Ashhurst man and runaway provide hand up to Ethiopian village
Gisborne Rotary Guest Speaker- Ric Foxley and Amlaku Teshome from Bangladesh Ethiopian Agricultural Education Trust spoke.Ric originally came from Gisborne and now lives in Ashurst. He has been involved with World Vision and Leprosy Mission work since he joined the Christian Faith at age 18.
He is the originator and a sponsor of a private 8 year aid project happening in the village of Baregota in Ethiopia, a village that is at an altitude of 4,200 metres.
Amlaku from the village joined him to speak about the amazing work that has been going on.
Ric spoke of Baregota village and surrounding areas as being incredible for many reasons. The churches in the village are CARVED and not built! Ric met Amlaku in 2009 and in the course of their relationship Amlaku stated “I want to go to University”. He had run away from home and been living on the streets, working and going to school to try and get ahead. Meanwhile Ric had just sold his family home in Matawai and decided to assist Amlaku to realise his dream. Amlaku graduated from University with a BSc with distinction majoring in Plant Science. He has also completed a Diploma in Tourism. His vision, drive and leadership has been a beacon for those around him.
Since completing his degree and with the support and assistance from Ric Amlaku has given back to the village a phenomenal amount of improvements including: introducing water pumps and irrigation schemes to previously infertile soil; enabling wheat crops to grow successfully; arranging for a grain mill to be installed in the village; providing a huge amount of education to the villagers around cropping and plant science. The village is now currently seeking additional funds for fertiliser that will make a huge difference to the ground. One of their other major goals is to build a bridge over the river that bisects the village as it floods and makes one side of the village cut off from the other.
Since completing his degree and with the support and assistance from Ric Amlaku has given back to the village a phenomenal amount of improvements including: introducing water pumps and irrigation schemes to previously infertile soil; enabling wheat crops to grow successfully; arranging for a grain mill to be installed in the village; providing a huge amount of education to the villagers around cropping and plant science. The village is now currently seeking additional funds for fertiliser that will make a huge difference to the ground. One of their other major goals is to build a bridge over the river that bisects the village as it floods and makes one side of the village cut off from the other.