Workneh Dechasa Education Foundation
A school for Oromia
Nicky Lopez, WDEF’s fundraiser collaborated with this super event which not onlyy brought in a share of ticket sales, but also made many more people aware of our charity and its work.
Aster Belay organised another amazing Christmas Party for our supporters to meet, enjoy Giftii’s amazing cooking, play party games and sing carols.
This video show the school site on 18th December 2025 with Classroom Block A close to complete, foundations being dug for Blocks C and D. Our colleagues from WADA, Mr Birrissa Bedane and Mr Olana Hundessa are inspecting the work.
Things are now happening quickly in Guder, Oromia. Block A construction is complete and is now being decorated.
The generous grant of £8172 from Hazel’s Footprints Trust for the pupils’ rest and refreshment room has been transferred to WADA and work has begun digging the foundations.
WADA managed to complete Block A within budget and the trustees were confident to transfer the requested funds for the toilet block and the foundations of Block B. WADA is currently negotiating with local utility providers to arrange water and power supplies.
We have applied to Artelia Foundation, a charity associated with the engineering firm Artelia, which offers consultancy and funding support to engineering projects in developing countries. We hope they will support sustainable solutions such as solar panels, batteries and water pumps. We were introduced to Artelia by the father of one of our fundraising swimmers.
Understandably, our bank balance is now looking quite depleted, but Giftii, Rosa and Nicky have fundraising events planned for December. In the New year we have signed up for places in the London Landmarks Half Marathon, the Royal Parks Half and Vitality 10K.
We hope the building will be completed by the summer. So far the build has gone very smoothly due to WADA’s choice of skilled contractors and their effective project management. The final stage, dealing with outside agencies may be more problematic but we will back them to finish the job.
On the weekend of October 11th Birisa Bedhane Dechasa and Olana Hundessa visited the site near Guder and recorded this video which shows the work that has been done and that which remains. WDEF are in awe of the efforts being made by our partners WADA, and the workers on site to realise Workneh’s vision.
Block A comprises 4 classrooms and will be matched by a similar Block B. There will also be two smaller Blocks for student’s belongings and toilets. Funding for Block C has been donated by Harriet’s Footsteps Charity.
