First Impressions

We landed in Addis Ababa at 1am on Monday morning (October 8th 2007). Under darkness from the air, it looked like any other large city – a sprawling mass of lights. It wasn’t until we left to visit our first partner project that day that we were able to see the reality of living in Addis.

At first glance, it is a dusty, noisy and shambolic place. The city is divided into administrative districts called “kebeles”, each made up of a corrugated metal buildings piled haphazardly upon one another. Goats and donkeys meander lazily amongst the relentless throng of traffic, mostly made up of blue and white taxis. Many of the back roads are impassable, nothing more than dusty stone tracks filled with people. The desperate poverty of the city is shocking – the homeless lie in the street, many of them just children, and most homes are makeshift one-bedroom constructions which house entire families.

And yet there is something extremely likable about the city – it is vibrant, colourful and culturally rich with traditional Ethiopian folk dancing and singing, the entertainment of the Azmaris (minstrels) and the typical Ethiopian cuisine of injera and wat. Despite having so little, the people are generous, friendly and welcoming – yet determined when talking about the need for change in Ethiopia. You are left feeling that with such spirit this is truly possible.

The first project we visited works to enhance the living conditions of Addis’s elderly. Life expectancy in Ethiopia remains very low (approximately 49 years) and those who survive to old age are often left without any family or any means by which they may be able to support themselves. Sadly, for many this means they are forced to beg on the streets. Ethiopiaid’s partner provides a day care centre for the elderly where they receive food and are able to wash their clothes. They can take part in traditional crafts as a way of generating income such as spinning cotton and weaving cloth for “Gabi” (traditional white shawl) and floor mats. The centre also employs young volunteers who fundraise for the centre whilst also learning the crafts themselves so these skills are passed on to a new generation. The centre is an extremely happy and social place and we were impressed with their work – a great start to our trip!