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Education Cannot Wait-funded holistic education response, delivered by World Vision and partners, is helping displaced children regain hope, nutrition and access to learning in Ethiopia
NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At 11 years old, Aschila watched her life unravel as conflict swept through her village in northwestern Ethiopia.
Forced to flee with her family, she left behind her home, friends and school. Settling in a new village, survival became the family's focus. Education seemed like a distant dream, replaced by long days tending cattle to help earn a scant living.
Hope returned when World Vision Ethiopia introduced a school feeding programme in the area – part of a holistic education response delivered by international, national and local partners through the Education Cannot Wait-funded (ECW) Multi-Year Resilience Programme in the country.
By providing school meals, educational materials and cash support – as well as rehabilitating classrooms and water points, constructing latrines, establishing safe learning spaces, offering catch-up and accelerated learning classes, and distributing menstrual hygiene management kits – the programme has made it possible for displaced families like Aschila's to send their children back to school, and for students to learn in safety and with dignity.
Whole-of-Child support
For Aschila, the ECW-supported programme, which includes a school feeding initiative, was a bridge back to education. The homegrown initiative, using locally sourced ingredients, supplies bread, tea and rice daily, while World Vision's cash support helps strengthen family livelihoods so children can focus on learning rather than survival.
"The school feeding programme was a game-changer for me. It provided me with a nutritious meal every day, which gave me the energy and focus I needed to succeed in my studies," she says.
Now enrolled in an accelerated learning programme, Aschila is thriving. Her mornings are spent reading, writing and catching up on lessons she had once feared were lost forever. Her story reflects a broader transformation across Ethiopia, where thousands of children previously denied education are now returning to school thanks to partners like World Vision.
Since the Multi-Year Resilience Programme began, more than 34,000 children – including over 16,400 girls – have benefited from support. Through the whole-of-child education response in the country, ECW partners are tackling barriers to learning, including child hunger and educational exclusion, and providing children like Aschila with a chance to thrive academically and socially. The cost per child for this multi-year programme is around US$65.
The power of such a holistic education response is clear. Quality education that also addresses a child's mental, emotional and physical needs has the potential to protect, reduce poverty, lessen the chance of conflict, eliminate inequality, improve health, boost economic growth, enhance one's life and restore peace and stability.
Crisis in Ethiopia
Across Ethiopia, the education system is under immense strain. Conflict, climate shocks, forced displacement and economic hardships are preventing millions of children from learning.
According to UNHCR, 6 million people were internally displaced, stateless or returning from forced displacement within the country at the end of 2024. At the same time, Ethiopia hosts over 1 million refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea, while also receiving thousands of forcibly displaced people from Sudan. This influx further stretches already limited resources, leaving urgent gaps in education access.
ECW in Ethiopia
Since 2020, ECW-funded programmes in Ethiopia have focused on addressing the critical educational needs of internally displaced and refugee children who are out of school, and improving access to education for girls and children with disabilities.
To date, ECW investments in Ethiopia have totaled US$88 million. In late 2024, ECW announced an additional US$24 million catalyst grant to scale up the multi-year programme's impact in increasing access and retention of out-of-school girls and boys into non-formal education, improving the quality of foundational learning, supporting children to transition from non-formal accelerated programmes to formal education and improving coordination mechanisms across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
Through partnerships with organizations like World Vision, ECW investments are supporting back-to-school campaigns, early childhood education, accelerated learning programmes, catch-up classes, school feeding initiatives, teacher training and other interventions to ensure displaced and crisis-affected children can continue learning despite the multiple challenges around them.
Yet, significant funding gaps remain. By the end of 2024, less than half of the US$101 million required for the education response was funded, according to the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan. Without increased investment in teacher training, infrastructure repair and inclusive learning alternatives, an entire generation risks being left behind.
By the end of 2024, an estimated 9 million children were out of school. More than 9,000 schools were damaged by conflict and climate shocks – around one-fifth of all schools in the country. The consequences are severe. Children who miss years of schooling face elevated risks of child marriage, child labour, forced recruitment into armed groups and exploitation.
