Alex French, Danny Smith and Kayla French outside the new school in Gembultu, Ethiopia.
(03/16/11) There's a new school building in a small community in Ethiopia thanks to the work of three SUNY-Potsdam alumni. Alex and Kayla French and their friend Daniel Smith raised $20,000 and helped build a school in Gembeltu, Ethiopia.
For many years, classes were held under a big tree. The new, four-room school is made of mud, eucalyptus and cement.
As part of our series, Moving the World, Todd Moe talks with Alex, Kayla and Daniel about their grassroots fund raising success and humanitarian work in east Africa.
(A public slideshow of their work in Ethiopia will be shown this Saturday, 4:30 pm, in SUNY Potsdam's Kellas 103.)
Alex French and some of the residents of Gembeltu, Ethiopia
(09/09/10) A SUNY Potsdam alumnus successfully raised $20,000 this year to help build a school in a small east African community. Alex French travels back to Gembeltu, Ethiopia this winter to help with some of the finishing touches on the school, and to talk with government leaders who've promised to provide a small yearly budget and a modest salary for the teachers. Todd Moe spoke with Alex French for an update on his humanitarian work in Africa as part of our series, Moving the World.
Alex French and some of the residents of Gembeltu, Ethiopia
(03/17/10) It started with a dirt bike ride to visit a friend's family and is now a quest to build a school in Ethiopia. Alex French, a SUNY Potsdam alumnus, spent part of last year living and working in the east African country. It was a side trip to the small community of Gembeltu, difficult to find on most maps of Ethiopia, that inspired him to give back. As part of our series, Moving the World, Todd Moe spoke with French about exploring a new culture and lending a helping hand.
Carol Foster at the Selamta Project in Ethiopia.
(05/13/09) In our occasional series, Moving the World, we meet North Country people who take their skills, expertise and resources to share with communities around the globe. A group of St. Lawrence University students spent this spring semester raising money and awareness for an orphanage in Ethiopia. Todd Moe spoke with a SLU student and his mom about their dedication to understanding and inspiring change in Africa.
