ETHIO-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP SCHOOL (EAFS)

OVERVIEW

Geographic Setting & Peoples (Awassa, Ethiopia)
Awassa is the regional capital of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). Awassa is located 265 km South of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.  Awassa is a modern city (75,000 pop.) perched on the side of Lake Awassa, one of the several Rift Valley lakes that abound in the region.  SNNPR is a multi-ethnic region comprising more than thirty different ethnic groups with different languages and cultures. Awassa is a “melting pot” of all these different nationalities.  Most families have an income below $2/day.

Founding & Expansion
The Ethio-American Friendship School (EAFS) was originally founded in 2005 in Awassa, Ethiopia, as a K-4 grade school by Ethiopian literacy activist, Yohannes Gebregeorgis.  As a result of Global Care’s ongoing sponsorship of EAFS since 2007, EAFS has constructed 12 classrooms at a new site in Awassa for students from Pre-K to Grade 8.  Global Care current objective is to sponsor an additional block of classrooms to expand EAFS to Grade 12. 
 
Mission
As crafted by school founder, Yohannes Gebregeorgis, the mission of EAFS is to provide a “secular, high-quality education to children in Awassa and the surrounding area, especially for orphans, vulnerable and rural children.”  The EAFS motto is:  “Education is Freedom.”

Student Body
As of December 2009 there are 226 students enrolled at EAFS, 122 girls and 104 boys. If Global Care is successful in sponsoring expansion of EAFS to include a high school and college prep classroom block (Grades 9-12), the student body should expand to 400. 
Academic Scholarships
As of December 2009, 45 students (37 girls and 8 boys) receive scholarships to pay for the monthly stipend.  After completion of its current focus on room construction, Global Care hopes to raise the percentage of students who receive scholarships.

Curriculum
The curriculum emphasizes reading and cultural literacy, as will as human rights, environmental awareness and animal rights.  EAFS is also developing a range of extra-curricular clubs, a school newsletter, and a cultural dance group.

           
Click here to see photos of the construction of EAFS, its students, and Mark’s visit: Flash Photo Montage – EAFS.