The blue school in Ethiopia

The blue school in Ethiopia is not yet fully completed..

A beautiful new school building
The official name is Interlakes International School Ethiopia. In March 2025, MissionInvest visited the new school building. We were proudly given a tour of all the classrooms. It has become a truly impressive building—modest, yet functional and sustainable. The students were given the opportunity to choose the color of the school themselves. They decided on striking blue as the school color. In our view, an excellent choice!

Construction of the new school building took place between September 2023 and August 2024. It was officially opened at the start of the new academic year in September 2024. The total cost amounted to €220,000. Of this, 50% was raised in the United States through MissionInvest USA, while the remaining 50% was funded by donors of MissionInvest in the Netherlands.

Grateful Responses
The realization of this new building is widely regarded as a tremendous blessing for the school. Prior to the start of the construction project, there was considerable skepticism among the board, school leadership, and parent committee regarding its financial feasibility. At the same time, there was unanimous agreement on the urgent need for additional classrooms. Witnessing God’s provision throughout this process has been a powerful testimony for all involved. Below, you can see how the parent committee responded upon receiving news of a major donation through MissionInvest.

Interlakes School Highly Valued!
Interlakes International School in Debre Zeit (Bishoftu), Ethiopia, has been providing high-quality education to over 500 students since 2006. The school is known for its strong academic performance and is accredited to deliver the Cambridge curriculum. Students receive bilingual education, with most lessons taught in English. In addition to academic excellence, Interlakes aims to shape young people through Biblical values, preparing them to play a positive role in Ethiopian society.

“Interlakes is the school every child in Debre Zeit wants to attend! Education is the foundation of development, and at Interlakes, we have the privilege of contributing to that every day. The results are exceptional; approximately 90% of our students pass the national exam, compared to just 5% nationwide!” – Hans Walhout, Board Member, Interlakes Foundation

Challenges
The current situation in Ethiopia presents significant challenges, which also affects the school. The government is undertaking extensive urban renovation and infrastructure expansion, including doubling or tripling major roads (see:https://allafrica.com/stories/202505230218.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Private individuals and businesses are required to cooperate. They often have to hand over substantial portions of their land. Existing boundary walls and fences must be demolished and rebuilt 10 meters further back, in compliance with strict construction regulations.

Interlakes has no choice but to invest in a new perimeter wall. Additionally, the Ministry of Education has imposed new operational requirements, including upgrades to the science laboratory (multiple water and gas connections in the classroom) and an expansion of the library. For the school, this has resulted in additional unforeseen expenses. Furthermore, several unfavorable tax measures have put considerable pressure on the school’s liquidity position.

Beyond these issues, the entire Ethiopian society has faced major economic challenges. Since summer 2024, the cost of living has doubled due to a 50% devaluation of the local currency. The birr lost half its value against the euro, shifting from 60 birr per euro to 120 birr per euro.

Plans and Costs
Despite these challenges, the board and school leadership remain grateful for the school’s impact. They see positive developments across all areas and continue with confidence. In order to make the school future-proof, several initiatives must be implemented in the short and medium term. The total required investment is €140,000, with the planned adjustments and improvements divided into two priority phases:

Phase 1 – Infrastructure and Facilities (€75,000)

• Renovation of the electrical system for safety and reliability.
• Modernization of sanitary facilities.
• Construction of a paved sports field.
• Expansion of the kindergarten playground.
• Building of a new guardhouse.
• Establishment of a library.
• Establishment of a laboratory to comply with the requirements for the secondary education license.
• Construction of a new perimeter wall.

Phase 2 – Technology, Administration, and Transport (€65,000)

• Development of a new website, including a parent portal for registration and progress tracking.
• Modernization of the finance office.
• Purchase of an additional school bus for safe and reliable transportation.

Impact
A new school building (Project 1) is of great importance to facilitate the school’s growth, but a building alone will not create the impact we are aiming for. A school must continuously meet government standards while focussing primarily on providing a high-quality learning environment for it’s students. When a school consistently delivers well-educated graduates, they are more likely to contribute meaningfully to the development of their country in the future. That is the ultimate impact we aim to achieve! To realize this, the improvements listed above are essential to:

• Expand the school’s capacity without compromising quality.
• Enhance safety, modernity, and appeal of the learning environment.
• Strengthen administrative and technological capabilities.
• Support the Debre Zeit community through quality education, employment, and social engagement.

For the 500+ students, this means not only improved facilities but also a solid foundation for their future. They receive education that excels in both academic quality and character formation based on Biblical values, something of great significance to themselves, their families, and society at large.

Strong Recommendation from MissionInvest
In March 2025, MissionInvest visited the project together with a travel delegation. We were all impressed by the professionalism, enthusiasm, and dedication to the students, as well as the high quality of the curriculum. It was truly inspiring to communicate with the students in fluent English—something rarely seen in African schools. These children receive bilingual education, giving them a significant advantage for future studies at higher or university level.

In addition, one of Interlakes’ strengths is that the school maintains a well-structured financial policy. In principle, all operating costs are covered by the school fees paid by parents for their children. This was also an important consideration for MissionInvest in approving the project for the new school building. However, with the new challenges, this exceeds the school’s financial capacity. MissionInvest is therefore eager to provide support. This would take the form of one-time donations for clearly defined sub-projects.

Finally, Interlakes International School has demonstrated for years that sustainable, high-quality education in Ethiopia is possible. With this investment, the school can continue to grow into a thriving educational institution, preparing hundreds of children in the coming years for a future in which they can make a meaningful difference.