Introduction:
The Gambella Regional State of Ethiopia lies on the border with southern Sudan, approximately 750 kilometres to the west of Addis Ababa, the capital city. It takes two days by car, over rough, un-metalled roads, to reach Gambella town, the state capital.
Lying at an altitude of 75 metres above sea level, Gambella is predominantly flat, swampy [prone to serious flooding], hot and humid. The region is severely under-developed – largely because of the poor transport infrastructure.
The UNDP consider the region to be food-insecure for at least four months every year, when at least 50% of the population live far below subsistence level. The major causes of sickness and death in the region are malnutrition, malaria, water-borne disease and TB. 2008 saw severe flooding once again, towards the end of the rainy season. Over 16,000 farmers lost all their crops. Hunger and real suffering have once again added to the burdens already borne by the people.
The Partners:
CMS Ireland is partnered with the local Episcopal, or Anglican, church. In recent years the church has experienced substantial growth and there are now 45 parishes in the Gambella region, clustered into 10 Mission Centres.
Each Mission Centre (which, more often than not, will also be the centre of local government) is served by two full-time people – a priest and a TEE tutor – who work together to visit, serve and resource the mission stations and the communities in remote, outlying villages. The geographical distance between these mission centres is not vast, but the roads/tracks are so bad, in this swampy region, that it can take hours to travel between them, even by car. Many of the outlying mission stations are so remote, they have never been visited by outsiders.
The Programmes:
As the area develops Gambella town is going to be strategically important and the Anglican Church is well placed to make a substantial contribution to its development, thanks to a partnership with CMS Ireland.
With money from Irish Aid, work has begun on a new training centre which will comprise library and seminar facilities, an inter-tribal church, offices and guest accommodation. This centre is being built on two hectares of land given by the government.
The church already runs a hugely successful TEE programme (which will share this new site) and is currently launching two major development programmes with CMS Ireland’s help. These programmes focus on school support, adult literacy and peace development.
