Groundbreaking Report
CONSTRUCTION BRINGS A WAVE OF HOPE
Before the first shovel hit the ground in Harnet, imagine1day was busy ensuring that your investment would result in positive, lasting change. Our first step was to train a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in school leadership and management while the PTA's first task was to pave the way for future infrastructure and development. And that they did...literally.
In just a few short months the PTA members spoke to their community about the possibility of prosperity and then mobilized a group of people to build an eight kilometre road to the school site. Working in partnership with imagine1day, the local government participated by providing technical and engineering assistance to ensure the safety and durability of the road.
Beyond allowing imagine1day's construction vehicles to transport tools and building materials to the school plot, this basic improvement in infrastructure has opened Harnet's access to neighbouring villages, local markets and to the main highway in the Hintalo Wejirat district. Harnet is on the map and is well on its way to achieving its vision of education, health and sustainability.
meet Harnet's grade one class
The first day of school is always memorable, particularly for these newcomers to education. When imagine1day visited Harnet's open air dass school, the 21 students in the afternoon shift were in their first month of classes. They were teetering on stones for seats and struggling to see a small blackboard through the bright Tigrigna sun. Still, their faces were bright and the anticipation of a new school could be seen in their smiles. We'd like you to meet the class and follow them through to the opening of the school that is both yours and theirs.
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because imagine1day knows you're counting on us...
profile of a family embracing change
Asqual Halefom, Mother, age unknown, illiterate
Gria Seged, Father, age unknown, illiterate
Gerense, Son, 14 years old, grade one
Meselu, Daughter, 12 years old, grade three
Tahalo, Son, 9 years old, grade three
Berhanu, Son, 8 years old, grade two
Tsehay, Son, 3 years old
apparent benefits
Gria and Asqual are fourth generation residents of Harnet. Their five children will be the first in their family to receive an education and become literate. They told imagine1day "we know we have been given an opportunity and we will not see our children struggle as we have."
Despite their commitment to education and their obvious love of their children, Asqual and Gria have in the past found it difficult to send all of their children to school. In Harnet, as in all of Ethiopia, a child's participation in household chores and in the care and maintenance of farmland and livestock is critical to survival. Time invested in school can mean family livelihoods suffer. A long walk to class replaces a long walk to collect necessary water.
Today, Gria and Asqual are enthusiastically watching the construction of the new school, latrine and water well knowing that change is coming soon. Bringing a school to a community means that children have short distances to travel. With the school day split between morning and afternoon classes they will send their children in shifts so they are never left without help. They also recognize the potential impact on their children's health and their personal growth. "We will be given environmental and agricultural training, we will be planting fruit trees and have access to tools and water and our children will be protected, this school is different."
As parents, Gria and Asqual know they will need to work harder with all of their children in school, but they also understand the benefits. "We know Harnet is a good place to live, the land is fertile and the rains are reliable, we don't want to leave this place, we just need opportunity for our children. You have brought us this. Thank you."
Grenese's graduation to grade one
Gerense is Asqual and Gria's eldest son. His help with the cattle and harvest is invaluable to his parents. Gerense is responsible for the family's seven sheep, one cow and one ox. He also takes great pride in "Hadera" the family donkey.
Unfortunately, Gerense's value to his family has also kept him from attending school. "I used to watch my brothers and sisters leaving for school and I always asked myself why can't I have the same fate, why not me?" Gerense's questions were answered by Daniel, Harnet's Principal. His visit to Gerense's home to talk to his parents about the importance of enrolling Gerense was successful. This year, with the momentum and energy of the new school construction, at fourteen years old, Gerense began Grade One. Together with his twelve year old sister and nine year old brother in Grade Three and his eight year old brother in Grade Two, the siblings set off to school together. Occasionally during the current harvest season, Gerense's parents requested Daniel's permission for Gerense to miss class. Daniel assured us that Gerense was so pleased to be attending school that he was determined not to let occasional absences put him behind.
Gerense's parents do report that they are working harder now without Gerense but they understand that an education will break the cycle of poverty that has made their lives so difficult. Their belief and hope is working in their favor. Recently they have become beneficiaries of a government 'Safety Net' program that allows them modest food assistance and they have traded their livestock for breeds that are conducive to a 'cut and carry' feeding routine that no longer necessitates labour for grazing.
As part of imagine1day's Parent Teacher Association trainings, we work with communities to overcome traditional stigma around older children like Gerense starting school. Today Gerense is excited that when the new school opens he will not be left behind. In fact he will have access to the best educational facilities and quality instruction that he and every child deserve.
awarding the bid
With the knowledge and experience that imagine1day gained during the successful implementation of our first two school projects, we put out a request for proposal for the Harnet school construction. We conducted a broad and open process that attracted bids from 11 local contractors.
The selection committee, comprised of members of the imagine1day team and guests invited from the regional education bureau, evaluated each bid on the basis of:
- Price;
- Technical Capacity - including experience of labour force, type of machinery and equipment to be used and the scope of previous projects implemented; and
- Prior experience working in remote rural areas on similar school construction projects
We were delighted that Solomon Girmay, contractor of our first two projects again came through with both the most efficient and economical bid while remaining the most technically strong. His commitment and genuine care for the people in our communities is already coming to life in Harnet.
The site is buzzing with 36 day labourers, 30 masons, a barbender and a carpenter. Local stone, mined from just meters away from the school site, is being hand carved into perfect bricks and smaller gravel pieces. Your sand and cement has been delivered and a school is starting to take form.
Solomon has contributed countless value added items without cost to our projects and has formed strong and trusting relationships with each community. Rest assured that each door, window and roof beam you purchased is in the talented hands of a contractor that cares about education in Ethiopia.
imagine1day is proud of the meaningful and lasting relationships it has made with its partners in Ethiopia. It is these relationships that will continue to enable us to implement our programs with quality and efficiency.
Dear School Builders,
Together with imagine1day Board Members, Shannon Wilson and David Ferguson, I had the absolute privilege of participating in the Harnet ground breaking ceremony. We were treated to traditional singing, dancing and athletic performances by the school children and were generously fed a meal of local honey and homemade brew. It was an experience that touched our hearts.
When the community leaders stood to express their gratitude to us for the work we are carrying out we turned to each other and David expressed what we were all thinking. We are the lucky ones. We are learning and growing every day as a team and as individuals.
In our reports to you we strive to convey and connect you to the true impact of your contribution. We know you have a choice and we thank you for choosing to join the imagine1day community.
