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The Dame & the Knight. Claire & Bob recently in Ethiopia
31 December 2009
Claire Berttschinger receives honour
We are proud that Trustee-elect Claire Bertschinher has been appointed Dame Commander in the 2010 New Years Honours List. During the Ethiopian famine of 1984 Claire was the Red Cross Nurse working in Mekelle, Tigray with limited resources who had to make the life and death decision which children to "save". Following Michael Buerk's BBC documentary, Bob Geldof was moved to launch Band and later Live Aid, raising over £150m and arguably saving millions of lives.
Claire is currently the Tropical Nursing Course Director at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, having trained well over 800 nurses for overseas work. Claire continues to be passionately and actively committed to issues in the developing world through nursing and education.
Claire’s determined character and particularly to nursing manifested early on as she overcame initial difficulties, as an undiagnosed dyslexic, in both getting accepted and qualifying as a Nurse.
Her background for her current work has been a lifetime of professional overseas work as a nurse and medic. Initially she worked with the Scientific Exploration Society, being awarded their Bish Medal (1985). Claire was awarded the prestigious Red Cross Florence Nightingale Medal in recognition of her work in conflict zones (1991).
Claire has written her autobiography a graphic but touchingly humourous chronicle of her traumatic life “Moving Mountains” (Transworld Publishers 2005 ISBN 0-385-65801-X), with a share of the royalties donated to A-CET. Click here for further information.
Claire was awarded Woman of the Year 2005 Window to the World award. In 2007 Claire received the International Human Rights and Nursing Award. Claire also holds a Masters in Medical Anthropology and Honorary Doctorate from Brunel University.
Claire is a woman of vision, insight and altruistic spirit. She is a quiet yet powerful and a truly motivational figure; an inspiration to all she comes in contact with. She acts as our Ambassador, traveling tirelessly overseas in support of fund and awareness raising.
25 years later Claire continues her dedication to humanitarian work.
24 November 2009
Bob Geldof opens Hagere Selam Elementary School
At an impressive ceremony attended by the Regional President, government officials, visiting international officials with Band Aid Trustees and supporters, Sir Bob Geldof opened Hagere Selam Full Elementary School on 24 November 2009.
This school accommodates 500 children from Grades 1 to 8.
Sir Bob said this was the best school he had seen - ever and that our band's rendering of "Do they know it's Christmas" better than the real thing.
This was a truly inspirational visit for us all and we are indebted to Band Aid's support and Sir Bob in his busy schedule to take time to visit us.
Award Winners with Desta Abera, Education Officer and Bisrat Mesfin, EYES Manager
30 August 2009
Top Students Awarded 29 Aug 2009
Twelve students were awarded plaques to mark their high academic achievements in 2009. Mr Desta Abera, Secretary to the Regional Bureau of Education, a stalwart supporter of EYES since its inception, in presenting the awards, praised the students and also the high quality of those rural schools we are building “for generations to come”.
Bisrat Mesfin, Manager of EYES, congratulated the students academic records whilst reminding them to not neglect personal qualities of selflessness in helping others.
School Directors, Church representatives, students’ families and members of the press were present at a well attended ceremony which included refreshments & entertainment
Students receiving awards were:
89 Medhin Weldu Awaiting University, 125 Gigi Gebrehiwot Awaiting University,
152 Giday Gebrehiwot 1st Grade 8 to 9, 153 Mulu Gebrehiwot 1st Grade 5 to 6,
156 Ezana Asfaw BSc Electrical Engineering GPA 3.72, 165 Dimtse Haile 1st Grade 8 to 9, 246 Kokob Mezgebe 2nd year undergraduate BSc Civil Engineering GPA 3.53, 250 Tesfu Gebretsadik 1st Grade 8 to 9, 261 Mogos Solomon 1st Grade 4 to 5 (Adigudom), 296 Mebrahtu Belay 1st Grade 7 to 8 (Fikre Alem), 329 Habtamu Ayalew BSc Computer Science GPA 3.11 (unable to be present), 335 Haftamu Dimstu 1st Grade 10 to pre-university.
Award winners included three girls, two disabled and three from rural schools - proving that with support, encouragement and opportunity, all have the ability to higher aspirations and succeed, whatever their background or status.
More information.
Mr Zenebe Education Officer receives award from Presidential Advisor Mr Zemichael
3 August 2009
EYES honours local supporters
A key way we operate in Ethiopia is through active cooperation with all local organizations. We deeply value this important support and EYES Manager Bisrat Mesfin held a small but well attended ceremony on 1 August to honour six of our supporters.
Gumselasa School Dedication 26 Apr 2009 by HE Ambassador Dr Kassa Gebrehiwot
6 May 2009
Gumselasa Full Elementary School #4
See our latest video about Gumselasa school
This school was completed on time and on budget. It was officially opened and dedicated on Sunday 26 April 2009 by His Excellency Ambassador Dr Kassa Gebrehiwot, Commissioner for Human Rights amidst much acclaim as a "model" and standard for all others to follow.
Dr Kassa stated "The significance of education is not only in helping our country to do away with poverty, but to bring good governance and it also furthers children's rights to education".
More information.