A Future Restored
Today, Aschila wakes each morning with renewed purpose – ready to learn, play, share a meal with her classmates and reclaim the childhood that conflict had taken from her.
Aschila's father reflects, "It was difficult to feed my child and purchase educational materials because we lost everything as a displaced family, but this initiative helped very much, not just me, but other community members as well, to send our children to school."
Through programmes like these, ECW and its partners are helping to ensure that children across Ethiopia not only regain their education but also their confidence and hope for a brighter future. For Aschila and thousands like her, every school day is a step toward rebuilding lives disrupted by crisis – and a reminder that learning, nourishment and opportunity can flourish even in the hardest circumstances.
CONTACT: Greg Benchwick, gbenchwick@unicef.org
Education Cannot Wait-funded holistic education response, delivered by World Vision and partners, is helping displaced children regain hope, nutrition and access to learning in Ethiopia
NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At 11 years old, Aschila watched her life unravel as conflict swept through her village in northwestern Ethiopia.
Forced to flee with her family, she left behind her home, friends and school. Settling in a new village, survival became the family's focus. Education seemed like a distant dream, replaced by long days tending cattle to help earn a scant living.
Hope returned when World Vision Ethiopia introduced a school feeding programme in the area – part of a holistic education response delivered by international, national and local partners through the Education Cannot Wait-funded (ECW) Multi-Year Resilience Programme in the country.
By providing school meals, educational materials and cash support – as well as rehabilitating classrooms and water points, constructing latrines, establishing safe learning spaces, offering catch-up and accelerated learning classes, and distributing menstrual hygiene management kits – the programme has made it possible for displaced families like Aschila's to send their children back to school, and for students to learn in safety and with dignity.
Whole-of-Child support
For Aschila, the ECW-supported programme, which includes a school feeding initiative, was a bridge back to education. The homegrown initiative, using locally sourced ingredients, supplies bread, tea and rice daily, while World Vision's cash support helps strengthen family livelihoods so children can focus on learning rather than survival.
"The school feeding programme was a game-changer for me. It provided me with a nutritious meal every day, which gave me the energy and focus I needed to succeed in my studies," she says.
Now enrolled in an accelerated learning programme, Aschila is thriving. Her mornings are spent reading, writing and catching up on lessons she had once feared were lost forever. Her story reflects a broader transformation across Ethiopia, where thousands of children previously denied education are now returning to school thanks to partners like World Vision.
Since the Multi-Year Resilience Programme began, more than 34,000 children – including over 16,400 girls – have benefited from support. Through the whole-of-child education response in the country, ECW partners are tackling barriers to learning, including child hunger and educational exclusion, and providing children like Aschila with a chance to thrive academically and socially. The cost per child for this multi-year programme is around US$65.
The power of such a holistic education response is clear. Quality education that also addresses a child's mental, emotional and physical needs has the potential to protect, reduce poverty, lessen the chance of conflict, eliminate inequality, improve health, boost economic growth, enhance one's life and restore peace and stability.
Crisis in Ethiopia
Across Ethiopia, the education system is under immense strain. Conflict, climate shocks, forced displacement and economic hardships are preventing millions of children from learning.
According to UNHCR, 6 million people were internally displaced, stateless or returning from forced displacement within the country at the end of 2024. At the same time, Ethiopia hosts over 1 million refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea, while also receiving thousands of forcibly displaced people from Sudan. This influx further stretches already limited resources, leaving urgent gaps in education access.
ECW in Ethiopia
Since 2020, ECW-funded programmes in Ethiopia have focused on addressing the critical educational needs of internally displaced and refugee children who are out of school, and improving access to education for girls and children with disabilities.
