Dear Friends,

Organization and Management of the Project

You will recall we reported in January that the following committees were formally constituted by the principal beneficiaries of the project:

1. A committee based in Jihur to help mobilize support from the beneficiaries and the community at large;
2. An Executive Committee based in Addis which would be responsible for the implementation of the project, and
3. An external fund raising committee that would raise fund on behalf of the school project.

We are pleased to report that the committees are now up and running. In particular, the Executive Committee and the External Fund Raising Committee have been meeting regularly and have the following to report.

Preparatory work done

The site designated for the Secondary School has officially been transferred. It is not too far from the existing elementary school. The construction of the school has been formally approved and the Government has included in its next year budget running expenses including teachers. The Government had indicated the possibility of getting capital budget allocation for the next budget year. The Woreda Administration was able to get an engineer from the Government to prepare the bill of quantities and the bid document for the project. The documents are now ready.

The Executive Committee has made all the necessary arrangements for the project to operate as an entity. The project has a bank accountant, a temporary office and will soon have a project coordinator. The Executive Committee plans to float the bid for the project the 2nd quarter of 2007.

Fund Raising

On the fund raising side, the total pledge made so far has reached USD 40,000 out of which USD 20,000 has been collected and transferred to the project account in Addis.  We take this opportunity to thank all who have sent donations and made pledges.

The Executive Committee is planning to launch various fund raising activities in Ethiopia.

Phasing

The first phase of the project is the construction of grade nine classrooms, administration building, laboratories and a library. The cost estimates for this phase stand at 1.2 million Birr. This estimate does not include the access road and project administration expenses.

Immediate tasks ahead

On the part of the Executive Committee the most urgent activities to be undertaken for the 2nd quarter are: the recruitment of a project coordinator, fund raising activities in Ethiopia and the floating of the project bid.

For the External Fund raising Committee the plan is to: collect pledged funds and organize fund raising events.

Message from the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee once again appeals to all to participate in this noble endeavor by intensifying the fund raising drive. Much is expected from the DC Metropolitan and Atlanta Support groups in the coming months. Suggestions and contacts with potential donors, individuals as well as organizations, are welcome.

Project Account in USA

For electronic transfer use the following information. Whenever you make electronic transfer please let us know by email to help us track your contributions.

Beneficiary Name: HtE: Jihur School Project
Account No. : 446 0030 14466
Beneficiary Bank: Bank of America, 6201 Old Dobbin Ln, Columbia, MD 21045

If you are making payments by check please make it payable to HtE – Jihur School Project and mail to:

Getinet W Giorgis, 5161 Crestwood Lane,  Ellicott City, MD 21043 or Aklilu Mekonen, 2844 Schubert Dr, Silver Spring, Md, 20904

Project Account in Ethiopia

Beneficiary Name: Jihur Secondary School
Account No.    621
Beneficiary Bank: Bank of Abyssinia, P.O. Box 12947, Sunshine Building, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.