Who was St Yared?

The school is named after Saint Yared, an important figure in Ethiopian history who was born in Axum, Ethiopia in 524 A.D.

Orphaned at age 7, Yared was sent to live with an uncle who was a teacher and priest. Yared, however, was not a natural student.

Challenged by the difficulty of his studies, he was just about to give up when he observed a caterpillar trying, and failing, to climb a tree for its leaves. The insect was not discouraged, and on its seventh attempt finally succeeded.

After seeing this, young Yared went back to school with renewed determination and succeeded where once he had been failing.

He became a revered teacher and is honoured for the sacred chants, hymns of devotion and poetry that he initiated within the early Christian church in Ethiopia.

In like fashion, by instilling a strong sense of dedication and commitment to education, The School of St Yared aims to bring forward the signature song of each of its students, so that together they may create a new chapter in the history of their lives and communities.

Our children are no saints, but we are confident that they will follow in Saint Yared’s footsteps.