The “Access to Education in Rural Areas” project concluded today in the interim capital, Aden, with the graduation of 150 female teachers who successfully obtained their Educational Diploma. The project was implemented by Alawn Foundation for Development, funded by the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen (SDRPY), and supervised by the Ministry of Education.

In his virtual address during the closing ceremony, Minister of Education, Mr. Tariq Salem Al-Akbari, expressed his appreciation for the great efforts made by the Saudi Program and Alawn Foundation in supporting Yemen’s education sector, particularly amid the country’s challenging circumstances. He emphasized that the project targeted the governorates of Hadramout, Lahj, Shabwah, and Al-Mahrah, highlighting its role in enhancing educational opportunities for girls in rural areas and fostering positive transformation within the education system.

For his part, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Zauri, praised the role of the Saudi Program and Alawn Foundation in supporting the education process and empowering rural women. He noted that the project is part of a broader vision aimed at improving the quality of education in rural communities and mitigating the negative impacts of the war, which has led to a significant increase in school dropout rates among girls. The support provided by the Saudi Program, he added, has made a tangible difference in alleviating these challenges and improving the overall education landscape, particularly in remote areas.

Meanwhile, Engineer Ahmed Madkhali, Director of the Saudi Program Office in Aden, stated that the project represented a qualitative step forward in promoting girls’ education across the four governorates. He noted that the program has implemented 56 educational projects in 11 governorates as part of its broader efforts to support sustainable development in Yemen and improve living and educational conditions for women and girls nationwide.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Awad Al-Salahi, Deputy Governor of Lahj and Secretary-General of the Local Council; Dr. Abdallah Bin Othman, Executive Director of Alawn Foundation for Development; as well as representatives from the Saudi Program and the Ministry of Education. The event featured the honoring of participating entities and the distribution of certificates to the graduating teachers.

This project comes within Alawn Foundation’s ongoing efforts to build the capacity of teachers in rural areas and promote girls’ education, contributing to comprehensive and sustainable community development across Yemen.