Dedication 9th Dec 07

Rather later than originally planned, on Sunday 9th Dec, Adihana Junior Community School was dedicated by Alem Biset, recently retired Commissioner of the Disaster Planning & Prevention Commission at an impressive ceremony hosted by Adihana community and attended by many local dignatories, business people and the media.
Circus Selam entertained with their usual highly professional performance which thrilled and delighted, together with traditional music for dancing.
Newly appointed School Director Yared said: "after 15 years of teaching this school is like a dream". Two A-CET graduates who attended from Addis Abeba said: "this standard is above anything we ever had at University".
Adihana village provided all with a traditional snack of local bread with yoghurt and honey which was a fitting way to end a truly memnorable day.

A-CET is an independent UK charity run by dedicated experienced volunteers operating principally in Ethiopia through local partner NGO "EYES". This is one of our community-initiative elementary school upgrading projects in cooperation with local education bureau bringing better easier access to education for needy rural youngsters. These targeted communitry projects have terrific impact.

Community take-over 23 Nov

On Friday 23 November the newly constructed buildings of the upgraded Junior Elementary School were finally taken-over by the Adihana Community. Officials from the District Bureau of Education were present and the local priest blessed the school. All buildings have been minimally furnished with student desks, shelves, black & notice boards. This school now has a capacity for 400 students in Grades 1 to 4 currently attending in one shift.

The official dedication ceremony will be on Sunday 9th December - which coincides with the 10th anniversary of A-CET's foundation.

This has been a great example of cooperation, not only locally but also by the many funders both large and small who have contributed to this project . Our profound thanks to all funders who have helped us bring easier access to better education for a previousaly excluded and vulnerable group of rural youngsters. This school will now be self-supporting and should last for many decades to come.

A-CET is an independent UK charity run by dedicated experienced volunteers operating principally in Ethiopia through local partner NGO "EYES". This is one of our community-initiative elementary school upgrading projects in cooperation with local education bureau bringing better easier access to education for needy rural youngsters. These targeted communitry projects have terrific impact.

Ready for 9th Dec dedication

All the Adihana community are busy preparing for the rededication of their school scheduled for Sunday 9th December. This school is a Junior Elementary School of four grades and has capacity for 400 students in one shift, after passing Grade 4, students will transfer to nearby Aderak School completed in 2006.

Our vibrant group from Circus Selam will put on a show which will doubtless help to make this an unforgettable occasion.

A-CET is an independent UK charity run by dedicated experienced volunteers operating principally in Ethiopia through local partner NGO "EYES". This is one of our community-initiative elementary school upgrading projects in cooperation with local education bureau bringing better easier access to education for needy rural youngsters. These targeted communitry projects have terrific impact.

Update 5 Nov 07

Finally, although admittedly rather later than planned or hoped for, Adihana School is ready for handover to the community. Adihana Village will now arrange their opening ceremony on Sunday 9 December which will be attended by the whole village and assorted local officials - led importantly by their church leaders who will "bless" the school.

The work is of the highest standard and has been completed within budget.

Thanks are due to all our varied sponsors who donated generously towards this project to have built something that will last for decades and has made easier access to primary education available to a previously marginalized group of a rural farming community.

A-CET is an independent UK charity run by dedicated experienced volunteers operating principally in Ethiopia through local partner NGO "EYES". This is one of our community-initiative elementary school upgrading projects in cooperation with local education bureau bringing better easier access to education for needy rural youngsters. These targeted communitry projects have terrific impact.

Update 31 Oct

Images from top show four class-room block, admin/library block, the two together and the latrine (bottom). Final touches of plastering and painting and site tidying are being undertaken and we hope to officially hand-over the project to the community within the next few weeks.
Interestingly a number of children who had left education returned to form a new Grade 4 class - which is exactly what we are trying to achieve.
The new locally-made desk, other furniture and black/notice boards are ready and awaiting delivery.
Doubtless the community will be arranging a big party to celebrate this proud opening at a ceremony led by Ato Alem, the local district administrator - please watch this space!
Thanks go to all our donors who have contributed to this project.

A-CET is an independent UK charity run by dedicated experienced volunteers operating principally in Ethiopia through local partner NGO "EYES". This is one of our community-initiative elementary school projects in cooperation with local education bureau bringing better easier access to education for needy rural youngsters. These targeted communitry projects have terrific impact.

Nearing completion 18 Oct

As most unskilled work is done by the community and this year has been a really good harvest the work has perforce gone slower than anticipated as the community are busy with their harvesting. However work is nearing completion, and of a very high standard.

Image shows students sitting in a make-shift class in the foreground with new classroom (Left) and admin/library block (Right) behind. Apologies for late posting; David is currently in Ethiopia and updating these blogs are only possible using a costly satellite link - something we don't want to do too much!

A-CET is an independent UK charity run by dedicated experienced volunteers operating principally in Ethiopia through local partner NGO "EYES". This is one of our community-initiative elementary school projects in cooperation with local education bureau bringing better easier access to education for needy rural youngsters. These targeted communitry projects have terrific impact.

Update 1 Sept 07

Activity on site this week has been good. Images show village women site clearing, stocks of doors, windows and ceiling chipboard. Craftmen taking a food break, classroom ceiling battens in place, and the last three of the toilet block walls and partitions going up.

With 12 days to go before the Ethiopian Millennium (on 12th Sept), Ethiopia follows the "old" Julian calendar and the school opening and registration shortly after - it is unlikely we will finish on time. Nevertheless the standard of work is excellent and a few weeks delay should not be an insurmountable problem.

A-CET is an independent UK charity run by dedicated experienced volunteers operating principally in Ethiopia through local partner NGO "EYES". This is one of our community-initiative elementary school projects in cooperation with local education bureau bringing better easier access to education for needy rural youngsters. These targeted communitry projects have terrific impact.