Ethiopia

This is the first real case study that is discussed in the book.  There have been case studies but they didn’t seem to be real case studies more like hypothetical scenarios.   This case study is about Vella teaching in Ethiopia for the drought relief.  The ultimate plan was not to go and help the relief effort but to create a long term solution for the Ethiopian people to be self sufficient.  The relief efforts provided, vaccinations, health treatments, distribute food, and keep heath records on all recipients.  The long term plan was to help the Ethiopian people become more self sufficient, and be able to survive droughts through planning and saving crops.   The study talks about how Vella got local buy in and credibility by utilizing one of the local leaders.  The chapter also explains how Vella who did not know the native language and Fatuma the local leader who was working with Vella communicated.    What I really like is how Vella starts asking questions for her design process.  My favorite quest she asks is called the WWW (Who needs What, as defined by Whom. I am excited to be reading the case studies now, and I think this should make the read more enjoyable.  The beginning of the book read like a text book.

Brad