What is your current position?
I am advisor for Green Livelihood Programme, an integrated rural development programme supported by NORAD through the Norwegian Mission Society in Ethiopia. This programme includes six different projects working with environment, culture, health, education, gender and support for grassroots associations. The six projects are spread throughout a big area in Western Ethiopia south and north of the Blue Nile and until the border to South Sudan.
What do you do in your present job?
Besides supporting the programme in its daily work and routines, I am particularly assigned to work on cultural issues. There are many different ethnic and linguistic groups living within the catchment area of the programme and many of these are marginalised minority groups. We therefore address their needs particularly in activities like language development and cultural promotion, and we also mainstream the issue of cultural sensitive development work in all other activities. I am therefore working closely together with the employees of the programme as well as other stakeholders within this field to initiate and implement activities, production of materials, workshops, trainings and meetings.
What was the subject of your master thesis?
The subject was Policy on Mother Tongue as Language of Instruction in Ethiopia. I compared two minority groups (of which one group is one of the main focuses in my current work) and which impact the introduction of mother tongue instruction has had on their social group Identity.
In what terms has your CIE master helped you in getting where you are today?
I think one of the most important factors for my employment was my familiarity with the issue of culture and language as well as the working area and previous experience in Ethiopia. The programme was looking specifically for someone who could give advice on cultural issues.
Are there any specific topics/methods taught to you during the programme which are more relevant to you in your current position?
The topics covered by my master thesis have been the most relevant. However, also other topics have been of great help to me in my work such as international aid policies and structures as well as conventions and charters.
Why did you choose the CIE programme?
I chose the CIE programme because I knew that I wanted to work internationally and since I had a background from education, this corresponded with my interests and experiences. I also chose the programme because it is international and I would meet people from all over the world. It would also give me the chance to do fieldwork outside Norway and experience in English as a working language.
Where do you see yourself career-wise in the future?
I want to continue working with international aid, preferably in Africa. My wish is to contribute to including more awareness on culture and ethnicity in development work – particularly in education. If I get a chance to do a PhD I would like to research more about how participation in the larger society (including formal education) affects cultural and linguistic awareness of ethnic minority groups, for example in Ethiopia.
Any additional comments you may have for future applicants to the CIE programme are welcome.
The CIE programme gives students the opportunity to develop in many different directions and follow their particular interests. Besides the excellent academic opportunities, you also get a lot of social benefits and opportunities to get friends from all over the world!