November 22, 2008:

Thanks for Giving Event

Common River thanks you for your support. There was conversation and a slide show presentation. We shared the progress-to-date of how you made a difference in the lives of a community in Ethiopia, the birthplace of man and coffee. We thank you for your feedback. Ethiopian dance, music and food was provided. Aleta Wondo coffee, made it's debut in America at a traditional coffee ceremony.

July-September 2008:

Tsegaye Bekele and Donna Sillan spent 10 weeks in Ethiopia to implement program activities and witness the progress on the ground. Donna's children, Kai (14) and Kieu (10) accompanied them for a few weeks to work and play. Keola James, a contractor from Atlanta, volunteered for 2 months, to help survey the water and sanitation situation. The summer began by conducting more focus group discussions (FGD) with children, women and men. These lively discussions revealed that the positive deviance strategy was still on target with the community's needs. Upon visiting another Sidama town, Wondo Genet (located an hour north of Aleta Wondo), Common River was approached by a community school committee. There had never been a high school in their community, so they began construction of a school contributing their own labor and materials since 2005. Common River will support them in their efforts to complete the high school and explore the possibility of a US "sister" high school.

May 23-25, 2008:

The Meridian Health Foundation sponsored Common River's participation in a 2 day training in Full Circle Learning. It is a model of education in which all learning springs from the application of value-based concepts. The lesson plans teach students to apply these values in their personal lives, their community lives and their future careers. The integration of their academic and arts projects and conflict resolution practices always culminates in community service. The result is an orientation that fosters ethical and altruistic leaders even during the formative pre-adolescent years. The Full-Circle Learning model is adaptable for in-school, summer school, and after-school programs. It can be adapted for students ages 2 - 16. The developers of the non-profit program have supplied many communities with materials, at schools and community development projects in at least ten countries. The curriculum is aligned with the Positive Deviance Approach and will be applied to Common River's educational intervention. It is a supplement to the government curriculum of public school. The teachers of the new school will be trained in the methodology, as well as the teachers in the public Primary School. An after-school program will be designed using this curriculum. It greatly enhances the educational content that Common River offers to create lasting change among the community of Aleta Wondo.

March 8, 2008:

Chasing Maya Benefit Concert Chasing Maya is a band that is currently made up of six young musicians. They are: Chase age 11 (bass), Lotus age 10 (drums), Ryan age 10 (guitar), Helen age 11 (vocals), Reed age 9 (keyboards) and Zach age 10 (guitar) and their musical director is Derek Kudrow. As a band, Chasing Maya wants to help the children in Africa. They have chosen Common River as their first project to fund the school. They are dynamic, compassionate and are true kid for the greater good. Their first benefit concert at Edna Mcquire School raised $2,000. Their big next big event is March 8th at the Tam Valley Community Center. Check out theirposter.

December 2007-February 2008:

Initial Breaking Ground in Aleta Wondo Tsegaye spent 10 weeks in Ethiopia and had the first schoolhouse built before he departed! After gaining permits, and finding a local architect, surveyor, contractor and laborers, he went about finding materials. Part of the old Bekele Hotel was demolished and the materials recycled to build a warehouse, which also serves as a temporary community center. Lumber and cement are very scarce and expensive. He did find a beautiful bamboo nursery and selected the best bamboo for the school's sides. A fence was built around the property and 650 trees were planted to line the fence. A road was built to gain access to the property and a small footbridge. A well has been hand dug and 4 latrines are being constructed. A guardhouse was built and two guards hired. Until the children's shelter is built, the Bekele Hotel will serve as an orphanage for about 20 children. The schoolhouse has one classroom for 36 students and it will start with 1st grade in September 2008. Donna spent 3 weeks in January and interviewed children and coffee growers and set up the organizational structures to start the school and orphanage.View photographs.