Projects Abroad, Newsletters from Ethiopia

The small rural town of Sululta, 20 kilometres north of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, is one of the country’s least hospitable places in the early hours of the morning. But to the hundreds of runners who use the surrounding forests and flat asphalted roads to train, and perhaps make a living from the sport of athletics, it is the least of their concerns.

Addis Merkato (Amharic for "New Market", popularly just Merkato or Mercato, from the Italian for "market") is the name for the large open-air marketplace in the Addis Ketema district of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and for the neighbourhood in which it is located. Merkato is the largest open air market in Africa, covering several square miles and employing an estimated 13,000 people in 7,100 business entities.

The Rift Valley Lakes National Park, about 215 km south of Addis Ababa, is an ornithologist's paradise. As would be expected in a park surrounding two Rift Valley lakes, water birds predominate. However, 150 different species have been recorded here, including large numbers of great white pelicans, great and lesser Flamingos and Sacred Ibis. The forests are especially good for seeing unusual weavers and turacos.

Ethiopia has a very rich and diverse music history. The various tribes and ethnic groups of Ethiopia have their own distinct music culture and tradition. The Tigrayans to the north have this smooth, circular dance routine culminated with shoulder and neck movement. The Amharas at the centre, have a dance style dominated by upper body and neck movement. The Oromos to the center and south havethis jumping style and full body dance routine. The Gurages have an acrobatic dance that requires high level of arm, leg and body coordination.

Ethiopia, following the ancient Julian calendar, celebrates Christ's birth on January 7. It is known as Gena. Preparation for the holiday begins as early as a week before, with families buying food and ingredients for meals. If people can afford it, they buy a goat or sheep to eat.

Ethiopia is a land of natural contrasts, from the tops of the rugged Simien Mountain to the depths of the Danakil Depression which, at 120 meters below sea level, is one of the lowest dry land points on earth.

I first have to say what a wonderful experience this was. For 3 months I worked in Kidane Mihret Orphanage. I loved to go to work and it never bored me. In my first week I did not know how I got just to everything, so soon. When I knew my way around in Addis and in the orphanage the time went very fast. It did not feel like 3 months.

As an American, when you tell someone that you’re leaving the country for two months to go to Ethiopia, you tend to get a lot of quizzical looks and blank stares in response. Most people have at best a vague familiarity with the name, and little knowledge of the country’s culture, politics, or geography beyond the fact that it’s located in Africa.

Injera is the basic ingredient of any Ethiopian meal. It looks like a large spongy pancake and some of the sizes produced are huge. It is usually laid down in a large circular tray and sauces, meat and/or vegetables are poured right in the middle. Then you use you right hand (only) to tear pieces off the side and scoop up the wonderful food. It has been described as having a slightly sour taste. It’s a sharp taste, but blends in well with sauces to produce a mouth-watering flavour whatever the dish.

It is nine o'clock in the morning and I pass the gate at Safe House and the first kids run into my arms; I kiss them all. After 100s of kisses, I walk forward to the teenagers, and say everybody hello, giving all of them three kisses and having a small talk with them. Then I look at a new guy, Mickey, who is tall but tiny. I've never seen him before. I start to talk with him, and then I walk in to the office to say hello to rest of the staff.

The Blue Nile Falls are a waterfall on the Blue Nile river in Ethiopia. They are known as “Tis Issat” in Amharic, which when translated means "smoking water". They are situated on the upper course of the river, about 30 kilometers downstream from the town of Bahir Dar and Lake Tana. The falls are estimated to be between 37 and 45 meters high, consisting of four streams that originally varied from a trickle in the dry season to over 400 meters wide in the rainy season.

At the beginning I was told that I was fortunate to work at Safe House, and after only about half an hour or less of being there, I discovered why. I made some really good friends amongst the staff who were all incredibly kind and always there if I needed anything or had a problem. I had such fun with them on a daily basis. At Safe House I managed to have my first teaching experiences, practice my creative skills with the children and even test out a role as ‘dinner lady’ at lunch times...

