Ethiopian teachers help link the global north and south

TWO Ethiopian teachers recently spent just over a week in South Galway as part of an educational programme between schools in the northern and southern hemispheres. Gort Community School and Tana Haik Secondary School in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, are connected through the scheme which links the Global North and the Global South.

“The focal theme of our link is Human Rights For All, with an emphasis on learning more about the 2015 Millennium Development Goals as set out by the United Nations in 2000,” explained Gort teacher, Carmel Neylon.
Melkemariam Genet and Dawit Belay came to Gort through Worldwise, the Irish Aid Schools Linking and Immersion Scheme. The teachers spent 10 days in the area.
“They got to know our school community better and worked with our students on various human rights projects. The ribbon-like flower planter was constructed by some of our students. It symbolises the link between the schools and planting the red flowers in it, helps create awareness of the tragedy of HIV/AIDS. The framed lady was created by four of our transition-year students who handpainted 800 toy soldiers and stuck them down into the shape of a girl in order to highlight the futility of war and the urgency to educate young girls in countries ravaged by poverty, war and HIV/AIDS,” Ms Neylon continued.
Mr Genet teaches history and civics while Mr Belay is a physics and computer science teacher. The pair made two-day journey to Gort, travelling from Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa then onwards through Khartoum in Sudan and Istanbul before arriving in Dublin and taking the bus to Galway. The Ethiopian teachers visited Bunratty Castle and the Cliffs of Moher and surfed in Lahinch during their stay. They also visited the Burren and Coole Park, saw a hurling match and listened to some traditional music.