My name is Angela Lee. I am a medical doctor with previous training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
From May 16, 2012 I will be living and working in Ethiopia as a Cuso International volunteer helping with long-term development in their maternal and newborn healthcare services. For the next year, I am placed at Bahir Dar, a city on the highlands in northwestern Ethiopia. I will be working at the local Felege Hiwot Hospital as a Program Co-coordinator for their comprehensive emergency obstetrics program. My role is to teach and train the midwives and birth attendants.
You may want to ask, “Why volunteer in Ethiopia?”
The answer is simple. Ethiopia has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world. It is 100 times higher than the UK or US. Many Ethiopian women die each year from pregnancy and childbirth. Many more suffer from long term complications and disabilities such as drop foot or urinary incontinence. The newborn babies may be born unhealthy suffering from prematurity , low birth weight, brain injury and many more problems. All these tragedy are due to women delivering babies at home absolutely without the care of any skilled birth attendants. The country desperately needs volunteers while new local health workers are being trained to fill in the shortage of trained medical personnel in the maternal health field. I would like to make a small contribution using my skills and knowledge to train their midwives and birth attendants so as to make a difference in the situation. Hopefully, in the long run this can help to improve their maternal and newborn healthcare.
Through this blog, I would like to share some of my work and experiences in Ethiopia.
PS. The views expressed in this blog are my own and do not reflect those of Cuso International. 
One Moment in Time - SinoGirl in Ethiopia 
Enjoyed your story about your trip to Nech Sar. It made me “homesick”. I am a South African who worked on this park in 2007/8 and again in 2009/10. I am not sure how long you will be in Ethiopia but enjoy it, – it is a very interesting country with interesting cultures, history, wildlife and plants. Lovely people too.
Dear Angela, Im searching for an internship for art therapy in Ethopia . do you know any possibility to join to your program? kind regards
A.H.
Dear Alwina,
Thanks for visiting my blogpage.
Sorry for the late reply. I have left Ethiopia since end of 2012.
I still have many emotional ties with this beautiful country and have never wanted to formally say goodbye on my blog.
I guess you are an art therapy student. There are lots of art therapy opportunities in Ethiopia as the need is high. However, you have to be proactive and be an advocate of art therapy as not many local people/organizations are familiar with this therapy modality. ART therapy to them means antiviral therapy for HIV AIDS.
What I suggest is , after identifying which city you want to go, look up the local NGOs that match with your own area of interest. Like what I did, write a letter to introduce yourself, art therapy and a proposal what you would like to do. Since funding and art supplies are limited, you probably need to bring along from your home country.(Some crude ones like crayons and color pencils can be bought from Addis Ababa.) Also make sure they have an English speaking translator for you as language barrier is another major obstacle. For your own supervision , you have to liase with your home mentor via internet (they do have some access even though it is limited). Also engage the local staff and teach them about art therapy so that they can continue your work after your internship. Be creative using local materials eg, sand, plants etc…anything you can make art with.
Good luck with your endeavor. I am sure you will find the experience very meaningful. Angela
Dear Alwina, you can try contacting Marcie at the Grace Centre in Bahir Dar
marcie@gracecenterfoundation.org
Dear Dr. Lee,
my name is Andy Reymann, i´m a german archaeolist, recently working in a project about prehistoric fortifications of the bronze age in middle europe. In my subproject, my collegue and iare gathering informations about the building of indigenous fortifications worldwide and try to create a database, in which we correlate the structures with the corresponding social organisations of the people owning them. As an interesting example, i found the Konso as a society, which seemed to have had a more egalitarian structure in the past, although errecting the famous stonewalls that you took perfect pictures of. Because i wanted to use those examples in some upcoming speeches and articles, i wanted to ask you hereby, if you would allow me to use your photos for scientific purposes, of course refering to you as creator.
If you want to find out more about our project, please feel free to check out our hompage (http://www.proloewe.de/de/loewe-vorhaben/vorhaben/praehistorische-konfliktforschung.html) which will have soon also an english version – here you can find also my emailadress.
Best wishes and thank in forefront,
Dr. Andy Reymann
Dear Dr Andy,
Thanks for visiting my blog. God’s work and creations are simply fascinating. I am very blessed to take such a journey in Ethiopia and to be given the opportunity to share my precious experience with everyone around the world. Please feel free to use any photos you find meaningful in your project. I have never imagined my photos can be of value in an archaeological way !!
Should you have any queries regarding the photos, please do not hesitate to leave me your email address for me to write back.
Angela