Ethiopia and ISSE

A joint venture

Question How can we meet the challenges posed by

cultural diversity and work for a better world?

Aim of this meeting Share schools’ examples of good practice Draw together the ideas and creativity of

educators from a diverse range of countries and cultures from our region

Why this country?

How can we address the needs of others

Create awareness Investigate needs Communicate Act

Create awareness

Ethiopia background information

Independence Oldest independent country in Africa and one

of the oldest in the world at least 3000 years

Government type Federal Republic President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001)

Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives

Elections Last held 2010 Emerging democracy

Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR)

Landscape Untouched Gorgeous

Undisturbed for centuries Much of Ethiopia has stood still throughout

the course of time, unaffected by foreign influence and power

Language Eighty-two languages are spoken in Ethiopia.

In the South, a dozen of languages are employed in the education area including Amharic, 12 languages are used as medium of

instruction at primary schools from grades 1-4

Ethiopians communicate well with each other (through Amharic) if they have followed education above elementary level

One of the ten poorest countries in the world

Ethiopian per capita income US$115 Quality of education is very poor which produces an

unskilled labor force Ethiopia has one of the highest unemployment rates

world wide with around 50% of urban men aged 15 and 30 are unemployed due to lack of industries and lack of investment

high taxes on imported products Many will work for less than 20 cents a day (1 US

dollar = 8 Ethiopian birrs)

Health problems

Children with chronic lung problems because of inhalation of the unhealthy fumes in their huts

AIDS epidemic proportions (25% of all Ethiopians are HIV positive)

Life expectancy Dropped to 49 years

Treatment of women and children Women get less education than men Poverty deprives children in their early years of

life to adequate food, clean water, and medicine.

Mature quickly and take on adult responsibilities

Positives Peace Stability

Investigate needs

ISOB Non Profit Organisation Foundation by A. Sontrop en Z. Ayde Stichting ISOB (Internationale Steun aan

Onderwijs, Bibliotheek) in Zuid Ethiopië Mauritsstraat 24, 1091 DA Amsterdam isob@chello.nl www.isobfoundation.org

ISOB Mission Fight poverty through education and training

Goal Promotion of independent economic self-

sufficiency and health resourcefulness

Collaboration Local NGO WODA Wolaitta Development Association 310.000 paying members

WODA Vision "The creation of people, environment and

institutions that no longer tolerate poverty, ignorance, oppression and injustice."

One of the things established by ISOB

Wolaitta Public Library 2003 – 2006 WODA built the public library in Soddo,

with ISOB support. The library is handed over to the town and daily used by 250 students

Communicate

Project focus Human development and empowerment Developing the people through resources such

as Education Empower womenvraag en antwoord over school.doc

What are we going to do? Wolaita Liqa Public School

The Future Generation School Wolaitta Liqa Public School situated beside Wolaitta Soddo University first established in 2008 grades ranging from 5-7 188 students 11 staff members 7 administration workers intended to increase one grade level in each year upgrade it up to preparatory classes increment of students’ number from 197 to 360 in

2009 academic year

The students Intentionally the school works to reach the

OVC & destitute students talented and who are academically competent

Wolaitta’s hopes These children to be future generation of

Wolaitta

Surprisingly? The school outshines in every academic

contest and National Exams. For these reasons the school was given prizes two times last year

Shortages of the school The school lacks student’s dormitory cafeteria assembly hall for the whole school community generator when the electric system fails shallow well water

ICT Center Students are taking part in activities in the

computer center. But as the school is the one that outshines, some accessories like satellite receiver, plasma, etc. are missing and there is impossibility of obtaining the aforementioned equipment from the S/N/N/P/R/S Education bureau

Transportation The school uses rental vehicles (schoolbus)

for transporting the students from the town to school

Library The library is equipped with texts, but not

sufficient & update

WODA involvement Build a dormitory Dining room One block with four class rooms in addition to

the existing teaching rooms

Act

Start of real exchange

Wolaitta Liqa School

Meeting the students

Helping the Poor

Extra Classrooms needed

Shelter and housing problem

Action

Mithra ‘as leader of the Ethiopia project, I would like

to say on behalf of the group that we feel extremely honored to be able to do such a thing for such students since education should not be treated as a privilege, but rather as a basic human right, and a tool that is the first step towards solving problems such as poverty, hunger and lack of shelter.’

Adopt a student

Prosperity of Ethiopia Use of national resources, for instance water

All aim for

They lack time because they need to go looking for food, water and shelter for the night and this takes a lot of time away from studying.

Main Problem

One euro = 16 Bir One student needs a minimum of 200 Bir a

month for Clothing Food Shelter Education Educational materials (books, pen etc)

Costs of support

€ 50 = 833 Bir833÷200 = 4.165

How many students can live of this amount for a month

You can help

Them

Imagine…education as life-long learning for all, to allow us not only to dream of a better world through intercultural understanding and respect, but to develop the capabilities to make this dream come true

Questions How effective is it for student learning to take

place to visit a school in Africa In what way or to what extend do the African

students benefit from our students visiting them

Can we work on this together in this

HTTP://WWW.ISECAMPUS.NL/

Henriette Groot AntinkCAS coordinator ISE / CAS Workshopleader IBO