Donated books help Wollega students in their studies.

Studying to become a doctor of veterinary medicine is a challenging enough task as it is, but for students at Wollega University in Ethiopia, that challenge is intensified by a lack of good academic texts, reference materials, and access to journals that report the latest research in veterinary medicine. This summer, veterinary students from Colorado State University helped their colleagues abroad overcome that challenge by donating their own textbooks.

“In collaboration with the International Veterinary Student Association and the Colorado State Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, we were able to ship 16 boxes of those books to Ethiopia over the summer,” wrote Emily Mehlman, a veterinary student in the Class of 2012, in a letter of thanks to participating students. “A special thanks to those who helped pack, store, ship, organize and transport the books including Meagan Hines, Chelsea McGivney, Kayla Cochran, and crew.”

Wollega University, founded in 2007 in the city of Nekemte, is one of the new public universities in Ethiopia established under the country’s University Capacity Building Program. The university started with 1,600 students and currently has 4,048 students enrolled in 43 undergraduate and five graduate programs. The university is a beacon of hope for Ethiopians, most of who have suffered through decades of civil war, genocide, poverty, famine, disease, and environmental degradation.

The University’s School of Veterinary Medicine provides much-needed training for Ethiopians interested in food animal medicine and production, and public health with particular regards to zoonotic diseases. The mission of the school is:

“To provide effective veterinary manpower and expertise, and take part in the improvement and upholding of animal and human health and wellbeing through veterinary education focusing on practical oriented training and undergoing applied research in the field of veterinary medicine and animal science; and to manage the health and disease of animals as well as to ensure the safety of foods, encompassing the whole chain of food production.”

Thanks to the generosity of CSU veterinary students, Wollega University is just a little bit closer to realizing its mission.