Your Donations Make a REAL Difference!

160 children in Shashemene, Ehtiopia now attend school as a result of Schools for Humanity.  These are children that would otherwise have no access to education.  We are working on finishing construction of a permanent facility within the next year.  Please visit our Gallery to see photos of the community we are serving.

You can make a personal and very real difference in the success of this project.
For example, only......
.....$ 20 will providing schooling and two meals a day for one child.
.....$ 50 will pay the salary of an assistant teacher for one month.
.....$100 will pay for a teacher's salary for one month.
.....$200 will provide writing materials for a class for one year.
.....$250 will provide basic medical coverage for the entire school for one month.
.....$900 will pay all the expenses for the school for one month.

Why not join us and help us bring education to this village?  We promise you will sleep well at night knowing that you have made a personal difference!

Ethiopian Government grants Education license

The local municipal government of Shashemene was prepared to grant us land for the new school building, with one caveat: we obtain a Certificate of Education from the Central Government!

Schools for Humanity's Country Director, and local community leader, Wondimu Seba rallied the 150 families in the community behind his efforts to obtain the license. Each and every family made a contribution to fund a lawyer and support frequent trips to Addis Adaba in order to petition the Education Ministry. I was extremely saddened to learn that some families went without food in order to pay their contribution; what dedication to their children's education this demonstrates.

After hours and hours of preparation and petitioning - and 8 trips to the capital to support our cause - we finally received our Certificate on Education on October 1, 2007.

Schools for Humanity Association Ethiopia can now build and run schools anywhere in Ethiopia. Another milestone for this great organization. And just in case you are wondering, we did reimburse all the families that sacrificed so much to fund this effort!

Dena Brown

My goal to visit Africa was FINALLY achieved!! The trip was a GREAT success and I think all of us that were there will never think of Ethiopia in the same way again.

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. But after being there for ONE day, my life and my heart was changed forever. I will never forget the love and compassion that everybody shared with us and each other! While walking down the streets of Shashemene, I immediately noticed almost everyone holding hands and hugging one another. What a true sign of love, support, protection and affection.

My first day in Shashemene was truly AMAZING and I didn't want the day to end. I remember walking down a dirt road early that morning and hearing children yell out the word " Selam, Selam, Selam". Selam means "Hello" in Amharic, which is the traditional language in Ethiopia. Everyone was so excited to see us. I remember turning this one special corner and I could see what looked like hundreds of children singing, dancing, and jumping all over the place. They were soooo happy!!!! I remember asking myself, "Wow, what are they celebrating today"?  When the children saw us walking down the street, they all started running towards us. Singing, and dancing with HUGE smiles on their beautiful faces. Every one of them wanted to hug and hold my hands.

When I realized that all of the singing, and dancing was the children's way of welcoming us to Shashemene, it brought tears to my eyes.....They presented all of us with beautiful flower arrangements, and a wonderful "Welcome" ceremony. I cried during the entire ceremony...... After the "Welcome" ceremony, we were presented with a private traditional "Coffee' ceremony. The coffee was taken through this full cycle of preparation in front us in a ceremonial manner. They taught us how to roast the coffee beans on a special roasting pan. This is where I learned that coffee is called 'Bunna' (boo-na) by the Ethiopians.

After the coffee ceremony and homemade bread, we walked for a awhile to see the land that was granted to Schools for Humanity. Later in the afternoon, the children played soccer, while proudly sporting the Jersey's that the children at the Ralston Middle School in Belmont, California donated. The children ran and played soccer for hours, WITHOUT shoes on their precious feet.  I couldn't believe my eyes...I danced and sang with the beautiful, energetic cheerleaders. They proudly chanted "My team is better then your team" in Amharic, which was classic music to my ears. Halfway through the soccer game, we took a group a kids and taught them how to color.

They all wanted to sit on my lap and hold my hands. The affection and love that they showed me was amazing. I was a total stranger to them and they acted as if I was family the instant that we met. I've never been anywhere in the world and felt such never ending, warmth, love and affection at no cost. I experienced all of this during my first day in Shashemene. I could write for hours and try to explain how wonderful my experience was, and I still don't think I could make you understand how moved I was. You just had to be there. To see it, feel it, taste it, smell it, hear it, and then you would understand my passion for the children in Shashemene. I LOVED my experience and will cherish the memories forever.

My plans are to spread that word about Schools for Humanity, by sharing my experience in Ethiopia every chance that I get, and also, by organizing future fund raising events, to help with supporting the children that we get the opportunity to help.

Shashemene

We traveled to Shashemene as a 4-person team in July of this year. Most of that time was spent with the community where the school will be built. At the end of the trip we were able to start classes for 160 children. These are children who currently have little access to formal education.

The community we are working with live on the outskirts of Shashemene -  a large town that grew where two major roads meet in the southern part of Ethiopia.

It’s a trading and trucking stop. The community is a mile or so away from the center of town and has a more rural feel to it. The corn (maze) and other crops that grow next to the homes give the impression that you are in a rural setting. We often, mistakenly, refer to this community as a village; since that’s the feeling that you get when you are there.

The community is poor, but not destitute. They are simple traders, store workers or operate the pony-driven taxis that run through the back streets of Shashemene. Their leader is Wondimu, a tall, dignified and immensely respected person. He is a devoted Christain, who cares deeply for his family, the children of the community, and anyone that he can help in his sphere of influence.

Wondimu has created “ Schools for Humanity Association Shashemene” – a 10 member board drawn from both inside and outside the community. Included on that board are: a building engineer, a teacher and educator, a former government employee and other local professionals.

When visiting the community, one cannot help but be struck by the desire these people have for a school. A few of the children attend the government schools, where conditions are cramped and overcrowded. Some classes have over one hundred students with few books and no writing materials. Most of the children, though, have no access to a formal education.

It has been Wonidmu’s dream to build a school for the children in Shashemene. He would like to provide schooling for both the children in his community, and also children who live in the poorer neighborhoods of the surrounding areas.

Land has been granted for the school’s construction – but to build and operate the school we need a Certificate of Education. To obtain the Certificate, Wondimu pulled the whole community together. Each family contributed 25 bir (around US$3) to fund the Certificate process. I was extremely saddened to learn that some families were forced to go without food to pay their contribution!

Discussing_designOn July 6th, the Ethiopian Education Ministry approved the Education License. The license will now need to be recorded with the Central Government Records office, a process that should not entail any major problems. As we drove to Addis to fly back to the USA, Wondimu was making his 7th journey to the Capital to work on pushing the process forward. Hopefully, construction of the new school will start soon.

Genene Tasew, local teacher and educator, has designed the curriculum. For the pre-school children the Amharic script will be taught. For the children aged 5-9, English, Math, Science, Amharic, and Social Studies will be given.

First_day_at_schoolWhile in Shashemene, the opportunity presented itself to lease facilities and start the school before the new building is complete. On Monday July 16, 160 children turned up for their first class. These children, delighted at the prospect of going to school, gladly spent the weekend cleaning up the facilities in readiness for their first lesson. Schools for Humanity is now open for business!

Here is a video showing highlights of the trip.

Online Videos by Veoh.com