David and I are back from our annual fall visit to Ethiopia and are once again amazed and delighted by the incredible passion and dedication of our team, not to mention the progress in every aspect of our projects. Whilst there, we were part of the opening ceremonies for our 19th and 20th schools, representing our 3rd brand new high school and our 17th replacement primary school. The holistic programs are thriving, and our older schools are becoming self-sufficient, carrying on the programs with less and less oversight and support from us. Academic achievement is improving, as creative, student-centred learning methods are implemented and teachers and students alike are enjoying the learning process more and more. The educational gardening program is literally bearing fruit and producing income to help support student and school expenses, while at the same time creating valuable lessons for students on nutrition and horticulture. Through our partnership with Operation Eyesight, all of our 30,000+ students and 1,000+ teachers are being tested for eye acuity and the existence of eye disease. Those affected are given eyeglasses donated by Operation Eyesight and/or referred to one of the three Vision Centres that we have opened. We have recently signed an agreement with Splash International; their health care workers will soon be leading sanitation and hygiene workshops for students in all schools.
A signficant spill-over effect is occurring, whereby lessons learned from our programs are being imparted well beyond just the students in our schools. The Federal Minister of Education (Minister to 115 million people), the Head of the Regional Department of Education (who oversees 10,000 schools), and the President of the Bahir Dar University took time out to attend the two school openings with us. Their messages were the same: they are continuously learning from Partners in Education Ethiopia and regularly invite our Executive Director or Education experts to share our model and experiences at their Education conferences, so that other educators throughout Ethiopia may benefit from them. The Federal Minister of Education said, “this organization is making a difference not just to thousands, but to millions”. How incredibly rewarding!