Reason for hope in Ethiopia

Save the Children UK describes Ethiopia as having achieved the biggest increase in child wellbeing worldwide, with the exception of Malawi, over the past 15 years. This achievement is based on: enrolment of children in school, child mortality rates and child nutrition. Its budget is one of the most pro-poor in Africa and, as a result of increased spending on basic services, development indicators are starting to show a sustained improvement. Of course, this all starts from a very low level ("Not only is Ethiopia poor, but it is equally poor: 81% of the population live below a poverty line of US$2 a day" DfID), but the Ethiopian government continues to demonstrate its commitment to poverty reduction and improved education, which is why there will be more than a 100 VSO volunteers working in the country this year, mostly in education. These were the national priorities which helped us to decide to accept the offer of the placements in Ethiopia.

We are busy getting ready to go and are so relieved that the airlines we are travelling with, British Airways and British Midland, have allowed us each 46 kilos of luggage, particularly as we want to take so many heavy books for our work. We were amused to see that the airlines' term for special fares for charities is a missionary fare; perhaps if there is turbulence during the flight they will ask us to adopt the missionary position!

Amongst all the jabs we've had to have are shots against rabies. Apparently, according to some of the information VSO sent us to prepare us, if you go out jogging in Ethiopia, you are likely to be chased by wild dogs. This obviously explains why they have such good long distance runners!