“ If the new school had not been established here, I would not have been able to continue my learning.”— Guraya Hilal, 15
Nothing tells a story better than the people who live it every day. So here are the words of those who benefit from the generosity and commitment of Saint David’ s School:
• Denbash Hayelom, Principal at Kalina Primary School, highlighted that children, teachers, and the village community are very grateful for the support they have received from Saint David’ s School. According to her, the quality of the learning environment has been improved significantly. She noted that although many of the children now attend class in child-friendly environments, some are still learning in another classroom building that was built by the community, which is not as comfortable for the children.
“ If the new school had not been established here, I would not have been able to continue my learning.”— Guraya Hilal, 15
• Ahmed Mohammed, age 15, is another Grade Eight student at Kalina Primary School. His ambition is to complete all the grades and then attend Addis Ababa University. He sees himself as a teacher in the future. Here he recollects some of the differences between the school he first attended and the new Kalina school:“ When I was a very young learner, our classroom was dusty and untidy. We used to learn under shade of a tree. Our seats were stones. Now, the majority of our classrooms are pleasant to learn in.”
According to both Guraya and Ahmed, their school experience has improved greatly over the years. There are still ways that the school can be strengthened and improved, such as with reference books and supplementary learning materials. And because more children are enrolling in school, the existing structure cannot accommodate the number of potential students in the village.
With the continued support of Saint David’ s School, the children of Kalina Primary School can look ahead and see that the foundation of a basic education will make it possible for them to live up to their full potential in life. M
• Guraya Hilal, age 15, is a student in Grade Eight. She began at the school in Grade One and has a long-term perspective on the progress of Kalina Primary School. She says:
“ When I compare the current status of my school with when I first joined eight years ago, all the progress I see now seems miraculous for me. If the new school had not been established here, I would not have been able to continue my learning. The new school not only motivated me to continue learning, but it also made me safer because I don’ t have to walk the very long distance from my home to get to school each day. I now have ambitions to continue learning through all the grades. I want to become a teacher to help the children in my village. I feel that many parents are still not sending their children to school. And girls like me are often left behind from school for many reasons, like early marriage.”
34 • Saint David’ s Magazine