Successful Completion of the Seiler School in Ethiopia
An update from Peter Seiler
It’s been five years since the death of my uncle, but I have finally created the school he requested in his last will and testament. The Ella and Wolfgang Seiler School has been built in the tribal area of the Hamar in South Omo Ethiopia. Actual building time was only half a year, and it is the first earth bag based building in Ethiopia.
The Governor of the state, Ato Awoke, visited it during its birthing process. The first class (14 students) is already underway and the other rooms are used to teach carpentry and repair work as well as house four orphan children and their caretaker in the near future. The soccer field gets plenty of play, and the kitchen building is presently used as a guest house for people like me. I am still installing the waterlines in that structure.
The earth bag building technique has been a cost efficient way to create very cool spaces in this most remote area near the Equator. I taught construction techniques to many as well as teaching some English classes in school and creating a sewing class, leather tanning class, and now I am preparing the creation of a pottery and gardening class.
A hospital is in the planning stage, for now I am leaving a rudimentary first aid station with a good supply of treatments for eye infections and the nasty multitude of other infections behind. The medical situation is being helped by a doctor working the film crew camp a mile from the school. Internet is not available, telephone system is sporadic.
The solar energy system is coming up in reliability, as is the running water supply. The access road is still too rough for normal cars. Maintaining modern systems is a challenge when spare parts are often not available.
This would not have been possible without the help of GTLI: The Global Team for Local Initiates, and countless friends and helpers and advisors along the way. Thank you so much for all your help!
Peter Seiler
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