Project Activities
PRELIMINARY ITINERARY FOR PLANNING VISIT – JUNE 2011
May 2011: Minimum 10 hours of pre-departure orientation for staff: Diversity; Historical/cultural highlights of Ethiopia; Review of objectives.Background on Aksum University (AkU); Health and safety, Emergency procedures; Assignment of specific tasks.
June 1-2: Depart for Ethiopia. Arrive in Addis Ababa.
June 3: Morning – Meeting with the US Embassy staff. Afternoon – Intro to Addis Ababa tour (visit the National Museum, the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Addis Ababa with AkU Faculty.
June 4: Intro to Addis Ababa – Visit Entoto (site of Emperor Menelik II’s residential compound and museum with AkU Faculty; Evening traditional dinner and cultural program.
June 5: Depart for Aksum. Meet with AkU staff. Stay at Yeha Hotel.
June 6-10: Daily sessions w/AkU staff; Campus visits; orientation to Aksum; meeting w/ Aksum city officials; visit to Aksum historical and archaeological sites; conduct site assessment; daily group de-briefings; cultural events.
June 11-14: Visit field trip sites I – Adwa, Yeha, Adigrat, Debre Damo, Mekele, Negash. Assess the academic/cultural value. Daily group debriefing.
June 15-17: Daily sessions w/ AkU staff; Discussions on capacity building; Refine selection of field trip sites; Continue site assessment; daily group de-briefings.
June 18-19: Free weekend; informal meetings and visits; attend cultural/social events.
June 20-23: Daily sessions w/ AkU; visit service learning sites (schools, community centers, special needs programs, environmental projects, etc); continue site assessment.
June 24-28: Visit field trip sites: Lalibela, Gondar, Semien Mountains. Assess academic/cultural value; daily group de-briefings.
June 29-30: Final meetings with AkU. Conclude site assessment and specific capacity building measures. Finalize field trips, service learning opportunities.
July 1: Depart for Addis and Denver.
July 2: Return to Denver
PRELIMINARY ITINERARY FOR PILOT STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM - SUMMER 2012
Feb. – Apr. 2012
15 hours of pre-departure orientation – Historical/cultural background; review of program goals, objectives, activities and expectations; curriculum; health and safety issues; code of conduct; service learning expectations; insurance and emergency procedures.
Week 1
June 1 Depart for Ethiopia
June 2 Arrival in Addis Ababa
June 3 Briefing with US Embassy staff; orientation and introduction to Addis Ababa; visit to National Museum and Ethnographic museum at the University of Addis Ababa. Participation of Aksum University (AkU) Faculty.
June 4 Introduction to Addis Ababa – visit to Emperor Menelik II’s residential compound and museum; evening traditional dinner and cultural program. Participation of AkU Faculty.
June 5 Depart for Aksum; Arrive Aksum; get situated in the apartments; evening welcome reception/dinner
June 6 Morning - Orientation program with AkU staff and faculty; Afternoon – Meet with Aksum city officials; Group de-briefings
Week II
June 7, 8 Begin classes. Educ and Ant classes will meet for 2 hours each on 6/7 and Amharic class will meet for 2.5 hours on 6/8; Weekly Evaluation #1 – Students will provide an assessment of the first week’s experiences – academic program, logistical arrangements, social/cultural activities, interactions with Ethiopian colleagues.
June 9 Field trip I – Aksum monuments and archaeological sites.
June 10 Free day. Local/cultural exploration.
June 11-14 Monday to Thursday – classes; Edu and Ant classes will meet on Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours each class for a weekly total of 4 hours of class time for each class. Amharic class will meet on Tuesday and Thursday for 2.5 hours for a weekly total of 5 hours. One afternoon will reserved for service learning activity. Social activities will also be arranged for Metro students to meet with AkU students. Group de-briefings. Weekly Evaluation #2
Week III
June 15-18 Field trip II: Adwa township; Yeha archaeological site; Adigrat rock churches; Mekele Ethiopia Reads project; Negash; Debre Damo rock monastery.
June 19-22 Tuesday to Friday – class time; one afternoon of service learning/community engagement; additional time with AkU students. Group de-briefings. Weekly Evaluation #3
Week IV
June 23-24 Free weekend. Local/cultural exploration. Monday to Thursday – classes; Edu and Ant classes will meet on Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours each class for a weekly total of 4 hours of class time for each class. Amharic class will meet on Tuesday and Thursday for 2.5 hours for a weekly total of 5 hours.
One afternoon will reserved for service learning activity Social activities will also be arranged for Metro students to meet with AkU students. Group de-briefings.
Weekly Evaluation #4
Week V
June 29- July 1 Field trip III: Lalibela archaeological sites and rock churches
July 2 -5 Monday to Thursday – classes; Edu and Ant classes will meet on Monday and Wednesday for two hours each class for a weekly total of 4 hours of class time for each class. Amharic class will meet on Tuesday and Thursday for 2.5 hours for a weekly total of 5 hours. One afternoon will reserved for service learning activity
Social activities will also be arranged for Metro students to meet with AkU students.
Group de-briefings Weekly Evaluation #5
Week VI
July 6 - 8 Social/cultural activities – family visits, excursion to rural areas.
July 9 - 12 Monday to Thursday – classes; Edu and Ant classes will meet on Monday and Wednesday for two hours each class for a weekly total of 4 hours of class time for each class. Amharic class will meet on Tuesday and Thursday for 2.5 hours for a weekly total of 5 hours. One afternoon will reserved for service learning activity.
Social activities will also be arranged for Metro students to meet with AkU students.
Group de-briefings. Weekly Evaluation #6
Week VII
July 13 - 17 Field trip IV: Gondar historical; weekly regional market; Lake Tana monasteries; Simien Mountains.
July 18-20 Classes; service learning/community engagement; interactions with AkU students. Weekly Evaluation #7
Week VIII
July 21 - 22 Free Days. Local/cultural exploration.
July 23 - 26 Monday to Thursday – classes; Edu and Ant classes will meet on Monday and Wednesday for two hours each class for a weekly total of 4 hours of class time for each class. Amharic class will meet on Tuesday and Thursday for 2.5 hours for a weekly total of 5 hours. One afternoon will reserved for service learning activity. Social activities will also be arranged for Metro students to meet with AkU students. Group de-briefings. Weekly Evaluation #8 Wrap up of AkU experience. Farewell activities.
July 27 Depart from Aksum. Overnight in Addis.
July 28 Depart for US
