Gary White, English Language Improvement Center Coordinator

After working as an English Secondary School teacher for many years, Gary decided a modest life helping others was for him. Having departed in September 2010, Gary took up a challenging 2-year placement in Ethiopia.

Now he is working as an English Language Coordinator with Haromaya University. English language skills are of crucial importance in enabling Ethiopian children to avail of global economic opportunities, which are heavily based in the English-speaking world. However the quality of English teachers in Ethiopia is poor, primarily due to the chronic under-funding of the education system.

Gary’s role enables him to assist English language teachers in improving their skills. He therefore plays a major role in brightening the future of thousands of Ethiopian children.

“I'm working in a university in the east of Ethiopia near the border of Somalia. My main duties involve running programmes to improve the general standard of English on campus. This year these have included training Graduate Assistants, newly qualified teaching staff, and a World Bank funded programme for academically weak female first year students. I've also tried to establish some extra-curricular activities such as Debate Nights, Spelling Competitions, Book Club, and a student run English Club.

In my spare time I visit a local school once a week and we've initiated a pen-pal letter writing link with a school in Ballyboughal, north county Dublin. I plan to request children's books, writing material, and other basic stationery from schools and individuals in preparation for the next academic year. I also hope to establish more links with various schools in the rural surrounding areas.”