Tekle Alemayehu

An Ethiopian educator who established mobile schools for rural children, expanding access to education in remote regions.

Tekle Alemayehu (b. 1972) is an Ethiopian educator and founder of Mobile Schools Initiative, a nonprofit providing temporary classrooms and teachers to rural areas without formal education infrastructure. His program, launched in 1999, uses converted trucks and tents to reach nomadic communities and conflict-affected zones. Over 200,000 children have enrolled since its inception, with a focus on girls’ education and literacy. Alemayehu’s work was featured in BBC News and earned him the UNESCO Prize for Education in 2005. A former teacher in Addis Ababa, he advocates for culturally responsive curricula and partnerships with local leaders. His initiative has inspired similar programs in Somalia and South Sudan. Alemayehu’s memoir, "Teaching on the Move: Lessons from Ethiopia’s Roadside Classrooms," details his journey and challenges, including funding shortages and political instability. His legacy underscores education as a tool for empowerment and peacebuilding in fragile regions.