Posted by Robert W. (Bill) Maule
The International Services Committee has completed another step in the
implementation of projects budgeted for this Rotary Year. In a
continuation of our interest in the Hamar tribal people of Ethiopia, we
have approved a grant application submitted by GTLI (Global Team for
Local Initiatives) for funding of an Adult Literacy project. A check
for $1,000 is on its way..
The Hamar people lived for centuries as nomads, moving their animals frequently to find fresh pastures. The prolonged drought plaguing Africa has forced the Hamar to abandon their ages old life style and settle in villages where they live primarily on food provided by relief agencies. Since 2007 GTLI has come to the rescue, helping the Hamar adjust to a completely new life style and begin to become self sufficient. Water wells have been dug and the people taught basic sanitation. (As nomads, there was no reason to use latrines.) GTLI then began to teach new ways for the Hamar to provide for themselves, helping them to start small chicken farms and to tend small vegetable gardens, producing food for consumption as well as for sale. The new entrepreneurs, mostly women, need basic literacy and numeracy skills to succeed. That was the focus of the first schools established by GTLI.
Now there is a broader mission. Our Club’s contribution will partly fund a school for twenty adults, a part of a broader goal - “Increasing Resilience Through Healthy Timing and Spacing of Births”. Educating women to succeed in mini-businesses will enhance the status and influence of women and girls as they begin to contribute to family income. They will be more likely to make use of government sponsored reproductive health programs and will be empowered to serve as examples for other tribal members. Over time the demonstrated benefits of family planning will lead other tribal members to follow suite. Among other efforts, GTLI is developing the confidence of tribal leaders and elders, a proven way to modify tribal behavior. Overall tribal health will be improved and the new entrepreneurs will begin to move the tribe towards self sufficiency.
GTLI has demonstrated its skill at gradually leading the tribe into the 21st century. We are confident that they will continue to do so and will keep us informed of progress.
