My morning commute

So every day in Austin I wake up, get dressed and make my way down across the Westlake Hills in my lil' Mazda to get to work. It is usually an uneventful and routine occurrence that I mindlessly, aside from paying attention to driving, achieve daily. But today, today was much different.

Today was the first time I have been able to see, touch, smell, taste and hear the communities where we work. It was my long awaited opportunity for connection. And may I just say that today was nothing short of spectacular. I sit here writing as I close out this day and with another lingering ever so close fully depleted physically, mentally and professionally but with such a renewed energy and fulfillment in my work.

My travel today took me into our Senale AdiKeyh Inetgrated Community Development (ICD) Program Area. As we drove along this winding road up the sides of steep mountains the simplest of words would present themselves on my tongue. I would whisper as a child at the things I was seeing. "Majestic", "Beautiful", "Amazing". The only way I can think to describe it is by allowing you to see it though my lens.

If you look at the bottom of that valley you will see Sebebera. It was about an hour walk trekking down the slope of a mountain. This community is completely shut off from many resources because of its lack of a road. Although the district is working to construct one in this area, it will still be some time before travel for these community members will even boarder on easier. There needs to be new school buildings constructed, latrine, teachers' residences and the launch of Income Generating Activities at the school. The majority of these projects require the road be constructed in order to deliver supplies for the construction. As it stand now, even with great need, there is little we can do in terms of large scale sustainable interventions because of this infrastructure barrier.

My commute home was an hour back up the mountain pass that had brought us into town. I spent most of this time in awe of what I had experienced, as well as just trying to breathe! I was able to meet community members and was present when they assembled to address a challenge at hand, discussed both sides and made a consensus decision on how to address their specific needs around water usage. I was able to go into every classroom and see the state of education in this community and hope that one day we can do more. I walked through a health post and met a heath extension worker is actively providing health education and preventive care around her and assisting in childbirth for those who come to the post. I was also invited into the home a farmer where he offered traditional Ethiopian bread (two ways), lentil stew and fresh organic honey along with a cup of fresh coffee. The hospitality of this place felt as though it was someone of great familiarity or family.

As I walked around all day there were times when I would just take deep breaths, look around at the landscape and the people near me and I was actively thankful for having this opportunity. Coming back to Africa for me has been a lot like coming home. My soul has roots here that I do not fully understand and immersing in community activity within my daily rituals adds such a sweet and holistic representation of the man inside that went about his morning commute.

Look to the bottom...there is Sebebera

The school pound is the "L" shape and the health post in the background

The Water Committee Meeting with Glimmer and REST about the project

Let the water flow

A moment of connection in the day

A young girl fills the livestock trough from the irrigation pond

a Water Committee member explaining to Glimmer Staff some issues

Community members gathered to make decisions on their water point. 

A community meeting was called to address issues on the project.

Water being collected at the new Spring Protection Development Water Point

The dark room and scarce resources of the library

This is the hands-on learning center in a building thats falling apart

Look at that smile. Enough said.

Inside of a substandard classroom

Inside of the "nice" classroom

Healh Post

Next Generation of Change Agents in Sebebera 

Tell your mom you are SUPPOSED to eat with your hands!

Our humble host preparing the meal

A really good wheat based bread. tasted like a pancake!

They team being served traditional fare in the home of a community farmer

The cutest lil boy eating honey from a bowl :)

Serving Coffee to the team

For Alicyn Yarbrough