Al and Sara in Ethiopia Background

In 2007 Sara and Al decided to embark on a new adventure. We were really keen to work in a different country, but also wanted to do something quite different with out lives. So in January we applied to become volunteers through an organisation called Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO). We attended an assessment day and in April our applications were accepted.

Since then we've filled out lots of paperwork and attended some training at VSO's training centre, Harborne House in Birmingham.

In September we were offered two placements in Ethiopia, where we will be for 2 years from 1 February 2007.

We've set this website up to be able to tell our story, to raise awareness of VSO's work, tell people about Ethiopia and to keep in contact with all the lovely people we share our lives with.

VSO

VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers. Their vision is a world without poverty in which people work together to fulfil their potential. They bring people together to share skills, creativity and learning to build a fairer world.

VSO recruits skilled volunteers with professional qualifications and at least two years' experience from a range of disciplines from around the world to live and work in local communities, sharing skills and changing lives.

http://www.vso.org.uk/about/

Training and Support

We have found VSO to be an incredibly professional, organised and supportive charity. They invest time in ensuring that you have the skills and personal qualities to commit to 2 years overseas, and they helped us to be clear that this was the right path for us. We have had some of the best training we've both experienced and we have met many friendly, interesting enthusiastic people since we sent out applications back in January 2007.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world with 44% of the population living below the national poverty line, and standards of health and education significantly worse than the average for sub-Saharan Africa. VSO Ethiopia is currently one of our largest country programmes with over 100 volunteers working in the areas of Education, HIV & AIDS and Participation and Governance.

Asosa

Our placement and accommodation is in a town in western Ethiopia called Asosa.

According to Wikipedia:

Asosa is one of the 21 woredas in the Benishangul-Gumaz Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Asosa Zone, Asosa is bordered by Kormuk in the north, by Menge in the northeast, by Bambasi in the southeast, and by Sudan in the west.
This Woreda is named after its largest settlement, Asosa. One of the highest points in Asosa is Mount Bange.

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 102,732, of whom 53,340 were males and 49,392 were females; 20,226 or 19.69% of the population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 1,991.41 square kilometers, Asosa has a population density of 51.6 people per square kilometer which is greater than the Zone average of 19.95.

This town has an airport with a 6398 × 152 ft (1950 × 46 m) paved runway.

A Belgian force from the Congo captured Asosa 11 March 1941, destroying the Italian 10th Brigade and capturing 1,500 men. During the Ethiopian Civil War, with help from the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front the Oromo Liberation Front captured Asosa from the Derg in February 1991, and held the city for a brief time.

Sara and Al

Al was born and bred in Bristol, spent 3 years at Leeds University, has travelled in America. South Africa and Israel, but always returned back to his hometown, which is lucky, because that's where he met Sara! Al is a lifelong Bristol City and Bristol Rugby fan.

Sara is originally from Hastings in Sussex, and came to Bristol in 1990 to study at the University of the West of England (when is was actually a polytechnic). She had a short break away from Bristol in 1996 when she took some time out and went on a round the world trip with her good friend Kate, but Bristol called her back when she returned to the UK. Which is lucky because that?s when Al caught her eye!

Al and Sara met in December 1997, have spent 10 happy years together and got married in November 2006.

Al will be working in the regional Capacity Building Bureau in Asosa as an ITC Training Expert.

Sara will be working as a Planning Expert at the Benshangul Gumuz regional Education office which is one of the sector bureaus with a responsibility of managing educational activities in Benshangul Gumuz region.

The regional office is accountable to the regional council, who oversees educational programs and their outcomes in the region. The bureau has three departments and two service units: Educations program Supervision department; Education Program Support department; Curriculum and research department; Planning and programming services and Admin and finance service. The three departments are mainly focused on developing and revising curriculums and ensuring its implementation, the implementation of the different education program and supporting the education programs that are undergoing in the region.

There is a need for a volunteer with skill in project management and the placement will enable the bureau to develop sound programs and projects and get more resource to finance these programs.

How you can help us

Fundraising - visit

http://www.justgiving.com/alandsarainethiopia

Keeping in contact

email us at alandsara @ alandsarainethiopia.co.uk