Together with our three children Johannes (17), Lena (14) and Christoph (13) we have been here now for more than four months and got settled so far. We come from Lüdenscheid in Westphalia where we spent the last 19 years. Sabine (45) is a teacher for English language and for theology. Martin (49) is working as a pastor sent by the EKD ( = Evangelical Church in Germany).
Our children go to the German Embassy School here in Addis, Lena has already found friends in the GCS.

Our manse is situated on the compound just between church and school. This describes very well our work and life here: on the one hand the German speaking congregation with many different people, especially young families, on the other side the cooperation with the GCS staff - a very colourful and interesting job and for us a great challenge!

Martin: one of my first activities was a trip with our blind students to Shashemene, about five hours south of Addis. We met students from a catholic school for blind children and had the chance to watch their physical education program - our blind students even play football!
From the first grade each of our blind students has a partner to be with him or her. They are a good team learning a lot from each other. To me this is a very impressive and convincing example for integration and social learning.

On our trip we also went to Lake Langano to have a break for swimming or at least trying to do so. On our way home we had a lot of fun with singing and playing.
Desta, a blind girl, cited a poem written by hereself and Kidist, a 16 years old girl, lead a time of devotion talking about young Joseph who even abroad remained faithful to his God.

What a joy and intensity of learning it has been during these two days - for the students and for me! Some of them had never before left Addis nor even been on a wobbly boat.

Apart from this there were also quite a lot of excursions for the other students during this academic year. That is an important dimension of learning for our students. However, there were more highlights than that. Together with a school for the deaf students we had a sport festival on Jan-Meda-Field and later in May our school activity day where some of our students even started an art exhibition.

It is also important to include some key issues into our every day school life. There was some short drama dealing with the problem of circumcision of girls or with how to live as partners with handicapped people.

Moreover, this academic year we do have more than 70 HIV/aids orphants - a big challenge for us to deal with.

In June, a group of students from Germany came for a fortnight to meet some of our former students. They had a lot of fun together but also political discussions about life here and there.

Right now the situation in Ethiopia seems quite settled. However, under the surface there is a lot of dissatisfaction and even deep frustration especially among students of public schools and colleges. Our teachers observe - especially among those older students who attend our Saturday program - that in this tense situation it is difficult for them to concentrate on their learning. Please pray for this country and its people that there will be peace and justice for all.

Considering this and also the often difficult situation in the families it seems so important that the German Church School serves for our students as a secure shelter and a place where they learn confidence and self-esteem. Our teachers and social workers do their best to accompany our students on their way and to help them in their every day live. We are well aware that your generous support makes all this possible. So thank you all again for your friendship and for being with us and sharing our work and life here from abroad.

Wishing you all the best and may God bless you all!

Ato Teklu Tafesse, Principal and
Martin Gossens, Pastor