Opening a new building at Meseret School

Thursday 19 June 2008

Walked up to Meseret school and met up with the rest of the group. I didn’t know what I was letting myself in for and had dressed quite smartly but had put on my walking shoes.

We embarked on a 1½ hour hike mostly uphill, across a river on stepping stones and through heavy duty mud. The views, when I could look were wonderful – green rolling hills and superb views over Gonder.

We arrived at the school Aba Entenous to celebrate the opening of their new building – courtesy of Link Ethiopia. The school, again set in a beautiful but remote area, has two satellites that are unreachable during the rainy season. We will go in September/October. One with over 100 children and the other with 20. The latter school has no building but meets in a makeshift shelter – we will visit that one next semester as well.

The school director met us. A stunning, young looking woman who must have been older than her appearance. She served us with bread rolls filled with a potato, onion and garlic mixture served with coke.

Outside, excitement was mounting and we, the special visitors, were eventually wheeled out to sit at the front of a gathering of children, parents, local councillors and others. Speeches were made, prizes were given out, more speeches from the audience sadly over my head. Then the big moment. I was asked to cut the ribbon for the new building. I pointed out that EthiopiaLink had paid for the building and it should be opened by the representative from EL. Mulugeta obliged whilst I took the photographs but they insisted on presenting me with a bouquet of flowers (made from fabric – not for the Ethiopian people the luxury of fresh cut flowers).


The New School Building

More food served with beer and then coffee.

Eventually, a small group of us made our farewells and I walked back with Mulugeta and a few others. A very welcome hike on a day that the showers held off until after I got home.

Mike from Mekele arrived about 5ish. Mekdes prepared the coffee ceremony and left us with a meal and beer. Mike is the only VSO education worker specifically engaged to advise on Special Needs and inclusive education.

We spent a couple of days looking at schools catering for children with disabilities. In particular, blindness which is a major problem here. There is an enormous shortage of appropriate Braille board that the children can use, a project I will look into later. Anyone with advice on where they can be acquired, please pass it on.