Project Ethiopia discovered from a German engineering firm that to build on swelling soil from the rainy season and contracted during the dry season was possible.

Dig very deep and fill hole with rocks that the water can pass through, then make a box with plastic sheeting and cement. It is then an island in the soil and floats.

The people of the village volunteer to build the classrooms for grades 1 - 4 if Project Ethiopia will do the floors. Yes!

The villagers start chipping rocks into gravel.

Because there is no naturally formed gravel, it must be done by hand. Then they buy the roofing panels for the new building.

The digging begins with a contest by 4 groups of families to see who can get their section of the deep hole dug first

Materials are gathered.

Eucalyptus branches for the walls.

School Uniforms are a great equalizer for students.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" -

Nelson Mandela

(1918- )

When spiders unite they can tie up a lion

- Ethiopian proverb

Students carry the soil that will be used for the walls

Then the fun begins! Stomping in a large mud puddle to mix the straw and mud.

Straw to mix with dirt to make the mud/straw walls.

The students before...

The principal of Kossoye School distributing school uniforms and supplies to needy students provided by Project Ethiopia and your donations

Project Ethiopia has provided over a thousand uniforms to students enabling them to fit in with the student body of each school and also providing income for fabric merchants and seamstresses in making the uniforms