Borana Student Advancement

Championed by Fuller Torrey (Ethiopia staff: 64–66)

STARTED IN 2004 by the Ethiopian registered NGO Mega Vision Developmental Association (MVDA), the Borana Student Advancement project provides summer classes for selected students from the Borana region in far southern Ethiopia. Classes are taught in Borana towns by university students who come from that region. During the summer of 2011, 357 students (222 males, 135 females) from grades 4 to 8 were taught by 32 university students (only 4 females) in two towns, Mega and Hidilola.

Students in the Borana region are disadvantaged both because many of their families are semi-nomads, and also because initial school teaching is done in the local language (Oromiffa) and so their skills in Amharic and English are behind those of students in many other Ethiopian regions. Consequently the students find it difficult to compete in national exams and for university entrance. This project attempts to level the playing field by providing Borana students with additional training in Amharic, English, mathematics, and the sciences. It also provides badly needed summer jobs for university students from this region.

MVDA also has a program to provide educational material support for girls who, as we all know, face serious obstacles in getting an education in Ethiopia. During the school year of 2011–12 the program gave extra assistance to 83 girls chosen on the basis of their scholastic performance. (university – 5 girls; college [3-year program] – 10; secondary school [grade 9–12] – 57; middle school – 11) They received funding for school uniforms, books, school supplies and residential house rental cost for those who do not live with their parents.

The Borana Student Advancement project is administered by Teshome Shibre Kelkile, M.D., Ph.D. and Woizero Tirufat Bekele.

To learn how to make a donation to the Borana Student Advancement project

About the RPCV Legacy Program and how you can help

FROM 1962 TO 1976, 1995 to 1999, and 2007 onward more than 2,500 Peace Corps Volunteers worked in education, health, agriculture, community development and other fields in Ethiopia and Eritrea, countries that remain among the poorest in the world.

In 2003 Ethiopia & Eritrea RPCVs established the RPCV Legacy Program™ to allow returned Peace Corps Volunteers from these two countries to continue their legacy of service and assistance. To be part of the Program each project must be proposed by an RPCV or EE Staff “champion,” and reviewed and approved by the E&E RPCVs board of directors.

The champion donates 10% of the goal for the project, is manager of the project working closely with a member of the E&E RPCVs board.

As of December 31, 2011, the RPCV Legacy Program has raised nearly US $150,00.00 for eight important education and health projects in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Four projects have met their goals while four others are ongoing. Our current projects are:

• Borana Student Advancement championed by Fuller Torrey (staff: Ethiopia 1964–66)
• Ethiopia Reads in Awassa championed by Lois Shoemaker (Asmara 1962–64)
• HIV/Aids Books for 200 Communities championed by (Marian Haley Beil, Debre Berhan 1962–64)
• ITC (computer) Lab for Mettu School championed by Patti Garamendi (Mettu 1966–68) and Faith Garamendi

YOU can help by making a tax-deductible donation of any amount to one or more of the RPCV Legacy Program projects. A US dollar still goes a long way in Ethiopia and Eritrea!

Your gift may be made in your name, anonymously, or in honor or memory of a friend, family member or other loved one.

http://eandeherald.com/rpcv-legacy-program/