Near Bahir Dar, Wereta, lies the Niagara Falls of Ethiopia. The Blue Nile Falls, or Tis Abay (Great Smoke) in Amharic, is truly an attraction to see. The journey to the falls starts at the base of a mountain where you walk upwards among locals. The path goes by many farm houses, cattle, and sheep. Donkeys are often carrying goods from the farms down the mountain to the main village and vice versa. Across a dodgy suspension bridge straight out of an Indiana Jones movie lies numerous huts for people to stop and drink coffee. The cold mist of the falls at the end of the 25-minute hike is incredibly rewarding. Where the rest of the mountain is only slightly green and very dry, the falls is a haven of bright, luscious, green vegetation and a cool retreat. It is currently the dry season therefore the falls were minuscule compared to what they would be during the wet season with the additional rainfall. It is hard to get anywhere close to the pool of water at the base without slipping in mud and becoming soaked. However, rocks surrounding the pool provided a great vantage point to absorb the beautiful scenery.

The walk back was just as scenic as we traveled with locals down the mountain. Our shoes were caked with thick mud and slowly peeled off as we climbed down rocks and dirt paths. The video down below better describes the scenery but does not do justice to the beauty of the Blue Nile Falls.

Find the video here: https://youtu.be/mxYZdOzom-k

Bahir Dar, known as one of the leading tourist destinations of Ethiopia is the country’s third largest city. The cities wide avenues are lined with beautiful palm trees, colorful flowers and fruiting mango and banana trees. Bahir Dar, meaning ‘Sea shore’, is home to the largest lake in Ethiopia named Lake Tana. The lake itself is located in the north-western Ethiopian Highlands and stretches 84 km long, 66 km wide, 15m deep. The water is surrounded by many shore-side restaurants and plentiful greenery. During are stay, we were lucky enough to go on a thrilling boat tour out on the water where the waves were constantly rocking the boat back and forth, splashing water up at our faces. On the way there, we could see the point at which the lake drifts southeast toward the towering cliffs at Blue Nile Falls.

The tour was interesting  because everyone except for me was hoping to see a hippo. In fact, I’m pretty sure we made the guide actively search for some. I’m just glad we didn’t find any, I would have been a little frightened….. but… at the same time, I secretly wish we saw one. It would have been quite the story! Thanks Frehiout and Wogderes (ATTSVE members) for showing us around Bahir Dar!

Jessica Gill

ATTSVE 2018 intern

Driving through the busy streets of Addis Ababa, our driver Damena offhandedly mentioned that we were driving past Lucy. I looked at everybody in the backseat and said “Is he talking about ‘THE LUCY’??, the earliest discovered human ancestor Lucy???” Damena said, ‘Yes, the ape. She is in the National Museum.’ Those of us in the backseat looked at each other with a look that said “we have to go see her”.  No trip to Addis Ababa is complete without visiting Lucy. When we arrived at the National Museum the next day, it was down-pouring and it quickly began to hail, so we ran inside the building, splashing through the already flooded streets. The museums power was out so the only exhibit visible was Lucy’s. In the lower level of the museum we saw the many relative ancestors of Lucy and the depiction of the family tree of human kind. Lucy the Australopithecus was dug up in 1974 by  a group of scientists in an isolated spot in the Afar region of Ethiopia. The night they dug her up they were playing a Beatles cassette and the song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” was playing. Someone suggested that they name her “Lucy’ and the name just stuck and she became even more human. The National Museum took great pride in highlighting the fact that she was found in Africa by showcasing her with the phrase “AND THE WORLD BECAME AFRICAN”. Take a look at her reconstructed cast skeleton!

Jessica Gill

ATTSVE intern 2018

 

This is my absolute favorite Ethiopian tradition (so far). If you visit Ethiopia, you will find a wide range of how they prepare their coffee. With an Italian influence, coffee differs from what we have in Canada. For example, a macchiato is coffee with milk, a cappuccino is coffee with cocoa, and black coffee is usually served with A LOT of sugar. However, they are all delicious and my coffee addiction has not decreased at all on this trip, most likely the opposite.

Ethiopians take immense pride in their coffee. So much that during special occasions, they prepare coffee with a special ceremony. This is usually prepared by a woman who wears a traditional white dress and scarf that often has bright colors at the ends. She will burn incense while roasting the coffee beans over coal and poured from a gebena into cute little cups. Occasionally, popcorn is served as well. This ceremony is not only beautiful to watch but the smell of the incense and the beans roasting is heavenly. The taste of the coffee, or “buna” in Amharic, is just as lovely.

When we first arrived at the ATTSVE office in Addis Ababa, they welcomed us with gebena buna and popcorn. It was a very warm welcome as we sat and drank coffee while introducing ourselves. I am very happy to be here working with the ATTSVE office and all of their friendly members.

Maddie Empey

ATTSVE Intern 2018

Our first stop was in Maichew, located in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Here we met a wonderful entrepreneur named Mebrehit Hagos. She is 20 years-old and a graduate from the Animal Science program at the ATVET college in Maichew.  She has started her own chicken business thanks to the support of the ATTSVE project.

