Shashamane Community Educational Skill Training and Recreation Center:

In order to represent the interest of the Community to the Ethiopian Authorities, the Jamaican Rastafarian Community was inaugurated on the 15th of December, 1992, with a democratically elected representative. This has since evolved into a  nonprofit community organization, registered with the Ethiopian government as the Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community (JRDC), with Non Governmental Organizational (NGO) status. They have proposed, with the assistance of their overseas partners to assist in the development of the infrastructure of the community and to participate in the development of the native population of the region as a whole.

Nature of the Project

• To provide a center for education, skill training, and recreation for the community. The center will also serve as a venue to promote farming and nutritious food for families in the area. The center will also provide the opportunity for training and recreation in the community.

Rationale for the Project

With a population of over 100,000 (of which 50% are under the age of 15), and being in a rural region, there is a serious shortage of available educational and recreational facilities. The need for this center is great -- the drop-out rate from school is very high, with the largest population of dropouts being female. The literacy rate is extremely low -- around 20% of the population. The major task of our Foundation is to assist the JRDC in its endeavors to implement this project.

Serving this large community are the following educational and recreational facilities:

• Two high schools with an average student/teacher ratio of 60:1.
• Six elementary schools with an average student/teacher ratio of 80:1.
• Six private schools.
• Two colleges.

There is only one trade school,  and vocational training facility, and no recreational centers with sports facilities.

 

Five Year Project Proposal & Budget (pdf 130kb)