Progress

June 2010

Dr. Richard Usatine supervises 8 first year medical students from the University of Texas, San Antonio for their field practicuum.
a) Community Health: implemented a Maternal Health Survey
b) Clinical Health: Conducted Mobile Clinics providing health services to 70 patients per day for one week
c) Presentation of donated medicines to Aleta Wondo Health Center
BLOG

September-2009-June 2010

Common River's School is OPEN!

Eighty-eight students are enrolled in the 1st and 2nd grades.
The staff includes a Principal and two teachers.
The school received accreditation from the government.
See web albums:
New School Summer of 09 and Official School Opening: 9-2009

Animal Husbandry: The Beginnings of a Women's DAIRY! The Novick's cow gave birth and now we have enough milk for 88 students of our new school, to have one cup, once a week. We decided with the school committee that we need to buy more milking cows, because the students are feeling weak in the classroom when afternoon comes. This is largely due to a lack of nutrition, so we would like to provide at least 4 more cups a week for each of our 88 students. The price of a cow starts at $500 and goes up to $1,500 for an American Jersey, (which shouldn't surprise anyone), gives the best milk production of any breed. A chicken coop was started thanks to the generous gift by Sheryl Meredith.


See web albums:
Milk Cows for Aleta Wondo Children and AW Creamery - Plan and Proposal

Horticulture: The student's planted a garden and it is growing well. Will Scott's garden is planted and along with good rains that have arrived, we are all hoping for a fruitful and prosperous harvest! Will Scott plans on returning this Fall to continue planting and teaching. Matt McCue, owner and farmer of Shooting Stars CSA will be coming as well to help with the irrigation system and soil management. See Will working in Aleta Wondo.
Visit web album:
Ethiopia Loves Will

April 2010

Our First Grant!

We would like to share with you the good news that we received our first grant from a foundation, called Christensen Fund. We are receiving funds to:

1) Revive Sidama Cuisine through documenting food ways through a Sidama Cookbook and creating a women-run traditional food catering service.

2) Incorporate the traditional builders to become a viable business so that the technology is preserved.

3) Create a Senior Center and honor local traditions through case histories and ceremonies.

We are very happy to have this fine organization believe in Common River. They believe that community development occurs when local heritage is honored and preserved. While emerging into the developed world, people need their pride. Development does not entail negating old ways, but actually reviving and incorporating traditions that remain beneficial to society, while learning new and appropriate technology.

April 2010

I. Common River UDPATE:

· We are building two new guest huts to accommodate the youth who will be   coming to volunteer in Aleta Wondo this summer.

· The garden has been planted and along with good rains that have arrived,
  we are all hoping for a fruitful and prosperous harvest! We planted moringa,   which is a high protein green leave plant, which is a major key in our
  nutrition program.

· We are starting to raise chickens and started the coop small in order to learn   how to grow them properly. We have built two bee hives.

April 2010: Lara Dutto Mural Project

Lara Dutto, architect and artist, of Orinda, California, visited Common River to help draw up a Master Plan for the property and design new buildings for the future. She conducted a MURAL Project which involved students in painting their life at Common River. View Slideshow The final MASTERPIECE is absolutely awesome. She was accompanied by Sheryl Meredith and her daughter, Fevin.

July - September 2009

I. SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM

a. Introduced 11 youth volunteers to Common River for 3 weeks on site
b. Donated 1,300 pounds of books, shoes, clothes, soccer supplies and medicines
c. Organized Summer Camp for 350 kids (soccer clinics, track and field, ultimate     frisbee, Math, English, Art, andBody Movement)
d. Participated in Peace Corps Sanitation Campaign in downtown Aleta Wondo
e. Started Donkey Cart Library

see webalbum: Volunteers

2. FAMILY REUNION

a. Two adopted children, Eyasue and Batri Novick, return to their hometown     -after 3 years with their mother, sister and god-family
b. Facilitated celebrations and visits with extended family