So, what came first the chicken or the egg?

Well, in Mebrehit’s case the chicken came first! By applying for a Small Micro Enterprise (SME) Start-up Grant she was able to start the business she had always dreamed of creating!

“Without this grant I would not have had the means to start this business. When the SME program was announced I knew I had to apply!”

Mebrehit now owns her own small business which consists of 80 chickens that produce over 70 eggs per day for her to sell to local markets. This is all thanks to the ATTSVE project and her dedication to making her dream a reality.

The Small Micro Enterprise (SME) Grants are awarded to graduates who show an interest in starting a small business to contribute to and improve their community’s economy. Through the ATVET colleges in coordination with ATTSVE Mebrehit received not only financial support, but also technical support. This taught her how to properly set up shop without cutting any corners.

“The technical support was just as important as the financial support. There are a lot of legal and governmental documents needed to start a business. The process was much easier to navigate with the assistance of the project.”

As a woman, starting a business can be more challenging. The SME recipients were chosen on merit and their business proposal. Mebrehit could not be happier she was selected.

“It is unusual for a woman to start a business, especially as young as I am. But I was so determined and it showed in my proposal. I am fortunate my father and community supported me as well, however, I wouldn’t have been successful if it was not for the ATTSVE project.”

Currently, Mebrehit only has the space for a small shed, but has plans to expand as soon as she has the capital to do so. First, she will buy an incubator and produce her own chicks to sell. The added revenue of selling the chicks will help her reach her goal.

“This is only the beginning of my business venture. I will not be turning back. This is what I have dreamed of doing, and I look forward to using the support I have had to begin this journey. I would like to thank ATTSVE for all their help. They have given me the ability to empower myself!”

There are many more ATVET graduates with the same zeal for agriculture who also were able to start their own business. This is just one of the many stories that were made possible in this region through the SME program.

This is one small part of ATTSVE’s support for Ethiopian agriculture students. However, for Mebrehit the contribution is anything but small.

Hello everyone! We are Rebekah and Clara reporting from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Currently, we are working as communications interns for the ATTSVE project. If you would like to learn more about us, feel free to take a look at the two previous blog posts. Before getting into posting about our experiences here, we would also like to introduce our supervisor here, Kaleab Zelalem.

Kaleab is the Value Chain Innovation Fund and Internship Officer for the ATTSVE Project. Yes, his job title is a mouthful but but he is one busy bee! He will accompany us to all four ATVET colleges, and will guide and support us throughout our time in Ethiopia. Here’s a little bit about Kaleab:

Kaleab was born and raised in Addis Ababa. Kaleab studied law at Dire Dawa University, and at Addis Ababa University. In his studies, he focused on human rights law; he won the gold medal in the East African Child Rights moot court competition for students, which is an accomplishment that he is very proud of.

After graduation, Kaleab got an internship at MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates). Here, he was responsible for the “Child Safe Certification” in the Safe Threads initiative, which is a social certification in the traditional textile sector in Ethiopia. He later worked as a Contact and Value Chain Officer for MEDA.

Kaleab is currently working for the ATTSVE project, and is also working towards his Master’s Degree in Human and Economic Development.

He also helps out at his families restaurant on the weekend! Like we said, he sure is busy but we are happy he has made time for us.

We are so thrilled to have Kaleab as our supervisor! He puts the “super” in supervisor!

Check back for more soon! We are excited to share some of our experiences with you!

From Performance Art to agriculture? That may seem like a stretch to some, but for Clara Bullock it finally feels like she is growing roots in a field she is passionate about.

Clara recently completed her first year of the International Food Business degree program on the Agricultural Campus.  Clara will earn a dual degree: one in Agriculture from Dalhousie University and one in Business Administration from Aeres University in the Netherlands.

“I love being on this campus and I especially enjoy the small student populous,” said Clara.  “It makes the school feel more like a community. Because of the small class sizes my teachers are able to be so supportive, which has allowed me to excel in my program. I see this as a huge advantage.”

A native of Ontario, Clara previously attended Ryerson University to study Performance Acting.

“For as long as I can remember I had always wanted to act and sing,” said Clara. And perform she did. Clara travelled to Berlin to perform, attended a musical theatre-training program with Neptune Theatre, as well as had a leading role in musical theatre. She also had a passion for teaching and taught music and acting to children ages 7-16 years old.

However, five-years later Clara’s acting career became sidelined due to illness.

“I needed to take a step back and re-evaluate my goals. I always felt like I had something more to offer and had not found where I fit. I wanted to use my unique training in performance and apply it to a different craft.”

Clara’s passion for food became her medicine. She began blogging about eating a healthy, balanced diet to take charge of her own health. This interest blossomed into something far more than she had expected.

“I started asking questions about where my food was coming from. From there, the questioning never stopped and I needed to find a way to learn more!”

It took two-years but Clara got her health back to where she was comfortable enough to go back to school. Clara felt she was ready for a new challenge and wanted to use her energy and dedication to make an impact in the food industry.

