High school graduates in this country - and at our school - are very fixated on obtaining a place at university. However, it is increasingly important for us to stress vocational trade training as an important alternative, since Ethiopia desperately needs well-trained professionals. This year, we therefore invited all former students that just finished their professional education. They gave our tenth-graders a presentation about their professional training, and GCS honored them with a small celebration.

In February, our students once again had a meeting with 11th-graders of the Friedrich-Ebert-Gymnasium in Sandhausen by Heidelberg. These German youngsters complete social internships here in Ethiopia, while GCS also benefits from the commitment and know-how of the German teachers. This leads to intercultural learning on both sides: the young people from Germany experience Ethiopia not only as a country full of poverty, but also encounter the country's cultural and spiritual riches. Just as we experience this every day, the travelers experience it during their stay in Ethiopia.

In March, we again organized the annual trip of blind children into the interior of Ethiopia. With their sighted partners, they ventured to Arba Minch in the far south this time, a spot picturesquely situated between two large lakes. Although they cannot see, the blind young people experience each new environment intensely and with true joy. As we stood above a large waterfall, a dense fog obscured the view even to those of us with eyesight; all of us could only hear the rushing waters, so for a moment, we all found ourselves in the same situation.

As happens every year, we again received many friendly visitors at the GCS this year: godparents, tour groups, journalists, and one delegation from the Evangelical Development Service, which has opened a joint local office here with "Brot für die Welt". Bishop July from Stuttgart held the guest sermon and was also very impressed by his visit of the German Church School.

Our efforts, now in their third year, at receiving official permission for our proposed school expansion have unfortunately made very little progress. We are still awaiting the green light for the preservation of our neighboring property. School principal and pastor can be regularly found at the Mayor's office, trying to push the wheels of bureaucracy with the authorities. Unfortunately, this is anything but easy. Let's therefore continue to hope, pray and work for the day when GCS children no longer have to come to school in two shifts!

On the other hand, news about the development of our kindergarten program, which began two years ago, is more encouraging. It's well known that necessity is the mother of invention, and thus this part of our work, which is not dependent on geographic expansion, is coming along nicely. Sabine Gossens reports:

"This year, five children who were previously part of the kindergarten program completed first grade at the GCS. Admittedly they initially had some difficulty keeping up with the other children, since our kindergarten program was still new. These five thus dared step into first grade after only one year of pre-school. Throughout the year they have developed well and are now able to keep up with the others. After the summer we will be able to accommodate 10 children from the kindergarten program at the GCS, this time with kids that have been prepared in the kindergarten for two years.

Overall we will increase the number of children in kindergarten to 25. This is possible thanks to your donations for the kindergarten program. This pleases us especially because we help bitterly poor people who otherwise could never afford a nursery or kindergarten spot for their children. During the first year, three of our children only survived with their families through begging on the street. The parents, mostly single mothers, regularly attend and enjoy the courses in hygiene, nutrition and child-rearing offered by our nurse. Through this work with parents, we have a small but positive impact on the lives of these families. In the meantime, the formerly begging parents have made an effort to find work, and have at least found some kind of shelter to live.

One of the children is Yeserashyawkal - the name means "my creator knows". She is a bright girl who lives with her sister and mother in the immediate vicinity of the GCS. The mother is extremely short-sighted, and when we registered Yeserashyawkal in the kindergarten program, all three were living by begging. After we obtained a pair of glasses for the mother, she was able to look for work. Yeserashyawkal was able to go to kindergarten, which would otherwise have been unaffordable for the mother. Since Yeserashyawkal turned seven shortly after that, we transferred her to the GCS after a year. She studies diligently and enjoys her studies, and has progressed well during her year in first grade.

This year, the rainy season arrived much earlier than usual. We thus have no problems with water shortages and constant power cuts as was the case last year (most power in Ethiopia is generated through hydropower). However, it is now very cold, especially at night; rain leaks into many of the huts, and the streets are incredibly muddy. Many fall ill at this time of the year, particularly tuberculosis and pneumonia are very dangerous for the people. We are grateful that thanks to your donations, we were able to provide the kindergarten children with a blanket for cold nights and with shoes. It is during the rainy season that we really notice how important it is that all our GCS children receive medical care from our nurse."

Please allow us to send you a heartfelt thank you for your continued interest and especially for your loyal support. In spite of the financial and economic crisis, your donations have remained constant and consistent, and the weakening euro has so far also not cut too deep of a hole into our budget. Please receive our warmest greetings as we wish you a pleasant summer break. Be commanded to our good God, He holds His protective hand equally over all people, here in Ethiopia as well as at home in Europe.

Ato Teklu Tafesse, Principal and
Martin Gossens, Pastor