in 2022, only 29 were girls, and Bethlehem was among them. After completing her studies at Pharo School Homosha girls’ boarding school, Bethlehem is now enrolled in her first year of studies at Adama Science and Technology University on a Pharo Foundation Scholarship.

Her overall experience at Homosha boarding school was a positive one, where she gained valuable experience on effective study habits, building positive interpersonal relationships, time management skills, learning from others, and open communication and idea sharing. The school's unique approach of integrating theoretical classroom learning with practical, hands-on experience allowed her to better understand and apply the concepts she learned in a real-world setting. Through her participation in extracurricular activities such as sports and IT clubs, she was able to enhance her technological and robotics knowledge and skills, which has proven helpful in her academic pursuits. Finally, she noted that the school's support systems were also in place for students who were struggling academically or emotionally, including valuable health advice from doctors on a weekly basis.

Since leaving, she has been able to share her experience of attending the boarding school and how it has positively impacted her life, including receiving a scholarship for university education. Sharing her experience with other girls in her community has sparked admiration and excitement towards the school, with many expressing their own interest in joining. Hence Betelhem is already fulfilling her role as a Pharo Hallmark ambassador and a productive citizen who contributes to her local environment, thereby articulating the mission of Pharo Schools.

Belaynesh's story is also one of resilience and determination. Despite losing her father at a young age and her mother whilst at the school in Grade 12, she has managed to overcome numerous obstacles to pursue her education.?Currently, she is enrolled in a freshman course at Bahir Dar University and she is the recipient of a Pharo Foundation Scholarship, but her journey to get there was not an easy one. Looking back, Belaynesh feels a great sadness about this time in her life. Her elder sisters took on the responsibility of parenting, which came with many difficulties. Fortunately, Belaynesh was given the opportunity to continue her education at Pharo School Homosha girls’ boarding school, which she may not have been able to do otherwise.

When asked about the challenges she faced before joining the boarding school, Belaynesh explained that she encountered numerous obstacles, such as a shortage of reference materials, a long journey to get to school, household responsibilities, and a shortage of study materials.

In comparison to her previous school, Belaynesh noted that the boarding school stood out due to its superior facilities and the presence of highly skilled and intelligent teachers. The schools in her village lack the necessary facilities to provide a conducive learning environment for students, with a minimum of sixty students crammed into one classroom. In contrast, Pharo boarding school has a maximum of thirty students per class, allowing for a better learning experience.

The Pharo School Homosha provided Belaynesh, Betelhem and 24 other girls in their class of 2022 with the necessary resources and support to succeed academically. Overall, both girls said that their time at Pharo Homosha Boarding School was invaluable in preparing them for university studies. Conversely, they are now worthy ambassadors of the Pharo Hallmark and of the way in which opportunity paths can be changed. After supporting their transition to university through scholarships, we look forward to following their next steps and ensuring that they remain on the opportunity path of success well into adulthood. Such is the ultimate objective of a Pharo education.

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