Time away spent well

For the past few days Lolo (the pup’s new name, I’ll explain later) and I have been traveling around Kembata-Tembaro with the incredible folks from Mudula Water and Clinic at a Time.  During my two and half days away from the jobsite, Ejigu and Temesgin worked together to guide the 20 person work crew through digging nearly 200 post holes.  Their and the communities effort was a success, and my trip with Liz McGovern and co. was an amazing one. All the landscaping was well executed, and my time away was inspiring, to say the very least.

Liz worked with an amazing group of very invested donors to coordinate an amazing two week visit of numerous current, and potential Ethiopian projects.  During my couple days with the group we delivered critical materials to four separate health centers (one of which is the relocated clinic that I journeyed to to have my arm relocated), visited new and old build sites (Kololo, and Azedebo) and spent time touring potential referal  health care facilities in Kembata-Tembaro for Mudula Waters Mid-wife program.  The group was great, everyone was incredibly positive, and always so very happy to see and often hold Lolo.  Its funny how she deflects nearly all of the attention from the 8-14 ferengies where ever we are. Seriously its pretty crazy. 

The following is a few shots of our time in Ambakuna, Mudula, and Kololo.  There is a lot more Id like to share, but tonight's uploads were averaging 35 minutes a photo :-/.  Hey but at least I have internet out here ... right?

The Ambakuna community eagerly assisting us in unloading much needed and appreciated materials

A shadowy shot of Liz and co, and the Ambakuna staff

Spotted this hot rad little number a day or two after the vote

A nice show of bright eyes and big smiles from a few Kololo kids

Two Kololo students posing infront of the school on their way home for lunch

Background on the big summer merger

I want to take the time to share a Ethiopia Reads news letter with all those wondering (it may not be many, but just in case) about why ER is now the implementing body behind my work rather than The Tesfa Foundation. The following will help answer a few potential questions, and give you all a solid update on a couple of my employers.

Over the last eight years, with your support, the Tesfa Foundation has accomplished much. Together we have
built and staffed eight schools; trained and supported dozens of educational professionals; and provided many
young Ethiopian athletes with education and vocational training. We are extremely proud of these undertakings and are grateful to you for your support of education, opportunity and community improvement for so very many
underprivileged people in Ethiopia.

Since our inception, the Tesfa Foundation has collaborated with other non-profit organizations when appropriate. Over the course of the last two years, we have increasingly worked alongside Ethiopia Reads, a well-respected organization that believes deeply in education by way of literacy and that was originally created ten years ago to put more books into more hands of more Ethiopians. Tesfa's own Executive Director, Dana Roskey, has spent these last two years implementing and supervising Ethiopia Reads' programming in Ethiopia and advising its U.S. board of directors. During this time, we at the Tesfa Foundation have learned how very much our own mission overlaps with that of Ethiopia Reads.

In order to maximize resources for both organizations in implementing one shared vision, the board of directors
Tesfa Foundation has voted to combine our efforts and name Ethiopia Reads as the lead implementing agency for our educational programming. That means that these programs will become Ethiopia Reads programs, with the Tesfa Foundation as a funding partner. Donations made to the Tesfa Foundation for any of our projects that have moved to Ethiopia Reads will still be applied to those projects. It should also be noted that the Tesfa Foundation UK remains in place, and retains its own direct link to Tesfa programming in Ethiopia.

We believe this change will positively affect our programming, starting specifically with our recently declared
goal to bring more schools to the Kembata-Tembaro region of Ethiopia. This objective will now be that much
easier to attain as Ethiopia Reads has a strong ongoing relationship with government agencies in Ethiopia, the
Tesfa staff and Executive Director in Ethiopia will continue to implement these programs as they work for Ethiopia Reads and as many of our board members move to the Ethiopia Reads board of directors.

Of course, you too will be instrumental in our continued success. We hope that you will maintain your commitment to education in Ethiopia and to our programming in there. We have only accomplished what we have so far because of you, and the future will only be bright if you accompany us. Please, join us at Ethiopia Reads!

Those of you enrolled with the Tesfa Foundations for automatic donations need not make any changes.

With sincere gratitude for your longstanding and continued support, and on behalf of everyone at the Tesfa
Foundation,

Project updates and an overview of my trip with Mudula Water/ Clinic at a Time soon to come.

And we're off...

Over the last few days we have accomplished quite a bit.  After finding out that the road to Washo was not fit for massive Ethiopian dump trucks, we were forced to begin work in Azedebo.  Washo is still very much in the works, it will just take a few more weeks of human power to effectively adjust the road.   Since we arrived in AzeDebo on Saturday we were able to finalize the land agreements and find living arrangements for myself and my support staff… and that was before todays huge accomplishments.

