Building bridges with Africa

L-R: Brown, Bruce Parisian of the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Tang and Cheboud. Photo: Jo-Ann Richards

By Christine McLaren

What began as a sightseeing tour of a small community in Ethiopia has resulted in a life-saving project establishing a unique model for local and international partnerships.
In March 2008, as part of ongoing efforts by the Faculty of Human and Social Development (HSD) to assist with building academic capacity in Africa, Dr. Leslie Brown, associate dean of research, participated in a short teaching exchange with the UN-affiliated University for Peace (UPeace) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, through UVic alumnus Dr. Elias Cheboud, now research coordinator for UPeace, Africa Program.

A visit to Asebe Teferi, locally known as “Chiro,” resulted in the identification of a critical need in this community of 413,000. A riverbed that runs through the township often fills to overflowing during the rains, creating hazardous living conditions. Every rainy season, people and animals lose their lives trying to cross the river that divides the community. The development of a well-engineered footbridge for people to access medical services, work, school, community activities and transport goods was essential to help revive community life paralyzed each year by the torrential rains and flooding. Brown and Emma Tang, a UVic School of Social Work student on practicum in Ethiopia, became involved in the fundraising for this vital footbridge, helping create a sustainable solution for the people of Chiro.

With the help of Cheboud, this project gave rise to a unique model of international community development grounded in local control. The mayor and other local leaders were encouraged to set up an organization to manage funds, recruit local volunteers and obtain resources. In order to help improve their image locally, the military were persuaded to assist with community service. Ethiopian engineering students provided the design for the bridge and local carpenters donated their time.

The community was clear it did not want to engage in charity governance and has maintained direction for the entire project locally. “Building networks locally and internationally has allowed us to develop a model of collaboration and cooperation which positively impacts and strengthens the lives in Chiro and the region as a whole,” says Cheboud.

Along with UVic, outside partnerships were sought, and the Victoria Native Friendship Centre saw this opportunity as a way to engage Aboriginal youth. The intention is to raise funds to provide youth an opportunity to visit Chiro, see the bridge, learn from this community model and visit the local high school.

“We see this partnership as a win-win opportunity and an example of a successful relationship model,” says Brown. “This is about connecting youth, building capacity and moving beyond charity work.”

In addition to the work on the Chiro bridge and academic capacity building, UVic faculty are working collaboratively to explore the development of doctoral and masters’ level programs in social transformation and peace building as well as hosting doctoral students who return to their teaching positions in Ethiopia.

The bridge is near completion and will be ready before the rains come in July.