The Ethiopian expression "ewiket lehibret" means "knowledge for everyone", and the organisation "Ewiket Lehibret Support Association" (in short ELSA) is a recognised NGO, formed and run by individuals, with the purpose of supporting good quality school constructions in Ethiopia.The aim is to provide sound schooling to as many children as possible, so as to ensure economic and democratic progress for the country.
In addition to this, we support education of a limited number of adults, mainly single mothers.
our work by
THE PRESENT SCHOOL PROJECT
In Bahir Dar, where we built the large education centre "Abay Mado" - completely from empty field - over the years 2009-18 - we are now in the midst of important projects at an existing school, "Blessed Gebre Michael Catholic School" - or in short "The Sisters' School", as it is run by a handful of very kind, unpretentious, competent, and humerous nuns, whom are loved by the children.
This school is managed along exactly the principles, we always require to enter cooperation: All children shall be welcomed, regardless of their religious conviction, and there shall be special focus on children from very poor homes.
The school has more than 1.100 pupils, of which 300+ are at kindergarten level. A large part of these children are orphans and/or come from extremely bad conditions, and these children are also washed and fed at the school.
Read more about our projects here
VISIT BY THE DANISH AMBASSADOR
In November 2017 the Danish ambassador to Ethiopia, Mette Thygesen, visited the Abay Mado education centre. The ambassador visited kindergarten and classes, and she praised the project to the skies.
Read more in the annual report 2017
LIKE A DROP IN THE OCEAN
We are fully aware that our help is like a drop in the ocean, but we can assure you that where that drop lands, it creates much pleasure, benefit, and hope.
We hope you would like to support our work, thereby giving children in Ethiopia a better chance.
See video about ELSA's projects here
See video about the large Abay Mado project in Bahir Dar
See video from Ethiopian TV about the inauguration of the Abay Mado Education Centre
2022
The year 2022 was again characterized by a continued good cooperation with management and employees at "Blessed Gebre Michael Catholic School (or "the School of the Nuns", as we call it in short)
It has not become easier to construct new buildings in Ethiopia. Cement and other building materials have become very difficult to get hold of, and this has of course driven the prices up dramatically. And once you find out where to buy the materials you need, then you also need a buying-permission from the authorities. But we have long experience with overcoming also these kind of difficulties.
At the "Sisters' School" we have finished an extensive drainage of the sports field, a project we started late 2021. After the drainage we planted traditional fruit trees around the sports field, and the fruits - avocado, mango and papaya - are now a valuable addition to the school children's menu.