To date, ECW investments in Ethiopia have totaled US$88 million. In late 2024, ECW announced an additional US$24 million catalyst grant to scale up the multi-year programme's impact in increasing access and retention of out-of-school girls and boys into non-formal education, improving the quality of foundational learning, supporting children to transition from non-formal accelerated programmes to formal education and improving coordination mechanisms across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
Through partnerships with organizations like World Vision, ECW investments are supporting back-to-school campaigns, early childhood education, accelerated learning programmes, catch-up classes, school feeding initiatives, teacher training and other interventions to ensure displaced and crisis-affected children can continue learning despite the multiple challenges around them.
Yet, significant funding gaps remain. By the end of 2024, less than half of the US$101 million required for the education response was funded, according to the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan. Without increased investment in teacher training, infrastructure repair and inclusive learning alternatives, an entire generation risks being left behind.
By the end of 2024, an estimated 9 million children were out of school. More than 9,000 schools were damaged by conflict and climate shocks – around one-fifth of all schools in the country. The consequences are severe. Children who miss years of schooling face elevated risks of child marriage, child labour, forced recruitment into armed groups and exploitation.
A Future Restored
Today, Aschila wakes each morning with renewed purpose – ready to learn, play, share a meal with her classmates and reclaim the childhood that conflict had taken from her.
Aschila's father reflects, "It was difficult to feed my child and purchase educational materials because we lost everything as a displaced family, but this initiative helped very much, not just me, but other community members as well, to send our children to school."
Through programmes like these, ECW and its partners are helping to ensure that children across Ethiopia not only regain their education but also their confidence and hope for a brighter future. For Aschila and thousands like her, every school day is a step toward rebuilding lives disrupted by crisis – and a reminder that learning, nourishment and opportunity can flourish even in the hardest circumstances.
CONTACT: Greg Benchwick, gbenchwick@unicef.org
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Fuel for Learning: Aschila's Story
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- DayOne commits cumulative investment of RM28+ billion to Malaysia and aims to scale local operations to largest global footprint, accounting for over 50% of firm's workforce expansion by end-2026
- DayOne's expansion in Malaysia to create 5,000+ local jobs across the supply chain, as well as 200+ high-value roles through the expansion of its Global Shared Services Center in Kuala Lumpur; Regional Operations and Training Hub in Johor to train 1,000+ skilled data center engineers
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DayOne Data Centers Limited ("DayOne"), a Singapore-headquartered global hyperscale data center platform, today announced a commitment of RM28+ billion cumulative investment in Malaysia by the end of 2026, cementing its leadership position in the country's data center market and reinforcing its long-term commitment to support Malaysia's role as a leading regional digital hub.
DayOne also announced plans to scale Malaysia into its largest global operational footprint, with the country accounting for over 50% of the firm's total headcount growth in 2026, as it aims to double its workforce and expand toward 1,200 direct jobs in Malaysia. The expanded presence is expected to generate over 5,000 jobs across the supply chain ecosystem. In particular, the Phase II expansion of its Global Shared Services Center (GSSC) in Kuala Lumpur, is also set to create more than 200 high-value roles across finance, procurement, investment, and corporate functions.
The company also unveiled the launch of two talent programs, aimed at cultivating young talent through its internship and graduate pathways. These programs are designed to provide early exposure, hands-on experience, and accelerated career development for high-potential individuals entering the digital infrastructure sector. As part of its efforts to empowering Malaysia's digital ecosystem, DayOne will also train over 1,000 data center engineers to support AI-ready infrastructure at its Regional Operations and Training Hub in Johor.
The commitment and talent initiatives were announced at the inaugural DayOne Tech & AI Career Expo held today in Kuala Lumpur and witnessed by representatives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), and TalentCorp Malaysia. The event brought together over 1,000 participants, 30 exhibiting companies, and 13 Malaysian universities to connect high-potential talent with more than 500 roles across the technology and AI ecosystem.
