Scorpio News
Scorpio Seafarers Visit Schools in Ethiopia
In Beacon 28, readers were introduced to the remarkable work of Loretta Cointe and her charity, H.E.L.P. (Helping Education Loretta Project), an organization that has spent almost 20 years transforming schools and students’ lives across Ethiopia. The story of H.E.L.P. (read the article here) not only highlighted the power of one individual’s determination but also drew attention to the stark challenges facing Ethiopian youth, including very limited career opportunities both within and beyond their communities.
When the Communications team first met with Loretta, her description of the students’ struggles, the poverty in rural villages, and the limited career paths available, left a deep impression on the team. The meeting sparked an idea that quickly evolved into a meaningful initiative: why not introduce the students to seafaring as possible to career path?
Given Scorpio’s connection with the Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute (EMTI) in Addis Ababa, and having several Ethiopian seafarers in our fleet, we proposed something simple yet impactful: sending a few of our seafarers to local schools to share their stories and introduce the idea of a maritime career to the students.
The aim of the visits was to broaden students’ horizons, introduce a new idea for a viable career path, foster curiosity, and show how perseverance and training could open doors to a world far beyond Ethiopia’s borders.
We arranged meetings with senior executives and the heads of crewing, who all enthusiastically supported the idea. With Loretta’s approval, we then arranged meetings with multiple parties, with careful coordination between Loretta, the Monaco office, the Optimum team in Athens, a representative from the Ethiopian Maritime Association, and the Crewing Manager of EMTI. The result was a plan for two school visits, the first in Addis Ababa, and the other in Aleltu.
Four of our Ethiopian seafarers volunteered their time during their upcoming shore leave to speak at the schools, and Scorpio covered all their travel costs, ensuring the project remained a fully charitable effort focused on learning and exchange.
A Day to Remember
The first school visit took place on March 28, 2025, at Adey Ababa High School, located just outside of Addis Ababa. Adey Abeba serves hundreds of students from nearby rural communities, many of whom are the first in their families to attend secondary school. The visit featured a presentation led by Dereje A. Zemedkun, the EMTI Crewing Manager, and three Scorpio seafarers: Fourth Engineers Mintesnot Minalu Zeryhune and Geta Chanie Walelgn; and Electrical Officer Adem Kibret Ayele. Together, they took turns speaking to students about the shipping industry, sharing their real-life experiences at sea, what life is like onboard, and where they have travelled in the world.
The session drew lively participation, with students asking questions both during and after the presentation. The second session was held a week later, on April 4, 2025, at Aleltu High School, about 55 kilometres north of Addis Ababa. Aleltu is a small, growing town where H.E.L.P. has long supported education, having built and equipped classrooms, libraries, and kindergartens in the area, and forming lasting relationships with the local schools and communities. This visit drew an audience of about ninety 12th grade students and their teachers, who gathered eagerly for the presentation.
After a warm welcome from the school’s director, Dereje opened the session with an introduction to the maritime industry, giving students a sense of how vital global shipping is to everyday life. The two Scorpio seafarers, Electrical Officer Beminet Kassahun Ejigu, and returning Fourth Engineer Mintesnot Minalu Zeryhune, took the floor to share their personal journeys, describing their education, life at sea, and the skills and discipline their work demands.
“The students were very attentive,” Loretta reported to us after the visit. “They were fascinated to learn about seafaring as a profession, which for many, was the first time they had ever heard of it.”
Following the presentations, students asked thoughtful questions about training, career prospects, and what life is really like on board a vessel. “Some wanted to know how they could join right after high school,” Loretta continued. Dereje and the seafarers explained that while seafaring offers opportunities to travel and earn well, it also requires dedication, resilience, and hard work. After the session, a small group of students lingered outside asking more questions to the seafarers.
Inspiring Curiosity and Confidence
For Dereje, the visit was as rewarding as it was enlightening. Telling us in an email: “The session was a valuable opportunity to engage with the students, introduce them to the shipping industry, and help broaden their understanding of the career, adding another option on their menu of possible paths.” He added that the students’ reactions made a strong impression: “It was truly an eye-opener for many of the youngsters, as evidenced by their active participation, thoughtful questions, and genuine interest. Some of them are even reaching out to me still today. We believe this kind of outreach goes a long way in shaping informed, motivated future professionals.”
As Loretta summed up the experience: “In my humble opinion, the presentation was very good, and all participants (staff and students) were very interested.”
A few seafarers sharing their story, some pictures of life onboard, and a map where they have travelled seems simple. But the impact of these school visits extends far beyond a simple presentation. For students in remote or underprivileged areas, seeing real people from their country succeed on a global stage can spark a powerful sense of possibility.
For all involved, it was a humbling reminder of the transformative power of education and the importance of representation. By connecting Scorpio’s world of global seafaring with H.E.L.P. ‘s mission to educate and uplift Ethiopia’s youth, this initiative beautifully demonstrates how collaboration can affect change.
What began as a simple conversation, a spark of empathy and imagination, turned into something with the potential to shape children’s futures. We extend a warm thank you to all who made this happen, especially to our seafarers for giving their time while off-contract.
To learn more or support H.E.L.P.’s work in Ethiopia, visit: https://ethiohelp.org/
-Nicole Ruskell
This article featured in Beacon 29; while onboard, all issues are accessible on Docmap.
