Ethiopia
Map of Ethiopia
The Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM) work started in Ethiopia. In 2002, two volunteers travelled from Ireland to volunteer in the small school of Atse, run by the Daughters of Charity in Addis Ababa. Since then, hundreds of volunteers have travelled to projects in Bahir Dar, Woylita, Addis Ababa, Ambo, Atse, Mekele, Jimma, Bruh Tesfa, Alitena, Bonga, Bulbula, Nekempte, and Alemachen to Vincentian Fathers and Daughters of Charity projects in the areas of education, health, administration and community development. The Ambo Lazarist Deaf School (ALDS) was established by the Vincentian Fathers and VLM in 2012 with financial support from the Castleknock College community and Misean Cara. Since then, the Ethiopia Deaf Project (EDP) committee of VLM has fundraised tirelessly to support the running costs of the Deaf School every year. Ethiopia is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa area of East Africa. It has a population of 132 million people.
A Few Facts
- Founded in 980 B.C., Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in the world.
- Ethiopians have one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. Current figures estimate that women can expect to live for about 50 years, and men for about 48 years.
- The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months, and it is 7 or 8 years behind the Western calendar.
- In Ethiopia, time is counted differently. Six o’clock is said to be 12 o’clock, and 16:00 hours is 10 o’clock. Ethiopians rationalise that the clock should start when the day does.
- Ethiopia’s national language is Amharic, but there are over 82 languages and 200 dialects, or variations, spoken in the country.
- Addis Ababa is Ethiopia’s capital city. It means “white flower” and, at 2,400 m above sea level, it is the 4th highest capital city in the world.
Ethiopian flag
- Ethiopia is famous for its coffee and is the 5th largest producer in the world today and Africa’s top producer. They have a ritualised and ceremonious way to make and drink coffee.
- More than 70% of Africa’s mountains are found in Ethiopia. It is sometimes called “the roof of Africa.”
- Lucy, a human fossil believed to have existed over 3 million years ago, was found in the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia in 1974. She was named after the Beatles’ song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which was playing on the radio at the time she was found.
Due to safety and security concerns in Ethiopia not all projects are able to welcome volunteers at this time. There are volunteering opportunities in Alemachen, Addis Ababa, Woylita and Jimma currently.
Alemachen
Alemachen is a rehabilitation centre for children with disabilities. They provide free treatment and full-board for children undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Around 200 children use the facility every year. This placement would suit teachers and physiotherapists.
Woylita
Mariam Women’s Vocational Training Project, which provides training in IT, Hotel management, embroidery, hairdressing, business management. There is also the Bruh Tesfa Montessori Kindergarten Teacher Training Institute.
Addis Ababa
There are two schools in the Gulele district of Addis Ababa, one run by the Daughters of Charity and one by the Vincentian Fathers. Each would benefit from teaching volunteers. It is also the administrative centre for all project and financial reporting.
Jimma
Jimma is the largest city in southwestern Oromia Region in Ethiopia and 262km from the capital. The Daughters of Charity run a school here. In Bonga the Vincentian Fathers have a hostel for girls attending school in the city.
Ambo
The Vincentian Fathers run a school for deaf children, a kindergarten and a primary school here.
The Vincentian Fathers and Daughters of Charity variously run projects in Bahir Dar, Mekele, Alitena, Bulbula, and Nekempte however it is not possible to volunteer in any of these areas at present.
Map of Ethiopia
The Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM) work started in Ethiopia. In 2002, two volunteers travelled from Ireland to volunteer in the small school of Atse, run by the Daughters of Charity in Addis Ababa. Since then, hundreds of volunteers have travelled to projects in Bahir Dar, Woylita, Addis Ababa, Ambo, Atse, Mekele, Jimma, Bruh Tesfa, Alitena, Bonga, Bulbula, Nekempte, and Alemachen to Vincentian Fathers and Daughters of Charity projects in the areas of education, health, administration and community development.
The Ambo Lazarist Deaf School (ALDS) was established by the Vincentian Fathers and VLM in 2012 with financial support from the Castleknock College community and Misean Cara. Since then, the Ethiopia Deaf Project (EDP) committee of VLM has fundraised tirelessly to support the running costs of the Deaf School every year. Ethiopia is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa area of East Africa. It has a population of 132 million people.
A Few Facts
- Founded in 980 B.C., Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in the world.
- Ethiopians have one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. Current figures estimate that women can expect to live for about 50 years, and men for about 48 years.
- The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months, and it is 7 or 8 years behind the Western calendar.
- In Ethiopia, time is counted differently. Six o’clock is said to be 12 o’clock, and 16:00 hours is 10 o’clock. Ethiopians rationalise that the clock should start when the day does.
- Ethiopia’s national language is Amharic, but there are over 82 languages and 200 dialects, or variations, spoken in the country.
- Addis Ababa is Ethiopia’s capital city. It means “white flower” and, at 2,400 m above sea level, it is the 4th highest capital city in the world.
Ethiopian flag
- Ethiopia is famous for its coffee and is the 5th largest producer in the world today and Africa’s top producer. They have a ritualised and ceremonious way to make and drink coffee.
- More than 70% of Africa’s mountains are found in Ethiopia. It is sometimes called “the roof of Africa.”
- Lucy, a human fossil believed to have existed over 3 million years ago, was found in the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia in 1974. She was named after the Beatles’ song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which was playing on the radio at the time she was found.
Due to safety and security concerns in Ethiopia not all projects are able to welcome volunteers at this time. There are volunteering opportunities in Alemachen, Addis Ababa, Woylita and Jimma currently.
Alemachen
Alemachen is a rehabilitation centre for children with disabilities. They provide free treatment and full-board for children undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Around 200 children use the facility every year. This placement would suit teachers and physiotherapists.
Woylita
Mariam Women’s Vocational Training Project, which provides training in IT, Hotel management, embroidery, hairdressing, business management. There is also the Bruh Tesfa Montessori Kindergarten Teacher Training Institute.
Addis Ababa
There are two schools in the Gulele district of Addis Ababa, one run by the Daughters of Charity and one by the Vincentian Fathers. Each would benefit from teaching volunteers. It is also the administrative centre for all project and financial reporting.
Jimma
Jimma is the largest city in southwestern Oromia Region in Ethiopia and 262km from the capital. The Daughters of Charity run a school here. In Bonga the Vincentian Fathers have a hostel for girls attending school in the city.
Ambo
The Vincentian Fathers run a school for deaf children, a kindergarten and a primary school here.
The Vincentian Fathers and Daughters of Charity variously run projects in Bahir Dar, Mekele, Alitena, Bulbula, and Nekempte however it is not possible to volunteer in any of these areas at present.