"Malaysia is not just a market for DayOne; it is a long-term commitment and a cornerstone of our regional strategy," said Jamie Khoo, CEO of DayOne. "The RM28 billion cumulative investment and the hiring and talent development we are announcing today are backed by real infrastructure: a regional operations hub in Johor, an expanded shared services center in Kuala Lumpur, and now two talent programs that will connect Malaysia's best and brightest to the opportunities being created across the SIJORI corridor. Our role extends beyond infrastructure, as we see DayOne playing an active role in contributing to the digital backbone that enables Malaysia's long-term economic growth."
A video message from YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, underscored the importance of continued collaboration between government and industry in developing both digital infrastructure and local talent.
"Government, industry, and academia must work together. We do not just create jobs, we create opportunities. And more importantly, we build talent that can compete globally. That is why initiatives like the DayOne Tech and AI Career Expo really matter. This is where ambition meets opportunities. Preparing our youth not just to find jobs, but to become creators, innovators, and leaders of the future. May this platform be the beginning of something bigger for you and for Malaysia," said YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Expo was designed as a platform not only for employment, but for career enablement and ecosystem engagement. Throughout the day, attendees participated in leadership keynotes, government and industry panels, and practical sessions covering workforce development, career pathways, and real-world applications of AI and technology. Participation from 13 universities, including leading institutions such as Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, further strengthened connections between education and industry.
The Career Expo reflects DayOne's commitment to not only infrastructure investment but also talent development, connecting high-potential candidates to real opportunities across the ecosystem. MIDA, MDEC, PERKESO, and TalentCorp participated in the event as co-partners, with YB Howard Lee, Member of the National TVET Council and Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timor, delivering remarks. YB Lee Ting Han, Johor State Executive Council (EXCO) Member and Chairman of the Johor State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee, and YB Ng Sze Han, Selangor State Executive Councilor for Investment, Trade, and Mobility, also gave video remarks at the event. The Expo is a reflection of a shared vision between DayOne and Malaysia, as the company works in partnership with government agencies to support Malaysia's position as a leading regional digital hub.
Following the inaugural Tech & AI Career Expo in Malaysia, DayOne will take its talent engagement initiatives across the region, with the next event in Thailand later in April, focused on connecting infrastructure investment with workforce readiness and create sustainable pathways into high-growth careers in digital infrastructure and AI industries.
About DayOne Data Centers
DayOne is a Singapore-headquartered global digital infrastructure platform that develops and operates next-gen data centers for industry leaders who demand reliable, cost-effective and rapidly scalable solutions. Its facilities empower hyperscalers and large enterprises to achieve fast deployment and enhance connectivity, driving transformative engagement and innovation as we shape the future of industries. DayOne's data center developments span key markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, and Finland.
- DayOne commits cumulative investment of RM28+ billion to Malaysia and aims to scale local operations to largest global footprint, accounting for over 50% of firm's workforce expansion by end-2026
- DayOne's expansion in Malaysia to create 5,000+ local jobs across the supply chain, as well as 200+ high-value roles through the expansion of its Global Shared Services Center in Kuala Lumpur; Regional Operations and Training Hub in Johor to train 1,000+ skilled data center engineers
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DayOne Data Centers Limited ("DayOne"), a Singapore-headquartered global hyperscale data center platform, today announced a commitment of RM28+ billion cumulative investment in Malaysia by the end of 2026, cementing its leadership position in the country's data center market and reinforcing its long-term commitment to support Malaysia's role as a leading regional digital hub.
DayOne also announced plans to scale Malaysia into its largest global operational footprint, with the country accounting for over 50% of the firm's total headcount growth in 2026, as it aims to double its workforce and expand toward 1,200 direct jobs in Malaysia. The expanded presence is expected to generate over 5,000 jobs across the supply chain ecosystem. In particular, the Phase II expansion of its Global Shared Services Center (GSSC) in Kuala Lumpur, is also set to create more than 200 high-value roles across finance, procurement, investment, and corporate functions.
