Millennium Villages - Ethiopia

The Millennium Villages project is working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 80 rural African villages, in 14 different clusters, in 10 countries.  The clusters were chosen in distinct regions of different agro-ecological zones to represent conditions seen in the majority of the sub-Saharan African.  Different initiatives in agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, and business development are implemented to help achieve sustainable change towards the MDGs, and ultimately escape from extreme poverty.

This past week I was fortunate enough to be able to travel the Millennium Villages Cluster in Ethiopia.  It was an amazing, and travel-challenge filled journey, of which I will work to post more general photos soon.  But to focus on the cluster first, there are 11 Millennium Villages located in the Koraro cluster.  I was able to visit several of the villages in the cluster to see first-hand some of the initiatives on the ground, as well as visit a village health post and health clinic.  The health aspect is most directly applicable to my work here, and I will add a separate blog post about that specifically, but I wanted to share some pictures and experiences from the villages, in general.  For more official details on the Koraro cluster and progress to date in the area, please check out the official website.

Outside the office

The landscape in the area was beautiful – striking mountains, cliffs, and lots of green – both trees and cacti and some so big that they looked like trees – and very reddish ground.

Stretching my legs on a break along the ride

Unfortunately, very stormy cloudy skies much of the time, but it is the rainy season!

Some local homes built into the hill

This boy was watching us very intently as we passed through

Again, lots of animals all around, but most excitingly this was the first location here I’ve seen camels – in the village and out on the road!

Many sheep and goats in this area

This one was grazing on top of a home.  Many of the homes there had grass on the roofs.

This was one serious mountain climbing cow.

Back near the office we encountered this very shy boy, and his cows

Camel in Koraro

We also encountered this herd of camels along the road

Up close view from the truck

One of the facilities I visited was one of the micro-dams currently under construction, which will be used to help improve irrigation in the area.

A co-worker Birkti, who accompanied us to the villages, and me near the construction

We often get teased by our co-workers about our boots, but there is no denying that they come in handy both out in the villages and even back in the city here.  They are just jealous, I think!

I also was able to visit one of the primary schools in the village.  Although school was out of session here now also, one of the teachers showed us around:

Entryway to the primary school grounds

Almost every wall inside and outside the buildings was covered with educational material.

The school library

School books were all piled up, waiting to be given out to the children when they return from break

Science classroom

The back of the science classroom

I also visited the main village of Koraro, including the village center:

You can see the wires, they are in the process of getting electricity to the village here

One hard working donkey

A view into the village center

As always, we are the attraction for the kids here - they love to get a good stare in and try to figure us out