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Christian School Project
The school situation in the town of Ziway is very inadequate. Many children simply do not have the opportunity to attend school at any level or in any facility. The government schools are overcrowded with up to 75 students per classroom. Private schools tend to be somewhat better, but usually have 40-50 students per class. Whether private or public, the schools are lacking in even the basics. Students must share textbooks and cannot take their textbooks home. Even standard items such as chalk and pencils are in short supply and must be severely rationed.
The parents and students recognize the value of a good education. They know that education is critical to their obtaining good employment and providing for themselves and their families. Therefore, it is a priority to Misgana Ministries to construct a quality grade school as quickly as possible. One of the essential ways to pull Ethiopia out of its poverty is to educate its citizens.
The Meserete Kristos (Mennonite) Church we are working with has established a school which currently encompasses Nursery School, Lower Kindergarten, Upper Kindergarten, and grades one to four. The current school is essentially two rows of classrooms of mud construction. For its limited resources the school is doing a good job and has given a basic education to many children. Currently 300 children are enrolled, giving an average class size of around 45.
We intend to add one grade per year, i.e., next year we will add fifth grade and the year after that, sixth grade. But we also intend to begin doubling the number of classrooms at the lower level—next year there will be two nursery school classes. So, the following year there will be two lower kindergarten classes and two nursery schools, and so on.
To do that we have begun construction of a new school for grades one through eight, in cooperation with Misgana Ministries. This building will be of much better quality construction and will include facilities such as a computer classroom and good lighting and ventilation.
We petitioned the city of Ziway for land and were granted a beautiful piece of property in the heart of town with good access to roads and utilities. The property is 7,000 square meters, or about 1.7 acres. We also are building a dining facility for a feeding program on this property which will feed the expected eventual 560 students on this campus. There will be a large green area for a playground, including a soccer field.
Construction of the compound wall was begun in January, 2010, and the school construction was begun the following month. The work is progressing well and we hope to be in the new school for the beginning of the 2010-11 school year.
Current Meserete Kristos Classroom
Meserete Kristos School as it exists today.
Construction of dressed stone wall at the front of the school compound.
Construction of Phase I of School Building.
Digging of well at the new school site.
Estimated Cost: ($15,000 will help provide 1 complete classroom) / $250,000 total
About Ethiopia
Location
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Capital City
Addis Ababa
Area
1,104,300 sq km (slightly less than twice the size of Texas)
Population
85,237,338
Languages
Amarigna 32.7%, Oromigna 31.6%, Tigrigna 6.1%, Somaligna 6%, Guaragigna 3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%, English (major foreign language taught in schools) (1994 census)
Religion
Christian 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim 32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8% (1994 census)
**data from www.cia.gov
