Connect CharityWatch

The South West has spawned many worthwhile charities which engage in supporting good works in the region and further afield.

For this issue we spoke to Alex Taylor of Exeter-Ethiopia Link which is a voluntary organisation driven to improve the lives of the inhabitants of Nekempte and surrounding villages in western Ethiopia.

Funded by membership fees and donations Exeter-Ethiopia Link was established in 1987 to encourage and directly support small-scale sustainable development projects. These include the funding of essential facilities in several schools including renovation and construction of buildings, installation of water supplies and toilets, and provision of books, desks, teaching aids, tools and equipment. With many communities in the area lacking reliable water supplies and sanitation Exeter-Ethiopia Link has also provided funds for wells, hand pumps and storage tanks all of which make a huge difference to the quality of life for the local population.

Good medical facilities are also very thin on the ground and to redress the problem the South West fund-raisers have provided hospitals and clinics with instruments and medicines as well as the funds for re-plumbing the hospital and training materials for the school of nursing. In a region as under-resourced as western Ethiopia, the provision of bicycles to rural health clinics which enable nurses to travel out more swiftly to sick patients in outlying areas is of inestimable value.

This year Exeter-Ethiopia Link is focusing its efforts on the development and ongoing support for a specialist eye clinic primarily to treat cataracts and to provide spectacles. It is also keen to continue with its pioneering work to establish income generating schemes for rural women and to sponsor young women into higher education.

Alex is keen to hear from anyone who would like to know more and will gladly provide membership information to those interested in taking an active role : call 01392-874285 www.exeterethiopialink.org
Donations are always welcome too by cheque payable to Exeter-Ethiopia Link – send The Treasurer, 58 Barley Farm, Exeter.