ETHIOPIA

ETHIOPIA

ethiopia iaerial boundary giving back second

Welcome. That’s how we feel in Ethiopia. Everywhere you go people wave to you from the road, kids surround us, wanting to see what we are about. It can be overwhelming at times, having a crowd of people pressing in to get a better view, get a handshake, or hear what we have to say. But when I think about why they are there, and why we are there, I can bask in their smiles, knowing that it’s all curiosity, a willingness to help, and a grand sense of welcome.

Welcome. That’s how we feel in Ethiopia. Everywhere you go people wave to you from the road, kids surround us, wanting to see what we are about. It can be overwhelming at times, having a crowd of people pressing in to get a better view, get a handshake, or hear what we have to say. But when I think about why they are there, and why we are there, I can bask in their smiles, knowing that it’s all curiosity, a willingness to help, and a grand sense of welcome.

Welcome. That’s how we feel in Ethiopia. Everywhere you go people wave to you from the road, kids surround us, wanting to see what we are about. It can be overwhelming at times, having a crowd of people pressing in to get a better view, get a handshake, or hear what we have to say. But when I think about why they are there, and why we are there, I can bask in their smiles, knowing that it’s all curiosity, a willingness to help, and a grand sense of welcome.

Welcome. That’s how we feel in Ethiopia. Everywhere you go people wave to you from the road, kids surround us, wanting to see what we are about. It can be overwhelming at times, having a crowd of people pressing in to get a better view, get a handshake, or hear what we have to say. But when I think about why they are there, and why we are there, I can bask in their smiles, knowing that it’s all curiosity, a willingness to help, and a grand sense of welcome.

This year, the second trip that I have done with the Canadian/U.S. non-profit imagine1day, I’ve felt much more connected with the local people. This year, I’ve had the chance to really tune-in to the impacts of the work that imagine1day continues to do in this beautiful, fascinating country, from the perspective of the communities that have benefitted. It’s profound and humbling.

Ethiopia is a country of smart, resourceful, hard working people. What they shared with us was insightful – a glimpse at how they view themselves and what they want to accomplish. An elder in a green sweater, talking to a group of gathered villagers in the remote community of Gonzilla, spoke animatedly and passionately about how glad they were to have a new school in their community. Of course, they are elated for their children to learn and have more opportunities. But how wonderful for the adults! “This is an opportunity for us to learn!” he exclaimed, opening his arms to encompass the elders and adults assembled in a canvas tent, protected against the downpour outside. “This is our chance to improve the lives not only of our children, but for us individually as well.”

Another woman told her story of wanting to go to school as a child, but not being able to muster the school fees plus the 4-5 hour walk, each way, to the closest school on top of her everyday chores of fetching water and watching over her family’s livestock. “We have so much to share with the world,” she said, referring to the generations of knowledge about the land that is their home, “we just can’t read and write to be able to share it.”

The president of the Women’s Association told the gathered crowd about what the new school would mean for the girls in the community. Having the choice to go to school, to learn to be productive for their family and community means that girls are less susceptible to rape and early marriage, and can envision a future where their worth is measured in the businesses they can start with newfound knowledge, rather than their role in subsistence farming.

In a truly unique take on scholarships for secondary students, we heard from the mother of one of the recipients on how the loan of 3500 Ethiopian birr (about $200 US) and receiving business skill training from imagine1day, has transformed the lives of her whole family, not just her daughter, Azeb, who is the bright 16 year old with her sights set on becoming a doctor.

Azeb’s mother, close to tears when asked what the scholarship meant to her, talked about how the loan has allowed her to start to save money by buying a cow, using the profit from milk, and a new calf, to put money aside for Azeb’s school fees for the following year and still have money left over to do some classic grain speculation – buying grain during the harvest, storing it for a few months, then selling it for a profit at the local Wukro market. Because of her new knowledge of business and savings, and the confidence that brings, she is intent on eventually moving to town and buying a house, which would allow her other children to focus on school as opposed to farm work. All of this changes the paradigm from subsistence to investment and wealth creation. From working day-by-day just to make ends meet, to hope for a better life for children, parents and communities. From being in a place where a crop failure or injury means hunger for your children, to having the resources and foresight to have a cushion.

Welcome. Everywhere we go we are shown Ethiopian hospitality and people share their stories. I feel overwhelmed at times by my good fortune at having found imagine1day and the opportunity to have an impact on people’s lives. At times the work here at home, recruiting people for our annual Imagine Ethiopia trip and especially fundraising, is stressful.  At those times I can reflect back on what we have accomplished and how the small efforts I personally have made have such amazing impacts on the individuals I have met in remote, rural communities, and there’s no question that this is one of the most important jobs I have.