Ethiopia III Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
"Return to Ethiopia" Trip
September 22 - October 7, 2012
50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps in Ethiopia
September 28 - Friday
Debre Berhan
The following commentaries are from Betty McLaughlin Hagberg, who served in Debre Berhan in 1964.
(Important note: All photographs, except where mentioned, are copyrighted as of October 8, 2012, by Darrel and Betty Hagberg. Please request permission to use and please credit them).
Haile Mariam Mamo School with Debre Berhan Canyon in the background.
We visited Haile Mariam Mamo School, which now offers classes to 11th and 12th graders. Most of the students go on for higher education.
Students were registering for classes for the new term, so not all of them were in the official purple uniforms.
Haile Mariam Mamo School
Samson, our GETTS Travel Guide, looking at Betty McLaughlin Hagberg's old 1964 photos of Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Father with students at Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Our local guide showing the way to Haile Mariam Mamo School Office.
Haile Students waiting for school to open at Mariam Mamo School.
Teachers looking at Betty McLaughlin Hagberg's old photos of Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Administrator's with Betty McLaughlin Hagberg at Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo Principal, Mehari Hawaz welcomed us and showed us the school.
Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Principal Mehari Hawaz , Betty McLaughlin Hagberg, and Marion Bailey Beil at Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo School
The original buildings of the school are still there, but many new buildings have been added.
Haile Mariam Mamo School
Haile Mariam Mamo School
Haile Mariam Mamo School
Betty McLaughlin Hagberg with local guide at Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo School
Betty McLaughlin Hagberg with teacher at Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Model of Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo School
Betty McLaughlin Hagberg with teacher at Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Betty McLaughlin Hagberg with guide and teacher at Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Betty McLaughlin Hagberg with teacher at Haile Mariam Mamo School.
Haile Mariam Mamo School.
The fields below the schools are now housing subdivisions that are stretching almost to the canyon. One large group is being built by Habitat for Humanity.
We visited the Teacher Training College, formerly the Teacher Training Institute. Dormitories have been converted to classrooms.
Teacher Training College
Teacher Training College
Entrance to the Debre Berhan Blanket Factory from the road leading to Haile Mariam Mamo School .
There is a beautiful ‘tarmac’ road that runs from Addis to Debre Berhan. Even sidewalks have been constructed along the road whenever the road goes through a small town. Reportedly the road has been constructed by the Chinese, who have in return been granted farming rights in certain areas.
Partially constructed buildings are everywhere. Many of the construction workers are young women! The poured concrete frames seem sturdy, but the scaffolding looks precarious. Other buildings seem to be sitting idle, whether delayed by financing or lack of materials. We heard of cement shortages and also of imports being delayed in customs.
This gas station is very near the house on the main road where the four Peace Corps girls lived, both the RPCV Ethiopia I's and III's.
A few buildings were still the same. Such as the post office and the hospital.
Many memories of letters from home.
Many buildings are new such as this mosque.
Debre Berhan Hospital
The market is still in the same place, although expanded.
Farmer going to market in Debre Berhan.
Debra Berhan's new mosque.
On the main road are new high-rise condominiums. These are being built throughout Ethiopia and are offered to the poor under a lottery system. The selected families pay for their condo over a period of years. Everywhere it was clear that more people were moving from the land into cities and towns.
There is construction going on everywhere in Ethiopia and no where was I more astonished than during our trip to Debre Berhan.
Still many mule carts in Debre Berhan. Note the substantial axle.
Everywhere in Debre Berhan, the horse and buggy has for the most part been replaced by three wheeled tuk-tuks.
Accident between a truck (lorrie) and a tuk-tuk.
Just southeast of town is the new Debre Berhan University. Unfortunately, as we drove up, a guard approached us and told us we could not take photos. This photograph as well as the 3 below were found on their Web Site.
Imagine dozens of new multi-story buildings built to serve 10,000 students! It was unbelievable.
A fitting end to our visit was a meeting with three current Peace Corps volunteers.
Tukuls along the road from Debre Berhan to Addis Ababa.
Tukuls along the road from Debre Berhan to Addis Ababa.
Tukuls along the road from Debre Berhan to Addis Ababa.
Tukuls along the road from Debre Berhan to Addis Ababa.
Click below for more Photos of the trip
Click below for more Ethiopia Web Site features
Click here to contact the Ethiopia III RPCV Committee by E-mail with up date information:
Ethiopia III Official Web Site
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Betty McLaughlin Hagberg, Web Master
Updated on 14 November 2012
