Operational Updates On The Way To Addis

I'm currently in Istanbul due to the difficulties and expense of flights in the region coupled with a delay in Ethiopia (ie I couldn’t change flights easily - it’s complicated).  I'm catching up with some admin work that has been bugging me before I fly to Addis on Friday.  

Yalew and Mullie (our driver) will collect me on Sunday and we will drive south back to Wolaita Sodo.  I will check out progress on the two projects we have going at the moment.   Work has been held up a little bit because of the unusually heavy rain in the region and because there are only a certain number of moulds available for the concrete work (we knew that was an issue).  

We have spent AUD 40K so far which will provide about 2000 people, a school and a clinic with water.   Based on what I have seen in the region, I’m expecting that the work so far will be great.   If this is the case, we have another AUD 100K to spend.   On the last trip, we identified three more projects that tie in with one that we have under way.  Together, they will see the people of a mountain provided with water including, an additional two schools.   

Although these projects run over long distances (one is maybe 5km) I am pretty sure we will have funds left over with which to do some maintenance.

FYI and I’ll keep you in updated 

Warmest regards

Catherine