Reflections on the Journey

I am back home now...recovered from jet lag and back in the groove of friends, family and work.

Many have asked, "how was it?", "what did you learn?", and "did you feel safe?"

As I reflect on those amazing ten days, I have learned:

• regardless of race, creed or culture, we all want the same things for our families: good health, education for our children and safe place to lay our heads

• we should not always look to the government to fix our problems, though good policy helps, as a few committed individuals can make a world of difference. People like Abraham and Saleem, Haddis Tadesse, Sister Brenda, Atti Worku, Mike Hoffman and Susan Redmond

• its not about a "hand out" but a "hand up", and the best programs teach individuals "how to fish" for continued growth for themselves, their families and their communities

• I can make the greatest impact by helping other women build their businesses and become THEIR BEST SELVES!

Its been an incredible journey. I always felt safe and witnessed warm hospitality wherever I went.

Thank you all for the shout-outs, feedback, support and most of all...SHARING THIS JOURNEY.

My Day at Cortaid & New Vision Co-op. (Wednesday, May 8)

I spend my last full day in Ethiopia with Cortaid, aDutch equivalent of Catholic Relief Charities. Their work mainly focus on disaster preparedness, i.e., floods, droughts, etc. Ton, the country representative for Cortaid, highlighted a few projects across the African Continent.

They fund some work done by the Daughters of Charity, a St. Vincent's dePaul Order that works out of France. I was excited about seeing this work based on my affiliation with the Sisters of Mercy. I know if you want to make impact...give it to the Sisters!!

I met Sister Brenda, Head Sister in Charge. She is a 5' fireball who really demonstrates SUSTAINABILITY.

Me and Sister Brenda, Head Sister In Charge

Sister Brenda took me to visit a newly formed Women's Co-op (New Vision). Some 30 women who previously stayed at home receiving money from their husbands or parents are now businesswomen, using their skills in cooking and weaving. They opened a restaurant in a rented space to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner (as well as take-out) for local residents. They now have their own money for medicine, and to educate their kids. Only one of them speaks English and I communicated how proud I was of them...they were truly "Sisters Who Rock"! They loved it and Sister Brenda told me they were going rename the Co-op to "Sisters Who Rock"!

Me with the "Sisters Who Rock!"

Restaurant Building

Restaurant take out window

Cooking for customers

Tables in restaurant

Grinding coffee beans 

Coffee beans roasting for a traditional coffee ceremony

Coffee is often served with a snack like popcorn

We also visited the home of a local weaver. Sister Brenda and her team provided microfinancing for the yarn used to weave. He was able to produce and sell more product, pay off his loan and use the profits to invest in his home and family. He used the profits to plaster the walls of his home providing insulation and purchasing a Satellite TV Dish.

Local weaver we visited

We also visited a school. Sister Brenda and her angels provided desks and a roof over the building so the children could attend when it rained.

Classroom desks donated by Sis. Brenda

Sister Brenda also finances many local ventures through micro-financing. Applicants present a Business Plan for review and approval by their peers. They are given training on marketing and budgeting. Loans are in the amount of 3,000 birr with 24 month payback requirement. Out of the 120 loans made, only 2 have defaulted. Loans are used to produce and sell goods. One women was a hairdresser and used her funds to expand her house to rent to other tenants!

Making goods for sale

Sis. Brenda's Support Team

What an amazing and fulfilling Day!

My Day at Seeds of Africa School (Tuesday, May 7)

I forgot to mention that so far all my experiences have been in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. It sits at a very high elevation similar to Aspen, CO with temps at a comfortable 70F.

Today, I ventured to Adama to visit Seeds of Africa, founded by Atti Worku in 2009, it is a school with 44 students who are preschool at ages 1-6, and attend M-F and Sat. morning. It is a HOT 90F here!

There are three rooms, Discovery, Theatre, Library. They take an integrated approach to learning, teaching math through music and science through drama.

The Library

Before leaving for Ethiopia, I asked what I could bring for the school. I admit my expectations were that they would ask for laptops, etc. Their requests were very simple....pencils, crayons, paint brushes, puzzles, etc. When I presented to the Head Teacher, you would have thought I had brought a bucket of gold. They were sooo grateful!  I'm learning that the smallest gestures have the greatest impact.

Presenting supplies to the school

I had a chance to engage with the students, and Jeff and Scott even played soccer for me.

After our visit, Atti's Mom served a traditional Ethiopian meal in the courtyard of her home. We ate under a grapevine covered pergola. It was a wonderful meal. I'm getting used to Ethiopian food!!

Giving thanks for a good day

With Atti's mom

Beutiful flower's at Atti's Mom's home

Another eye opening experience

I'll let the pics speak for me.....

Students singing a greeting

The Headmaster greets us

Performance by the youngest children

Stage in the theater room

Go to this YouTube link (http://youtu.be/oW2y8H_z3Rk) to see a video performance by students. 

One of the wonderful teachers

Artwork from bottlecaps & seeds

Listening intently to curriculum goals discussion

Atti lives in NYC, and her friends always know where to find her.

With my new friends

On the playground

My Day at the Gates Foundation, The Black Lyon Hospital and the ILAE. (Monday, May 6)

We started the day with a breakfast briefing with Haddis Tadesse, the Gates Foundation Country Lead for Ethiopia. He shared all the projects underway across the country. The projects include work in the areas of water, heath and education.

Haddis has an interesting background. He was born in Ethiopia, attended boarding school in KY and Lancaster, PA in the US. He has been involved with Seattle Public Service for some time. Gates hired Haddis because they wanted an expert on Ethiopia. Haddis gave me a good perspective on the state of the country and what the future holds. Ethiopia has one of the fastest growing economies in the world which is one of the reasons China is invested so heavily here. Haddis predicts that in 10 years Ethiopia will be a very different country.