see webalbum: Family Reunion

3. EDUCATION

A. Graduated 35 kids from the after school program
B. Creation of a New School for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children :
 Sixty 1st and 2nd grade students enrolled since September 19, 2009   a. Built a 3 room school house
  b. Built cubbies, blackboards and benches for classrooms
  c. Select orphaned and vulnerable children: First grade: 40 students /Second     grade: 40 students: Formed school committee for student selection among     kebele leaders and involved government officials to verify
  d. Sponsored 20 children to go to public school (those in the town)
  e. Provided tuition for nursing education for a nursing student
  f. Uniforms for students and shoes
  g. Hired Principal and two teachers: school faculty
  h. Completed School Recognition forms with Ministry of Education
  i. Purchased standard government curriculum
  j. Built flag poles and put up bell
  k. Built shelves and tables for school library (in one-room schoolhouse)
  l. Set up school library with books
  m. Fenced in school property
  n. Built a warehouse/office
  o. Created a Community Bulletin Board and Road Sign

See Slideshows (2): Official School Opening Celebration and Constuction of a New School

4. WATER and SANITATION

a. Dug three wells: one for community street
b. Set up water tank for storage at the school
c. Built 6 latrines for students

see webalbum: Water and Sanitation

5. ELECTRICITY

a) Rewire electricity on compound
b) Extend electric system for street lights for neighborhood

6. HEALTH and NUTRITION

a. Brought first aid supplies from the US
b. Provided first aid to children and adults on compound
c. Planted a demonstration vegetable garden (80 x 20 meter)
d. Bought two milking cows
e. Upgraded kitchen shed: new floor and chicken coop

see webalbum: Plants and Animals

7. SENIORS

a. Met with elders: story-telling to students and establish Senior Center
b. Hosted a Traditional Rainmaking Ceremony (which actually worked!)

see webalbum: Seniors

8. LIVELIHOODS

a. Planted 1000 coffee trees on property
b. Provide downtown space for 2 women small scale entrepreneurs

August 2009:

Rain-making Ceremony

The rain was late. The crops were thirsty. The prayers were answered.
In local Sidama tradition, there is a special ceremony to bring on rain in times of drought.
A cow was sacrificed by the elders and a traditional rain-making ceremony was held.
By midnight of that very day, the sky opened up with a clap of lightening and the rain began. The power of prayer!
Web album link: Praying for Rain

April - May 2009

A. Collaboration with University of Texas, Medical School,
    Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics
    founded by Dr. Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone

B. Two 4th year students conducted a community diagnosis

C. Eight 1st year students arrived to continue the work

D. Drs. Warren and Gretchen Berggren, Harvard School of Public Health (retired faculty) and Board members spent two weeks mentoring and supervising 4th year medical students.

E. Dr. Richard Usatine supervises 10 1st year students.
F. Presentation of donated medicines to Aleta Wondo Health Center by our visiting professors for lasting collaboration with locals donated by Americares

G. 10 students volunteer (1st year students) under the guidance of Dr. Richard Usatine (Professor at U of T)

View students' blog
View Slideshow University of Texas Medical Students

2007-2008

1. Registered 50 children in school and provided health check-ups, uniforms, shoes, school     supplies, toothbrushes, and food support at home. Common River Kids Web Album!

2. Constructed a one-room multi-purpose school house

3. Planted a demonstration vegetable garden (25 x 10 meters) and 7 beds of moringa and     1200 indigenous trees around the property.

4. Constructed two traditional Sidama Huts (10 x 10, 8 x 8): A Community Center and guest     hut for volunteers.

5. Built a Warehouse, Bridge, and Community Notice Board

6. Started a "donkey cart" mobile library and school bus to transport students to school and     do story-telling

7. Provided a scholarship to a nursing student

8. Organized community meetings with women to train in health and nutrition.

9. Dug 4 latrines (2 meters deep, by 3 x 2 meters x 4) for future school and clinic and 3     latrines for the 2 huts (1.5 x 2)

10. Installed electricity: poles, meter, wiring (need transformer)

11. Dug 4 wells of 3 meters deep each. (Need to extend potable water pipe from the city       water system, as water is not potable due to high iron content).

12. Free Grass Cutting Event: free grass offered to 300 farmers for their animals.