Today, Temesgin Ijigu and I spent our morning conducting critical meetings with community leaders, local government/school officials and village elders.  The meetings went very well, all those involved were very happy with the scope of the initial project, and were happy to hear that ER plans on using the school as a platform for many future programs in the area.  The village elders were especially happy to her that ER will be reaching out to include the village elders and community leaders to assist in guiding the administration and sustainment of the AzeDebo school. The meeting concluded with many of the participants joining Ejigu, Temesgin and I in talking through ER’s expectations for all those in the community that wished to become a ER temporary worker.  The community was happy to hear that nearly all of the 180 individuals that showed for the meeting would have the chance to work with ER for at least a week, while the best workers will be asked to join an “all-star” work force to streamline the final 8 weeks of the build.

During our meetings, four members of the schools security and farming staff (they have an impressive amount of farming on the property) were asked to begin clearing the KG/library land of corn stalks, and bramble.  By the time we finished our meetings the work was almost complete.  We spent a good hour cutting and shaping stakes and then the three of us were able to start the mapping the school layout.  Using a variety of colors of neon plastic string, hammer, and a 50 meter measuring tape,  Ejigu , Temesgin and I carefully measured out schools walled perimeter, each of the schools buildings and its respective classrooms.  As many as a hundred students and adults watched in mostly confusion, as we measured and measured again, to make sure that each class was no more than a couple centimeters off square at most.  The final product really gave the onlookers a useful representation of the buildings to come.  Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get on a roof or into a tree to take a photo.

Now that the perimeter site lines are in place, digging begins tomorrow at 8 am.  20 people, 12 men and 8 woman will work together to make a sizeable dent in the nearly 200 post holes.  Each of which will be dug to at least 80 centimeter (depending on the use of the submerged material).  We are thinking all that digging will be done by the weekend.  The schools perimeter wall should start going up as early as Monday.  Not bad for a first week in the town.

The following photos provide some images of today’s activities.  And if anyone is wondering why the blog is so inundated with panoramic shots is because they load in about 12 minutes, while the others take more than twice as long… and their awesome.  But we all already knew that.

      

The build site

Ijigu leading a conversation with the village elders

Ijigu and Temesgin talking through the contract with some of the nearly 200 potential workers

Preparing for staking the land

Temesgin leading the way with some assistance from the community

Got to love their getups

Another addition to the team

Because of the constant threat of large carnivorous animals, our fervor for mountainy exercise and our appreciation for dogs, both Ijigu and I were keen on the idea of getting one. Anyone that shared a couple beers with me this summer is well aware of my attempts to to locate a rescued Rottweiler pup to bring to Ethiopia with me. The breed is known and respected as loyal, caring, powerful and are great with children (especially female Rotts).  For those reasons and numerous others I spent the first chunk of my summer working on finding one. Long story short, Rottweilers  along with Pitts, Dobermans and even Bull Dogs are listed as "aggressive breeds" by Turkish Airlines. Unfortunately, that meant that Rotts are barred from flying with my usual carrier. Because my return trip was already booked, my Rotty dreams were dashed.

Ethiopia has more than its fare share of dogs. Packs of strays permanently roam the city streets, while a majority of middle class Ethiopians and above, keep at least one in their houses compound for security purposes. However, the dogs in Ethiopia are almost always smaller mixed breeds, not exactly the intimidating pup I was looking forward to raising. I figured I would still ask around while I was in Addis, I thought might get lucky, though I wasn't to hopeful.

Low and behold a friend of a friend in the city was a dog breeder that specialized in Pitts and Rotts. Pretty dang surprising. At the time of my inquiry he just had a litter of 7 Rott/ black lab mix. I was elated. Calls were made, a visit was was planned, puppies were played with, a choice was made, money was exchanged, an Ethiopian vet was found, vaccinations were given, and I am now the proud owner of a beautiful 5 1/2 week old female dog.

Her mother is the same mix and weighs in at over 50 kilos, while her father is nearly the same, and she is the biggest and most sturdy of her litter. So I am looking forward to plenty of wrestling and some speedy runs up Ethiopian mountains. But it will be a while before any of that; her 3 pound body wants nothing to do with anything but choosing down and staying nestled in my lap. Playing mom for the next few weeks will be a bit trying, but when anything is this cute its tough to be annoyed.

No name yet, I got to let her personality show before that life long decision is made.

She is the same size as the old toy dog that barks three times then flips...
kinda looks like it too.

Usual sleeping position, we will see how long that lasts.

We just scheduled the next build...

Two weeks ago, I traveled to four separate prospective Ethiopia Reads' project sites in Kembate-Tembaro.  We were there  to finish the last round of community and build land assessments.  A wealth of community information was gathered, important contacts were made, and land was even officially donated to Ethiopia Reads on behalf of the community. These experiences and information were combined with that previously gathered by Ethiopia Reads project officers.  Over the last week, the Ethiopia Reads office staff and myself spent days calling and recalling various officials, and finishing the creation of thorough financial processes to assist in purchasing and recording build material procurement.  We have all worked very hard to get to where we are this evening: we are beginning the next school build in Kembata-Temabaro on November 9^th.

