“Education for Transformation”: Spiritan Missionaries Open New School in Southern Ethiopia

BORANA, ETHIOPIA: The Congregation of the Holy Spirit, under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Spiritans), has achieved a new milestone in its educational mission with the opening of the Spiritan Primary School in Yabello, southern Ethiopia. On 30 September 2026, the school welcomed its first pupils, marking the start of the new academic year.

The school was founded at the instigation of Father Denis Mugalula, CSSp, a Spiritan missionary serving the Borana region.

Where is Yabello?

Yabello (also spelt Yabelo) is a town in the Borana Zone of Oromia Regional State, located in the far south of Ethiopia. It lies approximately 570 km south of the capital, Addis Ababa, on the main highway connecting Ethiopia to Kenya, and about 200 km north of the border town of Moyale. The surrounding lowlands are predominantly inhabited by the Borana Oromo, a largely pastoralist community.

Yabello, Borana Zone, southern Ethiopia (click the map to enlarge)

A Mission Rooted in Transformation

The school, owned and managed by the Spiritans, was established to provide quality, holistic education to children in the Borana Zone, where access to early-childhood and primary schooling remains a pressing need.

True to its motto, “Education for Transformation,” the school aims not only to teach core academic subjects but also to develop practical skills, discipline, sound moral values, and integral human formation in its pupils.

Facilities and Classes

The school has commenced operations with two levels: Upper Kindergarten and Grade One. Its initial, newly constructed building comprises three classrooms, administrative offices, a dining area, and toilets. These modest facilities provide a safe and orderly environment for the young learners to begin their education.

First Days at Spiritan Primary School Yabello — Photo Gallery

Pupils playing in front of the new Spiritan Primary School building in Yabello 1 / 12

Looking Ahead: An Invitation to Partner

This successful beginning is merely the foundation. As enrolment increases and higher grades are introduced, the school will require additional facilities. These include more classrooms, a dedicated dining hall, a library, an ICT room, a school bus for pupil transport, and other essentials for a comprehensive learning environment.

The Spiritans warmly invite benefactors, donors, mission partners, and friends of the Congregation to support this nascent educational ministry in Borana. Every contribution towards buildings and learning resources will directly impact the lives of these children and help secure the long-term future of the mission.

To contact Father Denis Mugalula, C.S.Sp.: mugaluladenis@yahoo.co.uk
Tel/WhatsApp: +251 900017366

October 1, 2026

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