To the north of Lake Tana, a popular second stop on the northern circuit is Gondar, which served as Ethiopia's capital for almost 300 years from 1635 on wards, and is today noted for its impressive 16th- century castles as well as the beautiful decorated church of Debre Birhan Selassie. To the North of Gondar, traditionally the preserve of hardened trekkers and hikers, lie the staggeringly scenic Simien Mountain National Park, home to the country's main concentrations of the endemic Gelada Baboon and Walia Ibex.

I arrived in Addis 2 months ago, both excited and scared at the same time. My flight arrived in the middle of the night.. I was wondering if someone would have been there, waiting for me. And Bikesegn was there, holding the “Projects abroad” sign. He actually looked as the guy on the picture I’d seen on the web site, so I was relieved!!

Ethiopia's coffee ceremony is an integral part of their social and cultural life. An invitation to attend a coffee ceremony is considered a mark of friendship or respect and is an excellent example of Ethiopian hospitality.

The stelae in Axum, the hewn Churches in Lallibela and the palace of Fasiledus in Gonder are some, among many, that could witness ancient civilizations in Ethiopia. It was really long before Christ that the use of stones for monuments and other incredible purposes was started in this country. These could attest that Ethiopia is one of the countries in the world from which ancient civilization had begun.

Ethiopia has often been called the origin of human kind due to various hominid fossil discoveries like the Australopithecine Lucy. North eastern Africa, and the Afar region in particular was the central focus of these claims until recent DNA evidence suggested origins in south central Ethiopian regions; like present-day Addis Ababa (Finfine). After analyzing the DNA of almost 1,000 people around the world, geneticists and other scientists claimed humans spread from what is now Addis Ababa 100,000 years ago. The research indicated that genetic diversity declines steadily the farther one's ancestors traveled from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which is roughly the site of the exit turnstile for the "out-of-Africa" migration.

The social event was an ‘intercultural day’, where volunteers from different countries had a chance to meet, laugh and exchange experiences, ideas and traditions. We sat around the table and talked about Ethiopian culture and cultures in different countries. Then we had a traditional coffee ceremony, while listening to Amharic music. Everyone sat around the table and talked, while the coffee beans were being roasted in a pan and the fress aroma of coffee spread across the room. The coffee beans are ground up before being brewed in a traditional ‘jabena’ and then served in small cups.

The Ethiopian Christmas known as Ganna or Ledet falls on December 29 of the Ethiopian calendar (January 7 Gregorian calendar). Ledet (Christmas) is celebrated after 43 of days fasting known as Tsome Gahad (Advent), with a spectacular procession, which begins at 6 AM and lasts until 9 AM. After the mass service, people go home to break the fast with the meat of chicken or lamb or beef accompanied with injera and the traditional drinks (i.e. tella or tej).

New Teaching Placement: Lemlem School KG and Primary School. The school was established in 1996 with an area 1150 square metres at Woreda 12, Kebele12, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. The school has 10 classrooms, a staff room, library, kitchen and toilet. The school is rendering educational service at a minimum fee for the nearby community.

North of the city of Addis Ababa are the Entoto mountains, on the Oromia Region, the site of Menilik's former capital who was the king of Ethiopia at the end of the 19th century. A very nice place just minutes away without leaving the city. There is a terrific but windy panoramic view of the city from there. The eucalyptus forests cover the view around the hills. Near the summit is the octagonal Entoto Maryam (St. Mary) church which hosted Menilik's coronation in 1882.

Ethiopia is a famously poor country, with a high incidence of disease, high levels of HIV, and prone to natural disasters. As a result of these factors, many children in Ethiopia are left without their parents, and while some may be able to seek refuge with their extended families, many end up on the streets or are taken in by a care home. One thing’s for sure, wherever you work here, the affection and fun you bring to the children’s lives will be something they will remember forever.