A Visit from The Founder

Dr No is an excited man. Ato S. The school’s Founder and General Manager is making a rare stop-over in Addis and he is granting me with an audience.

Ato S. Originates from the eastern city of Harar. He is also a former student of my Boss, Ms A who he has asked to oversee the school’s founding and development.

I have met him once before on my visit in April, and i find him agreeable and keen to hear my opinions on not just educational matters.

He arrives in my office without notice in the afternoon, and i am keen to take him on a site-walk. He is both impressed at the whipping – up of maintenance, and dismayed at the lack of toys, games and resources available on campus. Everyone on campus is summoned one by one. Mr K has been ordered not just maintain, but further improve Health and Safety, and hurry up with the remaining painting assignments i have requested, Pointing out both antiquated and broken photocopiers (one breaks down daily, and spends more time in Maintenance off-site than at school!), he asks for an immediate purchase of a brand new heavy duty copier and damn the expence. He then summons Dr No. He asks me in front of Dr No what i need and i tell him. 

Balls, hoops and skipping ropes immediately and then the essential teaching resources to deliver the newly mapped curriculum. 

Dr No is cowering as Ato S concedes to my every whim. 

Ato S leaves me his phone number and asks me to call him any time night or day, although i note this he has at least two other cell-phones, and vanishes as fast as he came.

Later that day i walk around the playground with Dr No. 

“So are you going to help me?” i ask. He has no choice but to say yes. It clearly hurts him which makes it taste even more sweet.

But i want more – i want a solemn oath from him.

And there, on our newly painted crappy compound i get him to place his hand on my heart and promises to help finance the necessary resources to teach.