91探花

There will be a free public screening of the film Awra Amba, followed by a discussion, on Thursday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in the Main Building Faculty Lounge at 91探花.

This screening is the Canadian premiere of the film, which is currently being distributed to film festivals world-wide. Cindy Hanson, of the 91探花 Faculty of Education, has worked in Awra Amba and will facilitate the discussion after the showing.

Awra Amba is an unusual and remarkable place situated in a rural, food insecure region of Ethiopia. The community has developed around goals of equality, hard work and non-violence. It demonstrates these goals by using local, indigenous knowledge in unique ways which include a culture of weaving, use of local building materials, and promotion of equality between men and women, and education for all.

Despite a history of persecution and personal strife, the community continues to grow, manage and operate in ways that model sustainability, caring and community development. As Zuma, one of the community leaders, says, 'We have to find ways of living and working together, and that is what Awra Amba is all about.'

In a global world searching for models of equality and development, Awra Amba provides an unusual example. While world governments try to build millennium development villages, for example, Awra Amba provides an example without external aid.

A trailer for the film can be previewed on Write This Down Productions' or at

This screening is supported by WUSC, Cooper Institute, PEI Women's Network, CUSO-VSO, Women's Studies (91探花) and 91探花 Centre for Education Research.