The world around us

I took this picture while on assignment in Africa. That is to say I am military and was sent to Africa.
During my tour in the Horn of Africa, I was afforded the opportunity to photograph several events, including building dedications.
This event was a school dedication in a small village in Shedar, Ethiopia. As we arrived, there was singing, dancing and a great deal of signs welcoming the United States.
In Ethiopia, as most of Africa, education is mandated through what we would consider the 8th grade. After that school is considered "private" and must be paid for by the student's family. The largest problem is not the price of education as much as it is the availability of schools.
Some of the children, whose family can afford the education, will walk up to 80 kilometers to attend classes and for some, it depends not just on distance, but the migration of the flock.
We all agree that education is important for the survival of a society, it is paramount for the survival of us all.