Ethiopia (Gondar University) Trip (not finalized) 
OUR BACKGROUND:
EP concentrates in serving underprivileged sectors of the society, especially studentsin developing countries. Every summer, EP hosts a summer camp in an underprivileged area, and its volunteers of diverse nationalities from all chapters joined hands to provide Health Knowledge Programs (including HIV/AIDS, first aid, home safety, personal hygiene) and highly interactiveEnglish Language Programs to the students of the chosen school or establishment.In August 2005, we served about 350 students of a middle school in an underprivileged area in the Guangdong Province of China. For details, please browse our website: http://www.epjhu.com/activchina.html
In August 2006, we served the students of MAHAKAVI BHARATHIYAR HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL at Kasuva Village, Pakkam PO, Near Thiruninravur 602 024, Tamil Nadu, India , a school housing orphans and other unfortunate kids and is operated by an NGO known as Sevalaya formed since 1988:
http://www.sevalaya.org/index.html
For details of our Chennai Camp, follow this link:http://www.epjhu.com/06indiacamp.html
In August 2007, we served the students in Tanzania, follow this link:
http://www.epjhu.com/07tanzaniacamp.html
EP stresses the continuity and sustainability of services, and the EP initiative is meant to be an international movement. To achieve such goals, we promoted the formation of chapters outside of Johns Hopkins, especially at the places where we serve, to continue our work after our departure -- thus creating self sustaining and self-reliant mechanisms within the community being served --- thereby turning an otherwise one-off or short term service into a continuous, self-sustaining and long term project. Since our China Service Camp in August of 2005, we managed to promote the formation of 4 chapters in various places, one by the students of the very school in China our volunteers served in 2005, and two by the volunteers who participated in the China Service Camp: a chapter at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a chapter at the University of Toronto. And in August 2006, our India Chapter was inaugurated by Mr. David Hopper, US Consulate General at Chennai, India.
Each chapter since inception has been actively serving the underprivileged sectors of their respective societies or communities. For example, the young members of our China Chapter (i.e. the very students whom we served last summer) had organized two service camps serving other even less fortunate students in nearby villages. Thus, those being served found themselves serving other more needy people, and EP volunteers found themselves establishing and leading chapters and fresh groups of volunteers to continue and to spread the EP imitative, thereby creating an ever-expanding team of volunteers eager to serve. Together, the EP family will serve with an impact, despite the transience of our stay in any one place.
Fasil Castle near Gondar An important cultural issue to be addressed: "Traditional gender and cultural perceptions and practices that might contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS and that can contradict the efforts of the HIV/AIDS prevention programs are still important features in the communities of the Wanyambo of Karagwe District."
Capital: Addis Ababas
The country is ranked 15th highest infant mortality rate.90.24 deaths/1,000 live births
CIA World Fact Book https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html#Intro (with map, showing the country and Gondar City)
JHSPH Global Projects http://faculty.jhsph.edu/map/
city in Ethiopia, which was once the old imperial capital and capital of the historic Begemder province.
http://www.ugondar.edu.et/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=42
Central Gondar, in Ethiopia
Gondar city was founded in 1635 by Emperor Fasil as a capital of Ethiopia known as Abyssinia during that era. The town has 2,000 meters high in the Semien Mountains approximately 60 kilo-meters north of Lake Tana. Gondar was the Ethiopian Capital for 250 years and today is one of the main tourist attractions on the northern historical circuit. The other main tourist attraction in the vicinity is the Simen Mountain National Park, Ethiopia's most popular hiking region. Gondar town has moderate to warm climate ranging between 15 to 32 degrees Celsius through out the year. There is plenty of road transport (bus) connecting Gondar with Addis Ababa and other major towns in the north of the country. All buses leaving to and from Gondar leave the bus stations between 6 AM to 8 AM. Daily flights (at least once) of the Ethiopian Air lines connect Gondar with Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Axum, Mekele and Lalibela.
Gondar today is one of Ethiopia's largest and most impressive towns: the walled Royal Enclosure which lies at its centre contains five castles, a complex of connecting tunnels and raised walkways, and several smaller buildings and needs several hours exploration. Also of interest in Gondar is Fasil's bathing pool and the elaborately decorated Debre Berhan Selasie Church. Much of the present town centre dates from the Italian occupation of 1936-1941.
The Semien Mountains, providing a beautiful
backdrop to Gondar University
The University of Gondar was officially inaugurated in June 2004. The Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences greatly contributed tor the establishment of the university. The College of Medicine and Health Sciences is renowned for training different health professionals for the past 53 years. The university consists of one college (College of Medicine and Health Sciences), 4 faculties (Faculty of Management Sciences and Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) and one school (School of Law). Training is given in 31 different fields.
The University of Gondar is located in Gondar Town which is about 738 km to the Northwest of Addis Ababa. Gondar is a historical city which had been serving as the seat of government during 1636-1868. The Castle of Fasiledes, Debrebirhan Selassie Church, Qusquam Castle and Fasiledes Bath in Gondar are historic sites registered by UNESCO. The Semien National Park is only 150 km from Gondar Town to the North. The climate is temperate and is suitable for everyone coming from different parts of the world. In 2007 the population of Gondar was estimated to be 200,000.
In the new Ethiopian Millennium, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia stated its vision as “To see Ethiopia become a country where democratic rule, good governance and social justice reigns, upon the involvement and free will of its peoples; and once extricating itself from poverty becomes a middle –income economy”. The university will play a significant role in achieving the country’s vision by producing professionals in different fields. The university would like to collaborate with every one interested, especially with overseas and local universities, in order to achieve its vision and mission.
The university focuses on community service and community oriented practical education. This is where EP comes in. The Dean of the Medical Faculty has this to say about EP: "I am facinated by your [EP] initiative and I found your [EP] proposal to be complementary to our institutional mission (providing service to the community). Moreover it looks very nice opportunity to involve students as the main actors which I belive will be complementary to our community based practice."
Patients waiting at the Health Centre in Gondar
Gondar U website http://www.ugondar.edu.et/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=76
Costs: Preliminary estimate: $2,600.00 per head [$2000 international round trip flight ticket cost + $300 inland round trip flight cost + $300 food], assuming free lodgings are provided.
Dates: 3 weeks from end of June
The Trip, Projects, Destinations and Programs may change or be substituted, or be cancelled depending on funding, participation, weather, safety and other concerns.
EP Africa (Ethiopia) Trip
Application Form - Self-Funded
