Hello everyone and welcome to the official 2009 LE – Ethiopia blog. My name is Sam Morgan and I am the Program Director for this year’s trip.

Learning Enterprises is an easygoing, education-focused NGO that, since its founding in 1992, has recruited hundreds of college-age volunteers to spend their summers teaching conversation-based English in developing countries around the world. LE is entirely staffed by volunteer alumni who return to continue serving its mission of expanding horizons and spreading volunteerism around the world. LE programs are currently located in twelve countries, and volunteers teach approximately six thousand students each summer.

This summer 14 volunteers will be coming from The George Washington University, Georgetown University, Stanford, Emory and the University of Wisconsin – Madison to teach with the Ethiopia program. We will be working in 5 different towns located in the Oromo region of Ethiopia, in the west. Class sizes will range from 15-40 students, effectively reaching nearly 1000 students during their vacation from school.

The program schedule is as follows:

* June 14: Program Director arrives in Ethiopia
* June 15/16: Volunteers arrive in Ethiopia
* June 17/18/19: Orientation in Harar
* June 20: Volunteers move-in with host families
* June 22: Classes begin
* July 11/12: Mid-Point Break, Hiking in Dadar
* July 24: Last day of classes
* July 27/28: Closing session
* July 28/29/30: Departure from Ethiopia

While I am in country, I will endevour to add to the blog, letting you know about our adventures. Volunteers will also try to use this blog to log feedback about the program and to communicate with friends, family, the rest of the LE community, and anyone else who happens to read, although with EXTREMELY slow internet connection, it may not always be possible. I encourage all readers to leave comments, questions, and suggestions to be taken into consideration for future posts.