Clarkson Magazine

Reaching Out to Schoolchildren in Ethiopia

Mahkeddah Thompson (center) and
her class.

"Teaching in Ethiopia was an opportunity to fulfill my dream of returning to Africa, the home of my forefathers and foremothers," says Mahkeddah Thompson '02 (iE&M) who grew up in New York City. "My Rastafarian parents gave me the name Mahkeddah, which is derived from Makeda the Queen of Sheba of Ethiopia, and as a child they made sure I understood the significance of my name. And, as the 'cradle of civilization' and the only African country that wasn't colonized, Ethiopia has always been especially important to me."

Over the past year, Mahkeddah has lived and worked in the land of her ancestors as a teacher of English at Bahir Dar Academy, a privately owned primary school located in Kebele 16, Bahir Dar. The city is the capital of the Amhara region and is located on Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. "I arrived last August during the rainy season. It rained every day like clockwork in the early evening. The weather was hot, but as soon as the sun went down it would get very cool and I was wearing ski socks to bed."

At Bahir Dar Academy, Mahkeddah teaches classes of 40 to 50 students in grades three through six as well as a section of grade seven. "The school has an enrollment of more than 1,000 students from Pre-K through grade seven. Children range in ages from four to 16 and are placed in grades according to their level of understanding, not by age," she explains. "It is also the only elementary school in Bahir Dar with a computer lab, and one of the few that offers instruction for Pre-K and kindergarten students."

"Here, the teachers hug the children affectionately and their students genuinely love them. I've loved hearing the children call out 'teacher!' to me and listening to them use words that I have taught them. The greatest reward though has just been being here in Ethiopia and learning from the children."

According to Mahkeddah, the majority of students enrolled in the school are middle class and thus considered privileged by Ethiopian standards. Yet many of the students cannot afford to purchase new notebooks or school uniforms. "Harsh realities are a part of everyday life. Many students are aware of social problems like unemployment, poverty and corruption," says Mahkeddah. "As a result of the AIDS epidemic over 60 percent of the population of Ethiopia is under 19 years of age and the city of Bahir Dar has a 23 percent HIV infection rate, the highest in the country. Most of the schoolchildren have not been personally touched by the AIDS epidemic yet, but they will be."

Still, despite the hardships, the children Mahkeddah instructs each day are excitable, good-natured schoolchildren who take their lessons seriously. "The children are like sunshine. They have the utmost respect for their teachers and for learning. I asked one of my students 'Why do you need an education?' She replied, 'So I can be a solution for my country.'"

"The Ethiopian students are very curious about the African/Caribbean community in the west. What they know is what they see on television or hear in the news, which is usually not positive. I enjoy telling them about the African experience in the Americas, especially the struggles and victories of African-Americans."

Schoolchildren at Bahir Dar Academy
in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Mahkeddah will complete her teaching assignment when the school year ends in late June and plans to travel around the country for at least three weeks before returning to the states. "I plan to continue my education in International Affairs and work in development for women and children. Teaching in Ethiopia has given me an opportunity to see firsthand some of the problems they face. I hope to focus my life on finding solutions to some of the problems in Africa and influencing more people to come and work for Africa."

Mahkeddah credits her experiences at Clarkson, and in particular the support of the HEOP program and the encouragement of Annegret Staiger, an assistant professor in the Division of Liberal Arts, with providing her with the self-confidence to embark on the life-changing journey that took her halfway around the world. "My mind opened up at Clarkson, I was in an environment very different than the one I was raised in. I met many international students and it was at Clarkson that I learned the power of networking and taking action."

Last December Clarkson's Zeta Nu fraternity supported Mahkeddah and her Ethiopian students by purchasing and mailing school supplies.