actress Hilary Swank about ethiopia

Award-winning actress Hilary Swank says she was inspired by the way money has been spent on education in the impoverished areas of Ethiopia.

Swank, 38, who is in the African country on behalf of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said she was impressed by the changes made to better the education system.

"I've travelled extensively and worked with a lot of children in a lot of different countries, and I think what is the most incredible is their desire to learn. I've been all over Africa but this was my first time in Ethiopia,” Contactmusic.com quoted Swank as saying.

The 38-year-old actress visited pupils of Dima Guranda Primary School in the area of Sebeta.

"When you visit, when you actually see hands-on the books, the learning material that these people are able to accumulate because of those donations, it's pretty extraordinary,” Swank said.UNICEF has partnered with luxury goods brand Montblanc on a global Child-to-Child education programme, which gets older students to teach pre-schoolers how to read and write.


Hillary Swank, a two time Academy winner, was in troubled waters in October 2011 for her visit in Chechnya. During the visit Hillary attended a Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, birthday gala with fellow Holly Wood star Jean Claude Van Damme . Human Rights Watch deeply criticized both Hillary and Van Damme for their attendance and "Should not keep any money or gifts they may have received" from the event.

Swank has reportedly said she "deeply regrets" taking part in a lavish concert for the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, following criticism from human rights groups.