Newcastle students leave on Ethiopian mercy trip

Newcastle students leave on Ethiopian mercy trip

27 July 2016

STUDENTS from Newcastle’s Shimna Integrated College’s Habitat for Humanity crew headed off to Ethiopia last week to work on sanitation projects in Addis Ababa.

Joining the students were staff members Joan McAllister and Suzi Mawhirt, but they had to wait for several hours to see if their proposed travel plans would be disrupted by the failed military coup in Turkey.

The Shimna students were due to travel through Turkey on their way to Ethiopia and when news of the attempted military coup broke, their flight had to be hurriedly rearranged.

School principal, Kevin Lambe, explained when news broke about what was happening in Turkey everyone at Shimna was “distraught” with their thoughts first and foremost with people in the country.

“We were also concerned that the students’ trip might come to nothing but this was not the case,” he continued. “Fundraising for the building materials needed in Addis Ababa has been a real whole school effort, with many, many buns baked and eaten, 12-hour board games sessions, sponsored events and tea parties etcetera.”

Mr Lambe praised the “fantastic support” from the local community for the students’ trip, highlighting contributions from Paul Cunningham of Brunels who offered a very generous personal ballot prize and Newcastle Presbyterian Church which provided lots of knitted goods to take to the community in Addis Ababa.

He added: “We are delighted now that our students will have the opportunity to put the work into the building project, and also to broaden their experience in a way only travel and effort can really provide.  We are very 

grateful to the Addis community for having us.”