Perhaps one of the few lockdown silver linings we have been gifted is a heightened awareness of the educational resources available to us online. Where once the assumption would’ve been you have to attend an in-person workshop to learn, we’re now realising that these lessons are in fact at our fingertips.

To offer locked-down people something a little bit different, WaterAid have created a new series, Learn with Frat, that sees an Ethiopian community sharing their virtual one-minute lessons. WaterAid invites viewers to engage with the people of Frat, to discover Ethiopian culture and learn new language, leadership and even culinary skills.

There is café owner Marima showing the steps to make injera, the Ethiopian flatbread, as well as Ethiopian coffee. Whilst school principal Mengistu teaches key phrases in the Ethiopian language Amharic. There are also leadership tips from Frat’s women’s group leader Hawa and lessons in how climate change is impacting the community.

Alicia Robinson, Digital Content and Experience Lead at WaterAid said: “The people of Frat are a diverse community that face many challenges, including a lack of clean water and decent sanitation, which impacts on their lives and livelihoods. But in the face of this adversity, they are always ready to help each other, sharing their skills and resources. They even have a word for acts of kindness; ‘wenfell’.”

In Ethiopia, nearly two-thirds of the population live without access to clean water. The stories told through these lessons are designed to help the British public understand more about Ethiopian culture and that of the community of Frat, just one such community that WaterAid is raising money for through its Future on Tap appeal. Until 4th February 2021, donations will be doubled by the UK government, up to £2 million.

These films offer a quick break from the monotony of daily lockdown life and the chance to learn something new. They are a reminder that although we remain disparate, each confined to our homes, we can still connect virtually, and still use this time to broaden our understanding of communities around the world.

Visit the WaterAid website to Learn with Frat