Local Track Project
The summary below was provided by the Peace Corps Volunteer and the community administering this project.
Map of ETHIOPIA
We live in a rural community of about 3,411 people, in Ethiopia. Its residents are farmers, most barely making enough money to support their families. As a result, local youth often drop out of school to help support their families, and often girls are married early, never having a chance to pursue their own path to adulthood. Research shows that involvement in sports activities enhances youth development, school enrollment, positive decision-making in girls, and self-worth. In the Ethiopian context, it can mean the difference between poverty and freedom from the above limitations. Watch any Olympics, and it is clear that running is a beloved Ethiopian pastime, and a national point of pride. Many youth -- already adept runners -- dream of becoming Olympic greats but lack a track that would allow them consistent, regimented training to hone their skill. The track has been a community priority for years, but the resources to fund and build the track simply do not exist. The community has donated a piece of farmland in front of the district's primary school, and students and community members themselves will donate their time to help build it. With funding assistance from donors in America, what has been a dream for years will become a reality. The goal of this track is to give the youth of our community a means to a different end -- a way to instill pride in themselves, in their community, and, perhaps, running fame for their country.
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