Sandra and Kjetil run in NYCM for better schools

Published: 02.11.07 (updated: 09.02.11)

Sunday November 4 2007, two Omega employees set out on their first start ever in the New York City Marathon, and thereby contributed to the Red Cross` project for children in Ethiopia.

Sandra Hegerland and Kjetil Espeland both work in the administration at Omega’s Ølensvåg office. Sunday November 4 2007 they were running to raise money for Save the Children’s project building new schools in Ethiopia. New York City Marathon is the biggest 42 195 meter run in the world, and the course runs through all the five boroughs of the city, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Manhattan. Every year approximately 37 000 running enthusiasts gather on the scratch line for the marathon that has been strongly associated with Norway through Grete Waitz’ nine victories. Sandra and Kjetil, however, were not primarily concerned with crossing the Central Park finish line first.

– The goal for us was merely to complete the marathon. However, we did not only wish for this to be a project where we reach our own goals, Kjetil says.

– In addition to that, we also wanted to help others reach their goals of a better future. These goals may materialise as food, clothes, a place to sleep and someone who cares for them.

Sandra and Kjetil encouraged everyone to give an extra push towards the finish line by contributing to Save the Children in Ethiopia.

Introducing the project

In Northern Ethiopia there are vast areas where kids do not have access to schools. The children have to work on the family farm for survival. Additionally, public schools are often far away geographically and the roads there are hazardous – especially for girls, who are often victims of assault.

Save the Children’s goal is to establish more alternative schools so that all children in an area are given the chance to go to school. The project is continuously expanded by Save the Children to help even more kids.

The ABE (Alternative Basic Education) schools are affordable institutions that are set up in areas where schools are not commonly available. The actual school house costs no more than NOK 100 000 to build, and it provides a school for 500 students (on a two-shifts basis) in addition to a pedagogical centre / library. The schools have separate restrooms for girls and boys. Providing one child with all the equipment required to attend this school for one year costs about NOK 100.

Usually, there are water wells built in connection with the schools. This expands the facility to a place where a village can fetch water. This, in turn, makes it easier for parents to let their kids go to school, as their school visits can be combined with water fetching for the family. The cost of construction on a well like this is about NOK 35 000.

Project facts

• The ABE (Alternative Basic Education) project is developed in co-operation with the local communities, and is designed to bring more children into the school system
• Since the start-up in 1997, the percentage of children with access to educational facilities have gone from 8 % to 45 %
• The ratio of girls in the system has gone from 6 % to 36 %