An Ethiopian School for the Hudad

PARTNER

Friends of the Hudad, Reece Foundation

LOCATION

Hudad Plateau, Ethiopia

DATES

April 2018 – September 2019

The Hudad project delivered clean water, sanitation, and improved education facilities to a remote Ethiopian farming community. Located more than 3,200 metres above sea level, the Hudad Plateau community faced severe water shortages and limited infrastructure.

After hearing about Friends of The Hudad on the radio, Kennedys Group Founder Allan Kennedy volunteered to help. With additional support from the Reece Foundation, Allan assembled a small Kennedys Group team to travel to Ethiopia and support the project with plumbing expertise.

Working alongside Friends of The Hudad and local residents, the team delivered critical infrastructure improvements for the community. Their work included connecting clean mountain spring water, testing pipework, and constructing sanitation facilities beside a new school.

Conditions on the plateau were extremely challenging. The site was a three-hour walk from the nearest road with no vehicle access available. Every tool, fitting, and material had to be carried by hand or transported by donkey across mountainous terrain.

While pipework was sourced locally, key plumbing fittings were unavailable in the region. The team transported more than 60 kilograms of essential supplies from Australia to complete the works.

Before the project, the community shared its water source with livestock. This led to widespread illness and poor sanitation conditions. Access to clean water has since improved health, hygiene, and daily life for the entire community.

Reliable water access also created new opportunities for education and food production. Families could establish market gardens and grow produce to sell in nearby towns.

One of the project’s most memorable moments came when clean water flowed through the taps for the first time. Many local children had never seen running water before. For the women responsible for carrying water daily, the moment brought relief, freedom, and hope.

The Hudad project demonstrated the lasting impact skilled trades can have within vulnerable communities. It also helped shape Kennedys Group’s ongoing commitment to community-focused initiatives that create meaningful and lasting change.