The Megabit 18 school in Aksum

During our six-month stay in Aksum, we were approached by the headmaster of the Megabit 18 School in Aksum. This school is located near our accommodation.

We had eight laptops, and the Hawelti School was unable to offer a computer course. So we asked our acquaintances and the school board if there was a school that could use these laptops to help its students.

The headmaster of the Megabit 18 School then approached us and expressed interest. Several discussions followed, and the headmaster pulled out all the stops to ensure that the necessary conditions for computer lessons to take place were in place within a few days.

We had noticed that there was an unfinished building on the school grounds. The headmaster told us that a building was to be constructed here for teaching science subjects. We were told that construction would proceed step by step once everyone had raised the necessary funds.

As we were very impressed by this enormous commitment and still had a small amount of money available from the Hawelti project, we obtained a board resolution and offered to purchase materials for the construction of the ceiling slab, provided that the school and the parents provided the money for the construction workers.

As we were very impressed by this enormous commitment and still had a small amount of money left over from the Hawelti project, we obtained a board resolution and offered to purchase materials for the construction of the ceiling slab, provided that the school and the parents would provide the money for the construction workers.

As with all our projects, we did not want to offer or decide anything on our own, because it is very important to us to involve the parents and the school. And so, a few days later, there was a parents’ meeting where we presented ourselves and our idea.

The parents were immediately willing to collect money, and the teachers also gave up part of their (already meagre) salaries to make this phase of construction possible.

It was very important to the headmaster that we be there when the roof was built, so the work was carried out on our last day in Aksum.

We left with the wonderful feeling of having helped a school where everyone is very keen to give the children a better future.

Project update June 2018

Of course, our visit to Aksum took us back to the Megabit 18 school, among other places. We were delighted to see that lessons were running smoothly with just eight laptops, and when we entered the newly equipped classroom, both teachers and pupils were eagerly engaged in their work. The building for which we had financed the ceiling panels is now structurally complete. It is wonderful to see what we have been able to achieve with our donations!

The headmaster asked us if we could help with the construction of a water tank and a platform. Although the school is connected to the public water supply, a water storage tank is needed. This will be used to supply water to the new building, which is necessary for science subjects (especially chemistry lessons). A completely new preschool area with toilets is also being built. The children will be able to wash their hands there. This also requires water.

So we helped build a platform for a water barrel and the necessary pipes. In addition, we once again had three laptops ‘in our luggage’ to expand the computer room.

What was new was that we were able to give the children books from our cooperation with ‘Art of Buna’ in Cologne.

Project update November 2018

Our next trip in October/November took us to Aksum, among other places. This time we had 19 guests from Germany with us. In addition to a ‘round trip’ through northern Ethiopia, we also visited our projects in Aksum. This naturally included a visit to the Megabit 18 school. The entire group received an extremely warm welcome and a coffee ceremony was held especially for us. The director briefly presented the projects we had helped with.

Of course, our guests did not come empty-handed. Everyone had pens, erasers, pencil sharpeners and books in their luggage. Last but not least, we were able to hand over another 14 laptops.