Evening with Carlyn, and Begging

Monday 10th March

After work, went home and packed up my valuables to visit Carlyn. I had decided to take up her offer of staying over. This meant I could give Tilahun (the night guard) the night off. Although I feel quite safe around the area, I wasn’t comfortable with coming back on my own after dark.

Had a lovely evening chatting with Carlyn. I have been missing this. She was full of useful ideas and local knowledge e.g. wear a scarf at night so you’re not visible as a white woman. Don’t give money, offer food or drink but not money.

We discussed the whole issue of poverty in Ethiopia. I told Carlyn about the young man and she explained that the priests are professional beggars. People give to them because it is considered ‘good’ always to give to a priest but also to beggars in general so this encourages the system. In addition, the aid agencies have fostered a view that white people come with wealth and mostly that’s what we do. We respond to need by asking for things from home and so we are associated with unlimited sources of money. This is difficult because VSO are trying to move away from this idea to encourage self-sufficiency. I explained the issue about trying to fund maths sets for schools and realised that was exactly what I was doing.

NB: I spoke to Meleshew in the afternoon about the possible project of raising funds to buy maths equipment for the schools. She was of the view that I had only visited one school and should wait to see what other problems I would encounter e.g. some of the ABE schools don’t have rooms let alone seats and desks. Even some of the regular schools don’t have toilet.

So I guess I’ve got a lot to learn.

I haven’t abandoned the idea, just put it on hold until I’ve had more opportunity to consider all the issues.

At this point I’d like to thank everyone for their suggestions and those that have made more tangible offers. I will come back to this.