|
 |
 |
 |
|
Where we do it > Ethiopia - Julian Bass, IT Trainer
Dr Julian Bass, 48 from North Wales is an IT trainer in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia.What made you decide to volunteer?
I wanted to do something a bit more worthwhile than my usual job. I feel technology offers considerable development opportunities and hope my skills and experience will be useful in a developing country.
How did you feel when you first arrived in Ethiopia?
The flight was rather long and tedious, as these things tend to be, but it was great to catch up with and meet other volunteers going out to Ethiopia. There were 48 of us altogether, the largest group VSO has ever sent out. I attended what VSO call the in-country training. Courses on the Amharic language, local culture, history and politics. All fascinating stuff, but rather intensive. Classes all day everyday, pretty much. There are some slightly more scary training sessions on health and safety. All good advice. Probably the biggest problem volunteers have to contend with are road accidents. All the staff (visiting and local) in the VSO office are friendly and helpful. A member of the public went to some considerable lengths to help me negotiate the local buses they call line taxis, so I could find where I was trying to get to.
Tell me about where you're working and what your job involves.
I work at the Teachers’ Education and Vocation Training College at Debre Birhan in Ethiopia. I teach the instructors in the college about Information and Communication Technologies, as well as being responsible for the college computer infrastructure. Debre Birhan College of Teacher Education is a tertiary education college with about 1150 students. Most of the students are trainee teachers, studying a teaching diploma to become junior school teachers. Basic Information Technology is a compulsory subject for these 600 or so trainee teachers.
What kind of challenges are you facing?
We set up a new computer classroom at the college. Everything electrical seemed to work okay, and the first classes ran and there were no reports of problems with my workmanship. We are getting quotes for blackout curtains to block the large windows, so that people can see the LCD projector image shining up against the wall. Sadly the quality of the building itself has been found lacking though. The short rains have arrived with some pretty torrential downpours. This has produced pools of water appearing outside the entrance to the computer classroom. Rather more worryingly the rains have revealed leaking windows with small rivulets of water running across the classroom floor!
We now have enough computers for the summer programme students to have one computer each, without sharing. The College Dean was delighted at this ‘first’. We are hoping to get enough new computers in the coming weeks to ensure that the regular students returning next semester will also not need to share. We are currently working on the installation of high speed internet; this will allow students to learn about the internet in classes for the first time.
How have you adapted to life in Ethiopia?
I miss TV and radio and the internet here is too slow to download live content. So, I watch a lot of films on my laptop. I can even order films online and have them delivered here. Great, but a considerable risk of cash overspend. The countryside here is pretty nice. There is a sizeable, 300m deep, gorge and waterfall near the town. I have visited many times, but seeing the waterfall during this rainy season has been amazing.
What are your favourite things about Ethiopia?
Almost everyone I meet has a warmth and generosity of spirit I find humbling. People at work who see each other every day shake hands and hug each other showing genuine affection. Adult friends walk around holding hands. This is non-sexual behaviour, of course. But the first time I walked through the campus holding hands with the College Dean was both a source of pride (he was treating me like a friend) and confusion (given the connotation men holding hands has in my culture). Confusion because the Dean is a good looking guy, and I had to keep reminding myself my luck was not in!
Do you think you're making a worthwhile contribution?
This is without doubt the most rewarding job I’ve had. I may not be able to achieve everything I would like, but I feel I’ve made a pretty good go at it. I really enjoy mentoring and doing one-to-one or small group on the job training. My job is in ICT, and this week people have been amazed by the simple task of setting up a web server. They seem to have learned so much and seem energised and enthused by the learning experience.
What kind of new skills do you think you'll bring home with you?Well, I think this has been a life changing experience for me, as returned volunteer friends said it would be. I am learning to remain calm despite profoundly frustrating circumstances. I am learning improved negotiating, conflict resolution and influencing skills. These skills were important in my previous job, but I have learned so much more since I’ve been here. Needless to say, I have also learned lots about working with limited resources and being much more flexible. Read Julian’s blog: http://julianbass.vso-stories.net/index.php?page=message.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