“I hope to one-day work in policy and food security. Access to healthy, wholesome food has changed my life and I want others to have the privilege I have.”

Clara is particularly interested in fair trade where she believes there are many opportunities. She hopes to see herself lobbying for fair trade organizations. “There are so many opportunities in agriculture, not just on the farm but also in other aspects.”

Clara is currently spending her summer in Ethiopia as a communications interns as part of the Agricultural Transformation Through Stronger Vocational Education (ATTSVE) project at Dalhousie University. The ATTSVE project is one of the largest international development projects ever granted to a Canadian University. The project focuses on improving agricultural programs in Ethiopian colleges.

“As global connections increase it is important to meet our neighbours and experience their culture to best support each other needs.”

Clara will be completing various case studies about staff, students and graduates from the ATTSVE program. “We are bringing awareness of this amazing program that is helping so many people receive agricultural and entrepreneurial education. I feel so fortunate to be part of the project.”

Clara hopes to be part of a positive change in agriculture.  She is well on her way!

 

by Cheyenne MacDonald

Moving from coast-to-coast can be an adventure in itself, but for 21-year-old Rebekah Bailey, it was only the beginning.

A third-year International Food Business student from British Columbia, Rebekah had the opportunity to spend her second year of study at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. This dual degree program allows Rebekah to obtain two degrees: a Bachelor of Business Administration from Aeres University and a Bachelor of Agriculture in International Food Business from Dalhousie.

“If you travel and immerse yourself in other cultures it is hard to not change. I question the things I do and have a more rounded perspective. This education has been practical and useful and I can take it anywhere I go and in any career I choose,” she said.

Agriculture and farming is a lifestyle with which Rebekah is all too familiar.  Growing up in the Okanogan Valley, British Columbia, Rebekah’s family owns a cherry orchard. As a child she was surrounded by the natural beauty of her small town; mountains, water and the sweet smell of cherries. But Rebekah knew, beyond the Valley, something lied ahead, waiting for her to discover.

Rebekah was originally on a path to a career in dance. Having studied ballet for 14 years with hopes to becoming a ballet teacher, Rebekah was offered a spot in the Teacher’s Training program with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. However, due to heath issues, Rebekah made the difficult decision to decline the offer. Instead, she travelled abroad for a year of self-discovery.

Rebekah soon found herself drawn back to the world of agriculture. She knew she wanted to continue her international experiences and decided the International Food Business program at the Faculty of Agriculture was the right fit for her

“Agriculture is a lifestyle that is unique, like nothing else,” she added.

And her background in dance has not been in vain.  It has taught her the discipline and determination it takes to be a successful.

“There have been up and downs, but ultimately by sticking to it I have proven the strength I have in myself. I have learned so much and have had so many opportunities I would not have had otherwise,” she explained.

Rebekah’s latest adventure will take her to Ethiopia for the summer through the International Office on the Agricultural Campus.

“I was looking for a summer internship because it is required in my program to have one. When I stumbled upon this opportunity I thought it would be a great fit! Also, it will be an amazing chance to learn new skills and be further exposed to new cultures,” she explained.

Rebekah is travelling to Ethiopia for the summer through the Agricultural Transformation Though Stronger Vocational Education (ATTSVE) project. This is a partnership with Dalhousie University, McGill University and agricultural college’s in various cities of Ethiopia. During the internship she will be conducting case studies and documenting the success of partnering colleges.

Rebekah will return to campus this fall for her final year of study. She has not yet decided fully what her plans are after graduation but she has found a passion for food science and international relations. She hopes to one-day work in policy and is eager to see what exciting opportunities the future holds.

“Agriculture is a lifestyle all its own and the passion and care that people put into their work is what I have always known and loved,” she said.

For Rebekah, this adventure has truly brought her home.

 

by Clara Bullock 

We are thrilled to have two interns (Clara and Rebekah) working with our In Country Office in Ethiopia this summer! Our interns are staying in Ethiopia based out of the capital city Addis Ababa, and they are traveling around the country to four ATVET agricultural colleges. They are working with the project office to interview students and staff at colleges, creating case studies of project activities and initiatives. Stay tuned for more information about our wonderful interns!

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital where our interns are working 

Agricultural Transformation Through Stronger Vocational Education (ATTSVE) is a 5.5 year development project led by Dalhousie University – Faculty of Agriculture. This project focuses on empowering farmers, male and female students and rural communities around Ethiopia through education at Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) institutions around the country. This project assists with the Government of Ethiopia’s goal of modernizing these institutions to eventually shift the agricultural sector from subsistence-based to market-oriented farming, supporting poverty alleviation and economic growth.

Our project works with four ATVET colleges in rural Ethiopia:

• Maichew in Tigray
• Nejo in Oromia
• Wolaita-Soddo in SNNPR
• Woreta in Amhara

Our partners of this project include:

• Mennonite Economic Development Associates of Canada (MEDA)
• Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JUCAVM)
• McGill University

We will be featuring exciting project highlights posted from our project team here, so stay tuned for posts coming soon!