Selam Deki Adey;
Since you never stop think about awlaelo, I am sure you are eager to hear about it. I could tell you many things about my trip to Ethiopia but you may not have the time to read it all and I go straight to the points related to our Awlaelo and our Alumni Association.
Wukro, April 22, 2006
It was Saturday morning April 22 that I had my first meeting with Awlaelo Development Association committee members, Wukro woreda Administrator, and the director of Wukro High School. In the meeting, we had discussed about communication Chanel between Wukro and USA, about the Library project, and about the program of awarding best performing students and teachers in Wukro High School. I learn in the meeting for the first time that the cost to build the library was mounted to 1.3 Million Birr. I also learn the existence of Atsbi High School for the first time in the meeting even though I was aware of the High School in Sinkata. The cost of the library was more than I expected and our discussion about it caries on in to another day.
After the meeting, we toured Wukro High School including the site for the Library, Megabit 30 Elementary School, and the Agricultural College in Wukro. I finally end the day by receiving the detailed plan paper work of the library from Wedi Keshi and the documents of the students award ceremony of last year from Dawit Aregay.
Mekelle, April 29, 2006
A meeting was called in Mekelle to discuss how to strengthen Awlaelo Development Association. I was invited to the meeting and was chaired by memhir Hailemariam and Asefa Tewodros. The meeting was very moving and encouraging. We discussed all the venues and options that will put the Association in to a better position. We laid down tactics and strategies that we believe will strengthen the Association and lead it in to its success.
Atsbi, May 4, 2006
It was my first time to visit Atsbi. The reason I travel to Astbi was to see the High School I heard about in my first meeting in Wukro. It was amazing how information can be hidden from us for a long time. The High School was opened five years ago and it is very beautiful. It is more beautiful and much bigger than Wukro High School. I may not be mistaken or exaggerating if I say it might be the best high school in the region. However, like any other high school,it has its own problems. I interviewed the director of the High school Mr. Tesfamariam Arafaine and among other things, he told me that the high School urgently needs a duplicating machine. By the way, the High school was built by world vision.
Sinkata, May 8, 2006
Tekli Siwuat High School was opened two years ago in Sinkata. Three blocks of the High School was built by the public, one block by wereda Administration, another one block and one building ground plus two with 12 class rooms was built by world vision. I also interviewed the director of Tekli Siwuat High School Sinkata Mr. Berhane Tesfay and among other things, he told me that the high school immediately needs computers, printers, and books.
Wukro, May 9, 2006
On Tuesday morning May 9, I called a meeting in Wukro for a 2nd time to discuss the final points of the library project. Since the cost is more than what we expected and our Alumni Association’s interest is to build the library by it self only, I asked the meeting members to come up with a solution that will accommodate our interest and meet the financial obligation. It was agreed by all participants of the meeting that our Alumni Association will do what ever it can and just in case if the woreda administration, or Awlaelo Development Association, or any organization for that matter contributes money to complete the project, the money will be count as it was a donation to us and the library will be still known as it was built only by Awlaelo Schools Alumni Association North America. Our meeting was concluded with the above agreement but the day continues with another program.
- I was invited to have a cup of coffee with some of the Awlaelo Development Association committee members on Tuesday night. To my surprise, the invitation was not for a cup of coffee but for good bye dinner party. The dinner party was jointly hosted by Awlaelo Development Association, Wukro Woreda Administration, and Wukro Business Owners Association. During the gathering, I received two different awards that express appreciation not only for my self but also for all members of Awlaelo Schools Alumni Association North America. The awards were:
- Axum Obelisk that was awarded by Wukro woreda Administration
- Framed Diploma of thank you jointly prepared by Awlaelo Development Association and by Wukro Woreda Administration.
Wukro, May 10, 2006
On my final day in Wukro, few hours prior to my departure, I was interviewed by reporter Aklilu Akalu which he intends to print the interview in one of the annual magazines in Wukro. The interview was mainly concentrated on the activities of our Alumni Association and my observation of Wukro and surroundings during my stay in Kilte-Awlaelo.
In conclusion, leaving alone my personal activities in Ethiopia, I have said enough about the activities related to our Awlaelo and our Alumni Association. Therefore, I like to leave you with a final message I carried from Wukro. If any of you, by group or individually, have the interest to invest in Wukro, Wukro is waiting for you in open arms. The Woreda administrator has promised me that he will co-operate all the way to facilitate your investment projects.So go for it if you have the desire in heart. Wukro is growing faster than it was expected and any thing you do in Wukro now will be more money in the future.
Thanks
Hawkum,
Atsbha Gebru
