The Tara Project

18 June 2008

Decided to try and find the Tara project. Turned out to be very easy following on from Kate’s instructions.

Spent some time in the school – a model classroom, 25 Grade 1 children (5/6), sitting at small round tables, their art work on the wall – they were in the middle of an environment lesson on different animals that could be found in different environments. They finished off with a little song and dance routine demonstrating cultural differences in Ethiopia.

Had a look at the playgroup – small children rushing around in pedal cars, tricycles etc – have never seen anything like this anywhere else in Ethiopia although in fairness, I’ve not visited many kindergartens.

Had an official talk and tour with Tara’s Guide. He explained the sponsorship programme – they register all children and ‘arrive’ at a date for their birth day. Once information has been gathered, they seek out sponsors. The sponsors fund the children at school but also provide enough for the families to be supported with Health Care. There was a filing cabinet draw full of children registered waiting for sponsors.

The aim of the project is to try and break the cycle of poverty by taking children from the urban slums of Gonder, educating them and their families and following the child through to the highest possible level they can achieve. They currently have 3 children at university.

The school started this year but the project has been running for much longer. Before the school, the children were sent to private schools in the area and those presently at the Tara Centre will continue their education in private schools.

Those at the school arrive in the morning. They shower and change into school uniforms – their clothes are washed ready for them to go home. They get breakfast, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack.

Next year they hope to run to Grade 1 classes and continue with the children they have now into Second Grade.

Some parents (mothers) are employed at the project carrying out activities supporting the project e.g. washing the clothes, preparing the food. More recently some parents have been employed to weave rugs and make simple bags for sale in the shop.

A shop also stocks items from parents that they have made and visitors are asked to pay whatever they want but to consider it a donation to the family – the money goes direct to the producer.

Animals are also cared for. A rescue centre for monkeys and geladas that have been taken from the Simien mountains and dogs and cats found or handed in are cared for, given rabies jabs and offered to new homes. More employed parents/youths take them out to graze daily and efforts are being made to reintegrate them into the Simien mountains.

On Saturdays, the staff run a youth project. In 4 week blocks, 30 street children are taken in – they arrive at the centre, shower, have breakfast and then go out in supervised groups to pick up litter in the town.

In the afternoon they have a variety of activities with training on alternatives to street life and healthcare advice. At the end of the 4 weeks they receive a new set of clothes and then back to their normal existence.

The focus of the project as a whole is self-help and promotion. Nothing is given, services and products are paid for helping people to build their self-esteem