Apologies: Gosaye
Grima, Bekana, Muluneh, Fekadu, Michael, Aster, Siobhan, Feyisa, Brian
Minutes
Agreed
Developments with the partner group
Girma and Feyisa presented the document which has been shared.
Girma reported that he has discussed with local contacts to say cost of cement is highly variable. Low cost building are made with red clay mixed with small amount of cement.
In discussion suggestions were made that
- clarification that 2 toilets refers to 2 toilet blocks.
- suggestion that children and community should come above employment in priority list,
- the school will need access to water and electricity.
- 500 children and 18 classes is too many; perhaps 1 class per year group (6 classes in all) in the plan – the school could be expanded in the future if the need became evident.
- Cement costs are variable but there is a new cement factory being built in Ambo. Girma is investigating use of cement and red clay as a low cost alternative. Malkaa-Dhangaa has appropriate soil. Keeping costs down could provide a model for future projects.
- What is the situation with Internet access? Sugata Mitra School in the cloud. Currently the capacity of the internet is weak and also the internet is frequently shut down.
- Feyisa pointed out that British Council and Overseas Development Administration will fund links between UK and Ethiopian schools. We need a community survey to establish needs.
- Girma has added utilities to the proposal. Use of solar panels possible.
- The locality meets our criteria as a rural school
- Reduce number of classes 6 classes, 240 children. 7-8 teachers. This will make the cost more realistic.
- Incorporate internet if possible.
- Need for community survey and local voice. Video clips for the website.
Future planning
- Siobhan introduced the timeline of the things we have achieved so far. We can use this to plan the future.
- Risk assessment – Political, Economic, Social, Technical, Legal, Economic – analysis should be undertaken.
- Siobhan will send suggestions for plan for the future. Raise issue in one month. Siobhan will circulate with guidance.
Supporters group
Mluneh and Giftii reported on the second support group out of the country. Up to 50 potential activists. Questions, where the school is to be. Finding younger participants. One young person has offered to help with translations.
Next meeting on the 27th March.
Website
Brian thanked Teferi for his translations already and said he would contact Tade.He also explained about the What you can do to help page.
Teferi said it is important that we should have others involved in the translation because Afan Oromo is being standardised so we need to keep up to date with developments in Oromia.
Discussion about the translation of Workneh Dechasa Education Foundation. Dhaaba Barumsaa Warqinaa Dachaasaa added to the website provisionally..
Suggestion that we could make the second anniversary of Workneh’s passing date for the launch of fund raising initiative.
Also requested we remove the Ethiopian Education policy (2013) be removed from the website.
Further discussion on translation of name.