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In Support of Education in Ethiopia

Yesterday, in celebration of Saint David's Founders' Day, I told in chapel the story of the school’s founding--February 5, 1951--by ten audacious families. I then shared with the boys our school’s 60th Anniversary Founders' Day initiatives: to do for others what our founders did for us. Nine years into these initiatives, Horizons at Saint David’s and the Ethiopia Project have matured and blossomed. The school in Kalina, Ethiopia, opened in 2014. Ranging from pre-primary to Grade 8, it now has approximately 430 elementary age boys and girls, close to the size of Saint David's.

This coming Monday, I’ll be flying our Student Council President, Finn H., along with his father, to Ethiopia. Finn will represent the boys of Saint David’s and will officially open our second school, in Ala'sa. While there, we will also visit Saint David’s Kalina School. Both Ala'sa and Kalina are small rural communities in the northern province of Tigray.

The following is an excerpt from Finn’s portion of yesterday's chapel:

“Good morning! I can remember sitting where you’re sitting now....I remember Dr. O’Halloran showing us pictures of his trip to Kalina the summer that the school opened. It had never registered that we sponsored an entire school! He then revealed that he was accompanied by three past student council presidents. It was at that moment I realized that I wanted to run for student council and be student council president so I could, in addition to representing my fellow students, possibly meet the boys and girls.

The official opening of the Saint David's Kalina School, June 2014

“On Halloween, Dr. O’Halloran called me to his office. 'I have a job for you, if you’re up for it,' he said. 'It involves international travel.' I was intrigued, to say the least. 'I got the idea when you talked about Ethiopia in your student council speech,' he added. My jaw literally dropped. I was overjoyed. I can’t say how grateful I am for this opportunity. I am incredibly excited for next week. But once I get back, we have work to do.

“Currently, the school in Kalina has a well but the school in Ala'sa does not... Building one requires a large drill to get down to the water beneath the earth’s surface. I can’t imagine being at a school without water. That means no drinking water, no flushing toilets, no washing hands. Just think if Saint David’s didn’t have water and every time you wanted water you had to go back home to get it.

"We’ve done a lot to help the students in Ethiopia, but I think we can do more. I want us to build that well and I want us to raise all the money this spring. Building a well is not an easy feat and it isn’t cheap. This is the ninth year in Ethiopia, so Dr. O’Halloran, Mr. Ryan, and I would like you, but most importantly the boys and girls in Ala'sa need you to show support! The Student Council would like to make this the most successful year ever. We can only do that with your help.

“I cannot wait for my trip next week. I promise I’ll represent you well.”

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