Finally some facts and figures about the school and its work:

• At the GCS there are about 1000 Ethiopian students from the poorest population strata. At the present time 27 blind students are taught in the Integrated Education program along with the healthy classmates.
• Every year, based on severe selection criteria, about 40 new pupils from an application pool of 1000 (!) are accepted into the 1st grade. The are on probation for three months. After a successful probationary period they become regular students at the GCS. In order to spread the opportunity as widely as possible only 1 child from a family may go to GCS. The criteria are enforced rigidly by the school personnel.

Since the fall of 1998 all the students get a meal at the school once daily. I learned that it was the only meal (!) of the day for some students. It consists mainly of bread and fruit. Since then the general state of health of the students has improved visibly according to the principal. "The children have learned that an empty stomach is not a disease", said Ato Teklu. Before they had frequently come to the clinic because of apparent stomach problems, but they were "only" hungry.

• The GCS only instructs students in grades 1 through 8. The high school students (grades 9 to 12) must go to State schools. Since the education is generally substandard at these schools, the GCS also supports these students with tutorial classes. The high school students come to the GCS each Saturday to extend or complete their knowledge.
• Development for the teaching staff at the school is conducted regularly to insure that a high academic standard is maintained.

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