Introduction - a child's right to free primary education
Hagere Selam Full Elementary School #5
Gumselasa Full Elementary School #4
Dansa Full Elementary School #3
Adihana Full Elementary School #2
Schools
Hagere Selam Full Elementary School #5
Hagere Selam means "place of peace"
Currently this school has grades 1-5 with planned grades up to 8 capacity 500 students.
Phase 1 the community initiative has, with our support and technical over-sight, been completed for an additional two classroom "overflow" block.
The contract for phase 2 for an additional four classroom block, an Administration block with library and a deep trench latrine block has now been let and work is nearing completion for opening on 24 Nov 09 by Sir Bob Geldof of Band Aid Trust. Locally quarried stone, sand and water were collected and labouring work has been done by the local villagers - although this is the harvest season and many of the community are otherwise busy. Although there has been a nationwide high demand for cement we were assured our supplies as a priority project.
This capital project has been principally financed by The Band Aid Trust and was dedicated by Sir Bob Geldof, Founding Chairman of the Band Aid Trust, on 24 November 2009 at an impressive ceremony attended by many local and international officials. Our newly re-formed EYES Band and Circus performed an emotional rendition of "Feed the World" and "Do they know it's Christmas" with hardly a dry eyes in the audience. Truly a day to remember as Bob remarked "This is the best school I have seen - ever.
We are still looking for supporters to help us buy the locally made basic furniture, 100 double desk sets, book shelves, staff desks and chairs. Current estimates are about £5,023 or US$8,137 for the complete furniture - although smaller funders would be welcome foir individual items.
Interestingly this school has two thirds girls registered; can this be because a lady is Director, currently the only lady Director in the Region? Five years ago it was very rare to even see a lady teacher but, as can be observed, things may be changing, albeit slowly.
Impact
This now completed school is bringing closer access and better long-term educational facilities to over 500 of the most vulnerable rural youngsters, many of whom without this school, probably would not have this opporttunity to attend any education at all, as the nearest school is two hours walking away - one way..
