Ethiopia-Masara

Masara Junior Elementary School is in Ethiopia, near to Nkempte Town. It is located in a rural area and the locals are dependent on farming for a living.

The link was set up in October 2009 with help from Exeter Ethiopia Link, and Mrs Pullen from the link has visited Masara on several occasions taking letters and gifts from St. Michaels, and returning with letters and photographs to share with our children and staff. Pupils in Key Stage 2 classes now write to pupils at Masara and letters returned from Ethiopia are always received with great enthusiasm and interest. The school is kept up to date with developments in Masara through assemblies, class presentations and a display board in the school hall. We have also embarked on a joint project with Masara School based on the ‘Gardening / Farming Year’. Children from both schools will share their work.

We have raised funds for Masara School through non-uniform days, discos and a special Happy Hen Cafe. These funds have been used to build toilets that provide privacy for girls at Masara, thus allowing them to stay on at school. We have also funded books for their library which was completely under resourced. Our children at St. Michael’s continue to gain a developing knowledge and understanding of life in a different culture as the link grows.

Mrs Durkin and Miss Cooper visited Masara School during October half term 2012 and worked with Exeter Ethiopia Link to bring the school’s Director to Exeter later in the year.