1. “MANBARNOOTAAF” “FOR SCHOOLS” PROJECT

2. General Project Background  “ Manbarnootaaf ” is an Oromo word in Ethiopia for the phrase “For schools”.  It is an initiative established in Sept 2008 by interested members and partners/collaborators of JU, who are playing active roles in the implementation of the VLIR-UOS Institutional University Cooperation programme of Jimma University.

3.  The idea was to start collecting assistance for these schools from the primary schools & school children in Flanders (Belgium) and also raise funds through various means so as to establish sort of a bilateral initiative, project or organization that will coordinate, manage and implement jointly planned activities and support schemes to the selected schools.  Owing to the fact that the schools in Flanders would have crucial roles in helping their counterpart schools in the Gilgel Gibe area, the initiative was called ‘Manbarnoowwan manbarnootaaf’, which meant ‘Schools for Schools’ in the Afan Oromoo language. Later on, it was called ‘Manbarnootaaf’ (‘For schools’) for short.

4. Project Objectives:  Overall objective: To improve the status of local schools, with emphasis on addressing the critical problems and challenges faced by rural primary schools in the Gilgel Gibe catchment  Specific objectives Raise funds for supporting local schools in Jimma zone in general and Gilgel Gibe in particular Provide material support to schools under the project Provide trainings and capacity building schemes to the school teachers in the project schools Develop techniques for producing and usage of locally produced teaching aids Facilitate cultural exchange among schools in Jimma and their counterparts in Flanders, Belgium

5. Project management team  Overall coordinator: Prof Luc Duchateau (North) and Mr Kora Tushune (South)  Local management team: Jemal Abafita, Yehenew Getachew and Kasahun Ebba  Project facilitator: Gashahun  Project members (south): Delenasaw Yewhalaw, Kefelegn Getahun, Zeleke Mekonnen, Sultan Suleman, Gezahegn Berecha, Endalkachew Kissi, Amsalu Nebiyu, Molalegen, Mihireteab,  Project members (north): Bart Ampe, Rudy Gevaert, Shiama Gosh, Paul Janssen, Marc Theolen, Jozef Vercruysse,  Other volunteers: Zeina Chemalli (USA), Henderson (USA)

6. Sources of funds and material support  School-to-school partnership among the local and Flemish primary schools  Fund raising activities  Voluntary professional contribution by members and supporters  Voluntary financial contributions and donations by members and supporters  Donations of materials by members and supporters

7. Resource mobilization activities  Liaise with local sector offices and stakeholder in planning and implementing of the project activities (provision of material support, construction of water wells, toilets and classrooms, etc)  Organize various fundraising activities in North and also in south using a number of strategies  Publicize about the project through website  Gather materials (books, teaching aids, stationary, clothes, etc) from volunteers from abroad (mainly from Belgium) and ship them to Jimma through volunteers  Mobilize local community contribution (labor and material support) for implementation of project activities  Mobilize volunteer services from members and supporters willing to contribute to the realization of the cause

8. Project Activities Activity I : Procurement and disbursement of school support materials (blackboards, desks, stationary materials, teaching materials, etc) Activity II : Construction and/or maintenance of facilities (water wells, toilets, classroom floors, i.e., upgrading from dust to concrete floors) Activity III: Construction of classrooms Activity IV: Introducing innovative and affordable techniques/skills for production teaching aids from locally available materials Activity V: Organize capacity building trainings to school teachers

9. Activity VI: Facilitate cultural exchange and school-to-school partnerships/links among primary schools in Flanders and the local schools in the project area Activity VII: Providing material support to students, with particular emphasis on those who are the most needy in terms of getting support like clothing, exercise books, pens, etc. Activity VIII: Organize various fund-raising and resource mobilization activities in North and south