Today we attended an official opening of one of the Foundation’s schools.  What an over the top experience!  We had such fun riding on the Cosco’s coat tails!  When we got out of the vehicle at the school, approximately 25 horses and riders arrive to usher us into the seated area in the trees for the celebration where all the officials from the Department of Education for the region were present.

The ox which was to be slaughtered for the banquet, was on display.

Dancers preformed.

The shoulder dance preformed by all the riders.

Classrooms were visited.

The crowd followed along and cheered.

The chalkboards painted on walls were a suggestion made by Bob Sharp when he visited from Whitehorse and worked in some of the schools.

Heading back to the trees after the classroom visits.

The crowd gathered for the killing of the ox.

It was butchered and the cooking began.

Official ribbon cutting ceremony with David and the officials.

The special bread was cut,  with Gina helping out.

Coffee beans were roasted, coffee made and served with the bread.

Speeches were made

and gifts distributed.

 

The neighbouring community presented a cow and sheep for the community celebration.

Being a horse lover I got a treat.

The banquet in the new classroom consisted of  raw and cooked meat.  This is a platter of freshly killed ox.

Cooked ox and sheep were also featured.

The meat was served with injera along with beer, whisky and home made arake in the little glass.

After the banquet the neighboring community school council took all dignitaries to a bar. Gina and I were the only females.  At one point I counted 34 men.  Likewise, the only women at the celebration were those who were helping out.

Saying goodbye.

Lastly on the way back to the hotel we stopped at a distinguished teacher’s home for more coffee,  meat and injera. He was honoured to have Gina and David as guests in his house. A sign of respect is to feed people personally,  so we were all individually fed by him.

 

During our time in Bahir Dar we visited six of the nine Foundation schools with the Coscos and their staff.

 

Trees have been planted to provide shade.

For outdoor classrooms and to cool the rooms that get overheated in the afternoons.

Fruit trees have been planted to teach students about agriculture.

Systems have been put in place for their development.

and were being put in place while we were there.

The students at all the schools we visited attend in shifts, are seated in classes between 50 and 80 per class and are very respectful and attentive at all times.  This particular school was preparing for an open house while were here this day.

A current school that is next in line to be replaced.

The overcrowding in the current classroom of very enthusiastic children.

The site for the new school.

A school currently under construction.

 

We observed a number of classes both primary and high school and were asked for our input regarding teaching methods and class organization.

I was even able to teach in a few KG classrooms.  It was such fun.  The children are delightful.

Kg children are asked what they want to be when they grow up and it is posted in the room along with their picture.

 

 

 

I went to the Doctor again as the antihistamines were not working. My welts turned out to be dust mite bites. Vicious insects. The Doctor recommended keeping tight clothes on as a prevention.

On Sunday we flew to Bahir Dar.  Our hotel and room were lovely.

Here we met Gina and David Cosco from Whitehorse who run The Frances G. Cosco Foundation in Amhara Region.  They work collaboratively with local communities, government and other NGOs on education improvement projects. Their work includes facilities, teacher training, school greening, water sanitation and hygiene, and outcome measurement and research. You can check their website at FGC Foundation.org

Below from left to right are Girma, Gina, Abiyot, Yehalim (the Foundation’s Executive Director) and David in front of one of the new schools under construction.

The day after arriving we visited sights in and around Bahir Dar which is the third largest city in Ethiopia. Khat fields on the outskirts.

From this lookout you can see Lake Tana in the distance and the Blue Nile below. You can also see the khat farms in the foreground.  We were told 90 % of males and 36% of females use khat daily, though that seems like an exaggerated number to us.

Along the sides of the road you can see the sun being used to dry a variety of foods.

Our first hippo sighting

and monkey sightings too.

Amazing how high the loads can be.

Lake Tana              .

On a subsequent day we visited the Blue Nile.

Ferry across the river for a hike to the falls.

School bus.

New fields being ploughed.  The whip cracking was a distinctive sound on our hike.

Fields of onions being tended to.

Sugar cane being planted.

The Blue Nile falls.

 

Swinging bridge over a deep ravine put in by an NGO so farmers can take their products to the market.

Returning from the hike for the bumpy ride back to town. High school students in the background with their green uniforms on.