How Trust-Based Philanthropy Kept 100 Girls in School

When urgent needs arise, our community doesn’t have time to wait for grant cycles. They need a partner who listens and acts—immediately. For over a decade, The White Feather Foundation, led by our Ambassador Julian Lennon, has been that partner.

This partnership isn’t transactional; it’s trust in action. When our students’ families were forced to choose between food and medicine during a spike in inflation, they came to Studio Samuel Girls Academy for help. One mother shared she had set aside $30 for her daughter’s school uniform—a requirement for attendance—but that small savings was at risk as she debated between critical medicine and a meal.

Because of The White Feather Foundation’s belief in community-led response, we didn’t need to wait for the next funding round to open. We simply called, shared what our students' families were facing, and received a quick response: Yes.

This is what trust-based philanthropy looks like. It’s a lifeline—one that allows grassroots, civil society organizations like ours to act on urgent needs as they emerge, without delay, without red tape, and with respect for local decision-making.

At Studio Samuel Girls Academy, we believe education is the surest path out of poverty. But education can’t happen when families are forced to choose between survival and school. A uniform may seem small, but for a girl in Ethiopia, it’s her ticket to the classroom—and her right to learn, grow, and build her future.

Today, as we continue to navigate economic challenges and global shifts in aid, we celebrate our partners like The White Feather Foundation—rooted in listening and trust-based philanthropy - giving us the flexibility to respond to real needs, as defined by the community itself.

Your monthly gift to the Studio Samuel Girls Scholarship Fund opens classroom doors and keeps more girls learning. Please join us!

Ameseginalehu! Thank you