Each year, as part of an ongoing series called the American Cycle, Intiman Theatre produces a play that we hope will inspire a city-wide conversation about issues relevant to our community. This year, that play is Abe Lincoln in Illinois, about the man who became the president and his journey toward embracing hope and choosing to fight for all people. As part of the American Cycle, we called upon the citizens of King County to help us identify and honor brave individuals who dedicate their time and energy to bettering our world.

You and Dennis were nominated as heroes by Sally Jo Gilbert de Vargas.  

Awoke - in Seattle to Thank You! Awoke's visit was a tremendous success and a big "thank you" to everyone who came out to enjoy the talks, we enjoyed meeting you.  While Awoke was in Seattle, the local television station, KING 5,  interviewed Dennis and Judy about Project Ethiopia.  To see what they had to say - click here Read about Project Ethiopia in the Newspaper Article from the Journal Media Group in King County, Washington, published September 1, 2009:   "Ballard residents Judy Sanderman and Dennis Wilkins certainly didn’t have plans to change the world when they first visited Ethiopia on a post-retirement vacation in 2002. But they are doing just that, with what seem to be the simplest things: water, toilets, floors and roofs. The effects of providing necessities through their small-scale nonprofit, Project Ethiopia, have spread far beyond making a few families happier and healthier..." to read more - click here   2010 Summer Newsletter A step out of poverty… The farmers’ trial of diluted urine as fertilizer found it is better than expensive chemical urea fertilizer. A savings of $115/year by using urine is an economic boost for the farmers whose income is less than $2/day. This closes the food/agriculture loop! Farmers will use urine collected in the urine-diverting school latrines and their family latrines...more 2009 Summer Newsletter Latrines in and being used by the families and schools adding years to the life expectancy of villagers and students - More 2008 September Newsletter: A new building for grades 1 - 4 has been built with all labor from parents and Project Ethiopia helping with materials: some corrugated roof sections, nails, and concrete floor. test - more 2008 May Newsletter "No one is sick."  "We live a life of luxury with clean floors and safe water."  These are joyful reports from the first two villages where every house has a concrete floor, there are wells for safe water, and every house will soon have a composting twin-pit latrine. - More 2007 Newsletter: Ethiopian children received uniforms thanks to Sammamish/Fall City, WA swim school children.  The school children each donated $6 for a uniform and school supplies for a year. - more 2006 Newsletter: Ethiopian successes continue. The highlight of our February 20 – March 10 visit to Ethiopia was the growth of a network of local people who are happy to be helping.  Each community’s skilled workers caught the vision as Awoke Genetu, our Ethiopian partner and friend, negotiated with them and explained our projects to them and these workers reduced their prices below what Awoke offered in some cases.  One said he would have profit taken in satisfaction, not money.  - more