Overview & Mission

Imagine1day is a non-profit organization that works exclusively in Ethiopia. Its mission is to provide access to quality education for all children, while also strengthening local capacity and ensuring long-term sustainability. The organization was founded in 2007 by Chip and Summer Wilson and is registered in Canada, but its operations are centered in Ethiopia.

Programmatic Focus / Pillars

Imagine1day’s work is structured around several interconnected pillars:

Pillar Key Activities
Education Removing barriers to schooling, improving quality, equity, and efficiency of education systems.
Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention, mitigation, and response services, including awareness campaigns and psychosocial support.
WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) Building water and sanitation facilities and promoting hygiene, especially in schools.
Leadership & Capacity Building Training leaders, government officials, and communities to sustain change.
Emergency & Conflict Response Providing education and support in emergencies, including for displaced populations.
Scale, Achievements & Reach

Supports more than 500,000 children annually.

Enrolled nearly 300,000 out-of-school primary-age children into formal education.

Constructed or renovated over 200 schools and built nearly 150 water points.

Operates across 10 regions of Ethiopia and works with more than 1,600 schools.

Implements projects in conflict-affected areas, including Tigray, and supports displaced communities.

Signature initiative: the LEAP (Leaders, Educators, and Parents) project, which builds model schools, expands WASH facilities, and strengthens community engagement.

Organizational Structure & Partnerships

Led in Ethiopia by a Country Director.

Works in partnership with government education bureaus, UNICEF, and international donor foundations.

Previously partnered with WE Charity in Canada before restructuring its governance.

Publishes results and emphasizes transparency in its operations.

Strengths & Challenges

Strengths:

Holistic approach that integrates education with WASH, protection, and leadership.

Strong emphasis on sustainability and local ownership.

Ability to operate in remote and conflict-affected areas.

Challenges:

Conflict and instability can disrupt operations.

Persistent systemic issues in Ethiopia’s education sector, such as teacher shortages and infrastructure gaps.

Reliance on donor funding, making long-term sustainability dependent on strong community and government engagement.