Steve and Gemma, and Meeting Kate

17 June 2008

This evening I had been invited to go to a gathering of ferenjis and friends to say goodbye to Steve and Gemma who have been living and working in Gonder for over two years. Wasn’t high on my agenda this evening but my colleague Nicholas talked me into going – a good move since I would have stayed home thinking about the events of the weekend.

The gathering included a mix of friends and colleagues they have met at the university and hospital. Some American Peace Corps people, the ‘Dutch’ contingent – Karyln and friends, and local neighbours and friends.

A young, mainly male crowd. The good part was meeting Kate. I have heard of her work and been told I should get in touch with her but our paths had never crossed until tonight.

We got on instantly and spent most of the time talking to each other. Kate is married to an Ethiopian and has been involved in Ethiopia for the last 14 years – the last 6 living here permanently. She is running a multi faceted project aimed at changing the lives of urban slum dwellers. I’ll write this up separately after I’ve visited the Centre.