Elma River Valley Community Project

Elma River Valley Community Project
Blog Entry 1.


Introduction

This blog has been initiated as an informal instrument to disseminate information, ideas and opinions linked to the Elma River Valley Community Project. At the same time there will be freedom to explore some related issues, opportunities and challenges.

We warmly welcome posts from visitors. If you have a comment, suggestion or criticism please send it through! The blog is only moderated to frustrate those people who habitually visit such fora to further their interests in writing obscenities.


Project Basics

What: The ERVCP intends to enhance the local livelihoods of indigenous communities in the Elma River Valley. The project is broad in scope and ambition and flexible in approach. Long-term concerns include heritage preservation and management, access to water and medicines, and income generation.

Where: The ERVCP focuses on an area of the Lower Omo Valley in South-Western Ethiopia. Today the area is under the administration of the Southern Peoples, Nations and Nationalities Region (SPNN) of the Ethiopian state.

Who: Although the project was initiated by a group of researchers and students from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge we have been very fortunate in that many others have become involved through their links with the area and team.

When: The project was initiated in May 2010 and will continue indefinitely. The project is in the process of obtaining charitable status.

Why: We feel it is our responsibility to positively impact the communities and environments in which we work. Many of the project members visit the area on the grounds of its exceptional qualities - cultural and ecological diversity and/or archaeological remains – and it is fitting that in drawing from such ‘resources’ something is put back.

How: At the moment a full answer to this question is impossible. We are open-minded and willing to try a variety of approaches. In fact the only guiding principle is that all project activities must be welcomed by the local communities. The initial priority is improving water access.