Example of Chinese investment in Ethiopia

This young man (Haddis) is SHARP! Really, he is a "bad brother".  Ive never met President Obama, but I can imagine Haddis as a young Obama, confident, full of great ideas and with strong goals for the country. I told his wife to prepare herself to by the "First Lady of Ethiopia" and she laughed out loud!!

Gates Foundation Briefing with Haddis

Haddis and I visited the Black Lyon Hospital, the largest public hospital in Ethiopia. He had not been back to this hospital since he received vaccinations some 30 years ago. At the hospital, we visited the Women's Oncology Center. They have two radiation machines for all of the country. One of them was down and patients wait an average of 5 months for their first treatment. There is a 2,500 student medical school linked to the hospital.

My best experience of the day was a reception held in honor of ILAE (International Leadership Academy of Ethiopia). The Academy has a unique offering in that it aims to train FUTURE LEADERS of Ethiopia. Not doctors or engineers, but LEADERS! They recruit the top students at the best schools while they are just getting off the ground. This work definitely aligned with Haddis' vision in preparing for the future of Ethiopia.

I so enjoyed interacting with some of the young people. Despite their circumstances, they have confidence that I never had at the age of 13-15 years old.

Below is a pic of a student who declared her intention to be the Prime Minister of Ethiopia! She spoke of gender equality, using their natural resources for the benefit of the country and healthcare issues. By the way, her Mom passed away and she lives with her neighbors. Hers is an amazing story of resilience. It brought tears to my eyes. Truthfully, she had me at gender equality. If I could vote for her, I would!

With the future prime minister. :-)

Reception Room at Hotel Taitu

BTW the event was held at the Taitu Hotel, the oldest hotel in Ethiopia, built for Queen Taitu by her husband. I wonder if I can get my husband to build something for me???? :-)

Easter Sunday in Ethiopia! (May 5th)

Its Easter Sunday in Ethiopia!

I continued my cultural immersion by attending the International Evangelical Church. Pastor Shannon is from the U.S. and attendees are from everywhere, praising God in English and Amharic.  The sermon focused on Psalm 96. It was a very different type of Easter Service but very much celebratory of the Resurrection.

Altar at the International Evangelical Church

After church, I traveled to Hope Enterprises. Founded in the 1960s by Jack Smith (a missionary from Dallas), it started as a preschool and has grown to include K-12, neighborhood healthcare facilities and many daycare centers around the country. The Soup Kitchen feeds 2,000 people daily. Today I helped serve about 300 men Injera and lentil soup.  It was interesting to me that men and women are served in separate facilities.

I concluded the day by traveling to Hope College. The facilities & curriculum are very innovative, especially given the infrastructure issues in Ethiopia.  Designed by a Dutch architect, everything is "green" and environmentally focused.  Plants are grown on the roof of the library, rainwater is recycled and the rooms are light and airy. Dr. Minas Hiruy started the school, after a long tenure at Kent State University, my alma mater. We were actually there at the same time. His work has been transformative.

Like other schools, kids come from the local area, and are provided food, uniforms and hot showers.

Entrance to Hope College Hope College Library Entrance Chapel at Hope College Classroom at Hope College

Hope College is a wonderful oasis for students in Ethiopia.

My (Orthodox Catholic) Easter at the Impact School & Library! (May 4, 2013)

Saturday, May 4^th, I continued my journey with Abraham.  Our first stop was the Impact Library.  Located in a very poor neighborhood. Impact strives to provide early education (reading and writing) to neighborhood kids.  They also provide one meal a day which, many times is the only meal the kids receive. Abraham found it was hard for kids to study on an empty stomach!

Entrance to Impact School

The school is run by a wonderful young man, Enouck.  Enouck was one of the young men mentored by Abraham….and get this….when the school is closed overnight, security is provided by three other students currently in University. These three men Abraham has also mentored and are products of this same neighborhood. They serve as role models and give real meaning to "Lifting as we Climb" and "Each One, Teach One".

Impact Library Leader Enouck

You see Impact has very little in the way of books, classroom and computers, but they are making real IMPACT!

Impact Library

Hello from the students at Impact Library!

A brother teaching his sister to read.

Classroom

Library

Studying intently!!!

This is what it is really all about!!!

Saturday afternoon and evening my immersion into Ethiopian culture continued. The goats I saw on the streets were really lambs.  It is a tradition to serve lamb for Easter Dinner.

Easter Dinner?

Abraham's beautiful wife, Saleem (sah-leem) runs a shop dedicated to fair trade and sharing of profits.  Over coffee and popcorn, (coffee is always served with snacks) Saleem shared more about her shop.  She has women on site who do weaving, sewing, bead making etc.  All profits are fairly shared and this allows women to have their own money for medicine or education for their kids.  It's less about aid and more about sustainability!

So you know I did some SERIOUS Shopping in her store!

Abraham and Saleem do well by doing good!

Abraham & Salem

Saturday evening was a traditional Ethiopian meal. Injera is a grain and basic Ethiopian staple..looks like a large pancake.  Food is eaten with hands, family style. There is an elaborate handwashing experience before and after the meal. I know Spicy and this food is very, very, very spicy!  There is always beef, chicken and lentil…I even spotted some Collard Greens which were very good...not as good as my husband's, but very good. ;-)

Easter Dinner at the start

Easter Dinner afterward

There was also entertainment highlighting the different regions of Ethiopia.

Local Entertainment

See two videos of local entertainment I shot at these link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f55Os00ezt4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EhympiyaQk

(I am still working on learning how to embed videos into my blog.)

Here I spend time with my travel partners at the end of the day.

My travelling partners.