The Ethiopia Project partners with the Mekelle School for the Blind in Mekelle, Ethiopia. Traveling to the town every December, the EWB travel team has worked to improve the school's water filtration and irrigation systems. We are currently evaluating the condition and effectiveness of our three previous implementations (the water tower, electrical renovations, and storm-water drainage improvements). We’ll also make sure that the community has the resources and knowledge they need to maintain all of the projects without us and are comfortable taking full responsibility for that.
Mekelle School for the Blind
Our team has a 5 year agreement, as per the standard agreement for EWB-USA projects, with the Mekelle School for the Blind. In the past we have completed water projects and electrical projects. In the future we would like to extend our water and electrical work and implement a storm drainage project.
Scope of Program
Past Projects:
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Water Tower Reconstruction (May 2012)
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Plumbing Renovation (Jan 2013)
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Electrical Renovation (Jan 2014)
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Stormwater Drainage (Jan 2015)
Water Tower Design
The before picture shows the depression in the concrete slab which was the primary cause of concern. The during picture shows the water tower supported primarily by scaffolding during the construction phase, and the after picture shows the sturdy new slab of concrete build by the team.
Electrical Renovation
We helped repair and replace the schoo's electrical equipment to ensure safe, organized, and undamaged wires.
Clearing Culvrets
In the next project we hope to extend the irrigation system in order to improve the school’s agricultural output. More gardens will allow the school to grow more vegetables to supplement the children’s diets.
We would also like to improve the indoor electrical connections to make them safer for students.
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What's Next?
before After
In the next project we hope to extend the irrigation system in order to improve the school’s agricultural output. More gardens will allow the school to grow more vegetables to supplement the children’s diets.
Currently, the bridge on campus does not have enough flow space under it and during the rainy season it functions like a dam, flooding the surrounding area on campus.