Arba Minch field trip - DEP students reflect 3

Dina Black writes:

On Day 1 of our project, we received a

Dean Dersolegn

briefing from Dean Dersolegn Yeneabat who told us about the Arba Minch University (AMU) Law School’s free legal aid services. Professors Richard Carver and Lisa Handley explained to us the research topic and interview techniques. We discussed various research methods. The goal of free legal aid services is to provide access to justice for vulnerable people; most of the clients are too poor to pay for legal assistance. More than half of the beneficiaries are women with children. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRCO) encouraged and financed the University’s Law School to set up a free legal aid programme in 2011 as part of its community service. The providers include members of staff from AMU Law School, students and middle-level legal professionals.

Arba Minch field trip - DEP students reflect 2

In the second of our reflections from students on the Arba Minch field trip, Hauwa Suleiman writes about our hosts in the Law School:

The Law School at Arba Minch University in Ethiopia is unlike any I have ever seen. It is as awe-inspiring as the rest of the country. Diverse in culture yet united in their love for country, like the national language Amharic which brings almost 60 dialects of the region together. The multilingual staff is so knowledgeable and eager to learn more. Most of them speak at least three languages but are so humble in their willingness for partnerships that strengthen us all. So full of energy and open to new ideas, there is a certain buzz while being in their midst that makes you want to dare more to do more.