Didimtuu

Check out the new video post!

Welcome home Change Your World Team!

Heading Home

The Change Your World team are headed back to Canada! Having encountered some challenges with the internet not all the video blogs could be posted from Ethiopia. Watch for them in the coming days!

More news from Ethiopia

Today has been quite the busy day for the Change Your World Team. In the morning we had the opportunity to tour SSCM; a vocational training centre for youth ages sixteen to twenty-five. This program enables young people to develop skills in woodworking, metalworking, and hairdressing through in class instruction and internships. At the end of the program there is nearly one hundred percent placement in the workforce. This program is incredibly empowering for the youth by allowing them to become self-sufficient young adults. In the afternoon we fought our way through the rain to the Canadian`` home-away-from-home`` in Ethiopia; the Canadian Embassy. We met with Stuart Lane from CIDA to learn a little more about International Development and the challenges and successes in Ethiopia. I think it’s fair to say that we could have spent all day talking with him because there was just so much to learn, and we returned to the Guest House with many questions we just didn’t have time to ask in our two hour discussion. For dinner we had the privilege of dinning in the home of Dr. Mesfin from Rainbow for the Future who is involved in the project we visited yesterday in Didimintu. This was our first visit to an Ethiopian home, and what the experience this was! The food was definitely better than any restaurant we`ve been to, and the company even better! With only a few more days to go we`re all really looking forward to experiencing everything we can here in Ethiopia, and maybe fitting in a little sleep if we can find the time.

Cheers from Addis,

The Change Your World team

Day Four in Ethiopia

Today we drove 3 hours south of Addis Ababa to the kebele of Didimtuu in the Adama district. We were visiting a community development project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Provincial Government of Alberta, and the Rotary Club. The project was created in partnership with an Alberta-based organization called Rainbow for the Future and the community. While we were there we visited a school which was very different from the other schools we have visited so far. It was large, bright and had sufficient room for the number of students studying there. The entire project was founded by one woman with a dream, a dream to give back to her community and make a difference in the lives of women and children living in Didimtuu. The woman was Mrs. Bekelech. Mrs. Bekelech envisioned the entire project, including starting the school, building the teacher’s residences, building a store and a grinding mill for the community to grind tef, wheat, corn and berebere a local spice).

We got to learn about the history of the project from the beginning where the children were taught with basic carved letteres and animals they created to now where there are 6 classrooms teaching 200 students from kindergarten to grade 4. With the help of Rainbow for the Future, the project is expanding. One person shared an Ethiopian proverb with us that summed up this project:

Bit by bit the egg will walk.

Day Three in Ethiopia!

What a great day it was. Today we went to YTH Guellele and visited a group of youth that were older than the previous YTH group. The youth at this centre have lost either one or both of their parents and are at high risk for ending up on the streets. Despite the challenges these youth face they are some of the most energetic and determined people we have ever met. Their lives have been so damaged but they are adamant at creating a better future for themselves. The centre helps tutor the children, supply a hot lunch and provide additional support ranging from learning English to emotional support. We presented information about ourselves and Canada. The youth had many questions for us. The day ended with us singing songs and playing games that had lots of participation from the youth, the teachers and the other volunteers. Once again, their hospitality has amazed us and we are looking forward to tomorrow.

Sharing Canadian culture in Ethiopia?

Day Three in Ethiopia!

(the group split into two groups. One went hiking and one went to the museum)

Today we witnessed true African beauty. We started by driving to the Mikeal Church where we got to hike up Yeka Mountain. The hike in total was about 3 hours long, but it was really only the first 15 minutes that were a challenge because of the slope and change in altitude. On the top of the mountain was a church ruin and we were told the history and of how it was destroyed. Then we were able to observe it closer by walking inside and taking a few photos. Not far from this point was a breath taking view of all of Addis that truly seemed unreal. The church and view made the hike well worth the time and effort it took to get to the top.


Today we went to the University Museum of Addis Ababa where we viewed an exhibit that displayed Ethiopian culture and history. The exhibits showed Ethiopian hunting styles, life cycles, art work religion, etc. The museum did an exceptional job at showcasing Ethiopian information that was easy to understand.

(in the evening we went to see the World Cup)

We went to a giant public square today and witnessed the world cup finals with thousands of others. We were also fortunate to be able to dance at a front stage and were put on the videotron and show on national television.

Day Two in Ethiopia!

Yet another memorable day has gone by. We spent the morning at LIGA School about forty minutes outside of the city. The children who attend this school belong to families whose homes were torn down in Addis to make way for construction a few years ago. These families were offered low rental housing outside of the city in an attempt to compensate for their displacement. Many lost their jobs in the process or now have to travel very far each day abandoning their children to get to work. Rent increased astronomically shortly after the move making extreme poverty a reality for many. For these children access to a good education at LIGA School is a means of hope for their future. They gifted us with their traditional dance and song, but not without the expectation of a performance from us in return. We pulled together a Cattilac Ranch and the Macarena for the students (not nearly as impressive, but we had a lot of fun with it). Learning from these talented students and playing games with them today made me feel like they gave us much more than we could ever possibly give in return. We are so grateful for their hospitality and kindness and we could never thank them enough.

Cheers from Addis,

The Change Your World team

Day One in Ethiopia

Check out the first podcast from Ethiopia!

Safe Arrival in Ethiopia!

We are very excited to be able to share the experiences of our Change Your World Youth Leadership Tour!

The youth met for the first time on Monday, July 5th in Calgary, for a two-day orientation at the Hostel International Calgary. After two days of simulation activities and discussions on health & safety, culture shock, as well as a video workshop, the five participants were ready for their trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Heather, Deborah and the five youth arrived safely in Addis Ababa early Thursday morning. After a much needed rest they will begin to visit ACGC members’ international project partners.

Over the next ten days we will be posting podcasts and blogs describing the participants’ experiences and adventures. The Internet is on dial-up in the guest house in Addis Ababa, so be patient if things don't get updated as much as you hoped! We will try our best to keep you updated!

Thank you for joining us!

Hi!

We are the participants of the of the Change Your World Youth Leadership Tour. We are going to Ethiopia and we'll be sending podcasts and keeping you up to date on where we are, and what we are up to! We are very thankful to the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation and Canadian Humanitarian for making this trip possible,

Ashley, Christopher, Maddie, Nimo and Steven!