The afternoon of 24.02. was devoted to visits to the individual laboratories and the library.
My observations are summarized as follows:

1. Computer Room
I could only view this from outside. The door was locked. Meanwhile I was already familiar with the room from my first visit in 1997. Then it was housed in a makeshift arrangement since the new school had not yet been built. Young people are trained for the secretarial trade on the PCs. The PCs are a donation from Germany.

2. Science Laboratory
This laboratory is used for the teaching of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. In Ethiopia it is unusual for a school to have such a laboratory. Individual private schools are not equipped with such a facility. In this laboratory students get a diverse education in the above mentioned sciences. The equipment is presently very meager. Help is urgently needed in this area!

3. Handwork Room

Handwork is a required subject for all students at the school. One of the teachers is Aynalem. The instruction is given in the classrooms. There are opportunities for students with a wide variety of interests and imagination in this laboratory: sewing, etching, embroidering, braiding, crocheting and handicrafts.

4. Library
The library is doubtless one of the most important facilities at the school. It is open daily (except Sunday) from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The librarian is Solomon Berru. His job is not only the care of the library but it also incumbent on him to purchase books as financial resources become available. This usually takes place in consultation with the teachers to avoid inappropriate selections.
Students from the 8th through 12th grades use the library almost entirely for unfortunately there are almost no books for the younger students. The books must be read in the library to prevent their loss. Students from the upper classes may also take them home to prepare for exams.
Since many students do not have their own textbooks the can also borrow these at the library.
Because of limited space in the library students can only use it on an assigned shift basis. That is to say they may often be assigned to the late afternoon shift. I observed that this did not inconvenience them however because they were happy to linger at the school because they had little alternative and no other quiet place to study.
The library also contained books in Braille, but very few. In 1999 Solomon had 14,000 Birr (US $1750) to buy books.
Since both textbooks and specialized books are very expensive the funds are insufficient and do not stretch very far. Solomom does not receive an annual budget, but can only buy books as money is made available to him. The amount available depends on donations.

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