The company also unveiled the launch of two talent programs, aimed at cultivating young talent through its internship and graduate pathways. These programs are designed to provide early exposure, hands-on experience, and accelerated career development for high-potential individuals entering the digital infrastructure sector. As part of its efforts to empowering Malaysia's digital ecosystem, DayOne will also train over 1,000 data center engineers to support AI-ready infrastructure at its Regional Operations and Training Hub in Johor.
The commitment and talent initiatives were announced at the inaugural DayOne Tech & AI Career Expo held today in Kuala Lumpur and witnessed by representatives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), and TalentCorp Malaysia. The event brought together over 1,000 participants, 30 exhibiting companies, and 13 Malaysian universities to connect high-potential talent with more than 500 roles across the technology and AI ecosystem.
"Malaysia is not just a market for DayOne; it is a long-term commitment and a cornerstone of our regional strategy," said Jamie Khoo, CEO of DayOne. "The RM28 billion cumulative investment and the hiring and talent development we are announcing today are backed by real infrastructure: a regional operations hub in Johor, an expanded shared services center in Kuala Lumpur, and now two talent programs that will connect Malaysia's best and brightest to the opportunities being created across the SIJORI corridor. Our role extends beyond infrastructure, as we see DayOne playing an active role in contributing to the digital backbone that enables Malaysia's long-term economic growth."
A video message from YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, underscored the importance of continued collaboration between government and industry in developing both digital infrastructure and local talent.
"Government, industry, and academia must work together. We do not just create jobs, we create opportunities. And more importantly, we build talent that can compete globally. That is why initiatives like the DayOne Tech and AI Career Expo really matter. This is where ambition meets opportunities. Preparing our youth not just to find jobs, but to become creators, innovators, and leaders of the future. May this platform be the beginning of something bigger for you and for Malaysia," said YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Expo was designed as a platform not only for employment, but for career enablement and ecosystem engagement. Throughout the day, attendees participated in leadership keynotes, government and industry panels, and practical sessions covering workforce development, career pathways, and real-world applications of AI and technology. Participation from 13 universities, including leading institutions such as Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, further strengthened connections between education and industry.
The Career Expo reflects DayOne's commitment to not only infrastructure investment but also talent development, connecting high-potential candidates to real opportunities across the ecosystem. MIDA, MDEC, PERKESO, and TalentCorp participated in the event as co-partners, with YB Howard Lee, Member of the National TVET Council and Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timor, delivering remarks. YB Lee Ting Han, Johor State Executive Council (EXCO) Member and Chairman of the Johor State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee, and YB Ng Sze Han, Selangor State Executive Councilor for Investment, Trade, and Mobility, also gave video remarks at the event. The Expo is a reflection of a shared vision between DayOne and Malaysia, as the company works in partnership with government agencies to support Malaysia's position as a leading regional digital hub.
Following the inaugural Tech & AI Career Expo in Malaysia, DayOne will take its talent engagement initiatives across the region, with the next event in Thailand later in April, focused on connecting infrastructure investment with workforce readiness and create sustainable pathways into high-growth careers in digital infrastructure and AI industries.
About DayOne Data Centers
DayOne is a Singapore-headquartered global digital infrastructure platform that develops and operates next-gen data centers for industry leaders who demand reliable, cost-effective and rapidly scalable solutions. Its facilities empower hyperscalers and large enterprises to achieve fast deployment and enhance connectivity, driving transformative engagement and innovation as we shape the future of industries. DayOne's data center developments span key markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, and Finland.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
DayOne Announces RM28+ Billion Commitment and Talent Initiatives in Malaysia at Inaugural Tech & AI Career Expo
DayOne Announces RM28+ Billion Commitment and Talent Initiatives in Malaysia at Inaugural Tech & AI Career Expo
DayOne Announces RM28+ Billion Commitment and Talent Initiatives in Malaysia at Inaugural Tech & AI Career Expo
DayOne Announces RM28+ Billion Commitment and Talent Initiatives in Malaysia at Inaugural Tech & AI Career Expo