We are currently planning on building two schools in the region over the next 7 months.  The first will be most likely in the mountains north of Shinshicho in a town called Washo, the second will most likely be within the foothills AzeDabo.  The reason why I say most likely is because the order may not be completely set. The severity of incline and quality of the “road” leading to Washo was not welcoming to motorist of any kind.  The motorcycles we took to get to Washo were even unable to make it all the way there.  When we visited the site we explained to the community that for us to build there, at least 3 kilometers of beat up mountain donkey roads must be widened and flattened so that a literal dump truck could make its way up to the school site.  The community instantly volunteered their time, and the following day began the 2 week long process of fixing the road.  

Yesterday, a local dump truck driver visited the road on foot and gave it a big thumbs up.  What a hard working community huh?  On Tuesday of next week the road will be tested with a dump truck full of boulders.  If there are no problems, the driver will head back down and prepare to make nearly 50 more trips toting 10's of thousands of pounds of wood, rock, cement, and aggregate.  However if the truck is unable to make it, we will delay the Washo build until later this build season and begin work in the very accessible town od AzeDabo.  We all are incredibly anxious for the upcoming test. But remember, if it doesn’t go well, the community will have the next two months to ready the road so building can commence in early January.

The following photos are few more from our last visit, as well as a couple from Kololo.  Proof that a big ol dump trucks, albeit very very old, has a tough time negotiating the twist and turns of mountain roads.

The school land

What a portion of the road now looks like. 

The Ethiopia Reads's management crew's housing and material storage... its an old sunday school. 

Our luxurious bathroom.  It might need some work.

What the road looked like before.  Its the rocky section to the right

Small trucks and big trucks alike have issues with Ethiopian off road driving

3/4 of the Kololo crew had to help push and pull this guy out.

A couple jobs for some familiar faces

The Future of Kembata-Tembaro Ethiopia Reads construction management rest largely in the hands of three proven Kololo community members.  Through visiting this blog you have most likely become acquainted with many of the 2011-2012 Kololo work-crew.  Although we hired over 60 different community members during the course of the build there was a small percentage that stood out due to their astounding work ethic, positive attitudes, and their natural abilities to lead.  Each of these individuals participated in my Skilled Labor certificate program, and in one case, earned the position of construction assistant manager during the Kololo school build.  I am elated to share that Temesgin Alamu and Salamnesh Lagessa will be hired to assist Ijigu and I with the implementation of the next two schools in Kembata-Tembaro.  

In the next week I will be posting bios on the two, as well as providing you with a little background on what exactly Tamesgin and Sallamanesh will be assisting us with. Here is a couple shots of them back on the Kololo build.

Tamesgin helping out with the roof supports

And modeling with Ijigu's famous war time canteen

Salamnesh and a few of the guys proud of their fresh cement work (Sallamnesh is the young lady in the back).

Sallamnesh making one of thousands of trips down the hill with the dirt that would become the schools walls.

Final Durame and Shinshicho Regional Assessment Trip

 On October 16, 2012 I traveled to Kembata-Tembaro to finalize the Ethiopia Reads need assessment process begun in May.  In addition to determining a recipient community, we used this trip to thoroughly train 3 Ethiopia Reads project officers in using an enhanced process in assessing and mapping potential beneficiary communities.  The entire trip lasted 4 full days, and at its conclusion I have determined that we have 1 definite and 3 prospective beneficiary communities. 

During this trip we worked with woreder , kebele , local finance and local education officials.  We also called on the expertise of local community leaders to discuss community needs in the region.  In total, we   visited three previously assessed communities, as well as one new.   The areas visited were located just outside of Durame and Shinshicho.  Each of the potential build community’s location was marked using a GPS apparatus.  I am currently in the process of uploading this data to create an online map of that will show the exact location of each of the sites.

Three of the four communities that were visited could greatly benefit from both an Ethiopia Reads sponsored library, or the construction of a school.  While it would be more appropriate to just offer Ethiopian Reads library sponsorship in one potential beneficiary community.   We are currently waiting to hear a few site related updates from a couple of the local officials to make our final decision on implementation time line.  So for the time being I can share photos from the trip, Ill share the big news of where and what by the end of this weekend.  

The AzeDabo School director, kebele, teachers and a couple ER staff

Potential KG land

Checking the library measurements

A bit ofWenko from the road

Tesfahoune taking down school and local community population numbers

Leaving Wenko

We had a few friends for our walk into the surrounding communities

The guys using the GPS to mark where exactly we were

Plenty of hyena holes to go around in Washo

A touching community meeting

Washo folks showing us around

Beautiful surroundings

Fundamo Children

A great example of the usual rural south school library, not much to look at...

Plenty of green pastures in our future