Helping to improve people's livelihood in Ethiopia (China-Africa cooperation in the new era)
2024-08-20
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In the North Shoa region of Amhara State, Ethiopia, a farmer who has benefited from the "Water Cellar Project in the Drought-affected Horn of Africa" is preparing to take water from the water cellar. Photo by Zhang Xiuzi
This year marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Ethiopia Office of the China Rural Development Foundation. Over the past five years, the Foundation has carried out projects such as love packages, water and health development, solar lamps for schooling, and women's employment skills training in Ethiopia, focusing on the goals of poverty eradication, hunger eradication, quality education, and clean drinking water in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As of December 2023, it has benefited about 320,000 people in total. Elgogi Tesfaye, Minister of Women and Social Affairs of Ethiopia, said that the Chinese government, enterprises, and various institutions have long been actively supporting Ethiopia's economic development and promoting the improvement of local people's livelihood.
“After the water cellar is built, we no longer have to go to the river to fetch water.”
August is the rainy season in Ethiopia, but Debele, who lives in Obei Village near Durkheim City in Oromia State, is worried about the water supply for his family of seven. Although the family installed a water pipe a year ago, the water supply has been unstable, with water only being supplied once every 20 days or so. "The water tank at home is almost empty, so we can only go to the river far away to fetch water, and it takes two hours to go back and forth." Debele and several children, carrying yellow buckets on their heads, walked along the muddy dirt road towards the river.
The days of Debel's family going out to fetch water will soon change. In her yard, a water cellar has taken shape. "After the water cellar is built, we no longer have to go to the river to fetch water, and we can also grow vegetables in the yard." Debel is full of expectations.
To help solve the local water problem, the China Rural Development Foundation and XCMG jointly launched the "Water Cellar Project in the Drought-affected Areas of the Horn of Africa" in 2015, introducing Chinese water cellar technology. The project has been implemented for four phases, and 161 household water cellars have been built in Oromia, Amhara, Southern and other regions, benefiting more than 12,000 people.
Abebayehu is one of the first beneficiaries of the project. His water cellar numbered "23" was built in July 2017. Before the water cellar was built, he and his wife had to get up before dawn every day during the dry season to fetch water 15 kilometers away. The round trip took most of the day. There was no more time to farm, and no extra water to irrigate the fields, so the crop yield was very low. "Now that we have a water cellar, we can free up manpower at home to do more farm work," said Abebayehu.
In April this year, the fifth phase of the "Water Cellar Project in the Drought-affected Areas of the Horn of Africa" was launched, planning to build 40 water cellars for 38 farmers and a public primary school in Oromia State that are vulnerable to drought. In addition, XCMG also plans to donate 40 water purification systems to 40 public primary schools in Ethiopia to help more students get clean water. Chimedesa, the principal of Obei Primary School, said: "With China's assistance, the water supply for teachers and students is guaranteed."
“With the encouragement of my Chinese friends, I am more motivated to study”
"This schoolbag is my most cherished gift." Darelo said to the reporter while holding the pink schoolbag. Darelo is a sixth-grade student at Dudubisa Primary School in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The little girl cherishes her schoolbag very much. Although it has been used for two years, the schoolbag still looks like new. The words "love package" are printed in Amharic on the schoolbag.
Two years ago, Darelo didn't have a schoolbag and could only carry his books to school every day. Darelo was very happy when he received the love package donated by the China Rural Development Foundation. "The schoolbag is very beautiful, and it also contains sketchbooks, raincoats, towels, blankets and other items." Darelo told reporters, "Inspired by my Chinese friends, I am more motivated to study. I will continue to study hard and hope to become a doctor when I grow up to help more people."
Hannah and Fatuna, fourth-grade students from Dubuisa Primary School, were also beneficiaries of the love packages. They showed the contents of the love packages to reporters. Hannah's favorite items were the colored pencils and the coloring book, while Fatuna's favorite was the hygiene product set.
According to the Ethiopia Office of the China Rural Development Foundation, the International Love Package Project was launched in 2019. By the end of 2023, it had delivered gifts to more than 1.35 million primary school students in 15 countries including Ethiopia, Namibia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. 183,000 love packages have been distributed in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, Afar and other regions of Ethiopia.
“Bringing light to children in poor areas and lighting up their future”
11-year-old Jinus is a fourth-grade student at the Vila Jalsa Primary School in Garan, Oromia. Because her home has no electricity, she used to finish her homework in the classroom before going home after school. "To study at home, I have to light a kerosene lamp, which is dim and consumes a lot of oil," Jinus said helplessly.
In order to solve the lighting problem for local students, the China Rural Development Foundation launched the Solar Lamp Education Project in 2020. With the support of Chinese companies, the Foundation distributed 9,000 solar lamps to 20 public primary schools in Afar, Somali, Oromia, and Benishangul-Gumuz. A new round of donations is underway this year.
"One day, Chinese uncles and aunts came to our school and gave us solar lamps with cute giant pandas painted on the packaging. These lamps are fully charged by being exposed to the sun during the day and can be used at night. They are much brighter than kerosene lamps," Ginus told reporters.
The reporter saw that this solar lamp is small and easy to operate, with two levels of brightness, normal and high, and can provide lighting for up to 8 hours after being fully charged. Local media reported that "China's solar lamp education aid project has brought light to children in poor areas and illuminated their future."
Elgorji Tesfaye highly praised the work of the China Rural Development Foundation. She said that a series of projects carried out by the foundation have greatly promoted the improvement of local people's livelihood, and she hopes that these projects can be further promoted in the future to benefit more people in rural areas.
Dilpo, former director general of the Ethiopian Civil Society Organization Administration, said that the projects of the China Rural Development Foundation are consistent with the priorities of the Ethiopian government and the needs of the people, and their significance and impact are far-reaching. "We hope that more Chinese friends will share their rich experience in poverty alleviation and modernization development, and help Ethiopia achieve greater development."
Yin Qian, director of the China Rural Development Foundation's Ethiopia Office, said: "In the future, the China Rural Development Foundation will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with all partners and make positive contributions to promoting mutual understanding between the two peoples."
(People's Daily Addis Ababa, People's Daily reporters Wan Yu, Ren Yan and Cui Qi)
Source: People's Daily Online
