How many times in a lifetime does one have a chance to save the life of a child?

How appropriated to spend Good Friday morning (April 14, 2017) as Jesus would have done, visiting sick children at the Zewdutu Hospital in Addis, Ethiopia.  We chose the Pediatric Ward.  Blessing, one of the participants from EWEA arranged the visit.  She is a trained Social Worker and works as a Pastor.  Three nurses met us to take us on the tour. 

Blessing (left), her brother Daniel, Lydia talking with the three nurses
who came in on their day off to take us on the tour.

 Blessing brings clothes for the children she has bought from used clothing stores.  
We go to ‘Neuro’ first.   It is sad to see such serious birth defects and to know that if the mothers when pregnant had had folic acid supplement, these hydrocephalic and spinal bifita babies would probably have been born normal.  Shunts are very expensive.  Government and other organizations donate the surgery.  Sometimes it is too late for surgery to be effective when the children are brought to this government hospital.   Complications from surgery can lead to paralysis we are told.   

We meet Selamanit, mother of a three month old boy who now weighs 3.5 kgs.  Her husband was killed in a car accident three months ago.  This baby needs special formula for low birth weight babies.   This later led us to a hunt for this formula.  Negist, our loyal guide took our taxi from one drug store to the next to the next.  The fourth drug store had it!  We bought two containers of powdered milk formula for premature babies. 

Negist reading the label for the Powdered Milk for Premature Babies
 as the Pharmacist and Lydia look on.

It will be used for more than Selamanit to help these little low birth weight babies to gain essential weight for survival.  Kidus, the Nurse, Public Health person, told us that problems arise when these children leave hospital and go home to poor water, lack of money to buy milk so no milk. 

Next we met a situation that, when presented to us, we immediately said we must act.  This little boy, Surafel, 9 years old had been on an antibiotic for meningitis and an abscess on his thigh.  His father was by his side.  The previous night, his antibiotic had to be discontinued due to lack of money.  His nurse left crying.  We immediately reached into our pocket and gave what we had, enough to carry his antibiotic one week.  This antibiotic is very expensive (almost $300 Canadian for two weeks).  You can see why the money is not available in a government hospital in Ethiopia to hopefully save one child. His father tried to lift him to say goodbye but we said 'No no' because it caused him such pain.  We thought about him all week.

Surafel with his Dad.  

The day we were leaving we received an email from the Dr Biruh Alemtsehay on behalf of the Zewditu Memorial Hospital Pediatric Nurses that set us to action.  It expressed their gratitude and said there were some ‘small issues like the lack of pulse oximeter, glucometer, BP cuff, and other basic instruments that will help us in better managing our patients’.  Allan immediately said, ‘I have a blood pressure cuff that I never use with me.  Let’s take it to them.’     As well, we had a bundle of ‘birr’ (their money) left that we didn’t want to take back to Canada.

With little precious time left, we made our way to the hospital.  I kept thinking, prepare yourself, that bed may be empty.  We made our way up the stairs to the forth floor.  There was Dr Biruh at the desk.  We gave them the blood pressure cuff and the bundle of money.  They took us to the ward.  No words can describe the look on Surafel’s face or the feeling we had in our hearts to see him smiling and so much stronger.  The nurses said he is receiving wound care and up and walking and is still on the miracle antibiotics.  I can honestly say I never thought we would be able to be instrumental in saving the life of a child when we were on a CESO assignment.  What a humbling experience.  I quietly gave him my CESO card with my email on it and said, ‘Maybe someday you will be able to email us.’

Surafel one week after being on the antibiotics looking much better!

Tour the Pediatric Ward with us:
https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/visit-to-zewdutu-hospital-pediatric-ward-addis-ethiopia

Easter In Addis with Workaferahu's Family

How special to be invited to Workaferahu’s home for Easter.  She told us to be sure and not eat before we came.  We asked the door man to get us a yellow taxi so he went out into the street and hailed a taxi from across the road.  We dialed Workaferahu’s number and gave the phone to the driver.  After he hung up, he told us it would be 250 burr and in we got.  As we got nearer to her place, the driver pulled over no less than three times to find out from her where to go.  There are no street signs and it is a maze of streets once you are off the main road, not paved, lots of obstacles to go around, lots of turns to make.  The last round we could see Workaferahu with her phone to her ear looking for us!

Workaferahu’s two children are Blen 7 and Dawit 8.  They were dressed in matching Traditional Ethiopian dress. 

Blen and Dawit In Traditional Ethiopian Dress for Easter

They were quite excited to carry a bag with goodies for them.  We were able to buy an Easter basket filled with biscuits and bad things!  Their mother said they had to wait until after we ate to open it.

Little did we know that they had all been up all night because the Easter Orthodox tradition is to meet at church at 2am to worship until Jesus’s resurrection at sunrise.  Blen, who was so excited about us being there and the possibility of sweets hardly made it through ½ hour and she hit the sac. In addition to church, she had an appointment to have her hair done for Easter on Easter morning because the line ups were so long the previous day.   In fact, we didn’t see her the whole afternoon! 

Blen's Easter Braids

Dawit, on the other hand was eager to eat so he could have some sweets and that he did!  He was careful each round to offer to everyone and have one himself of course!

Workaferahu has had a nanny for 1 ½ years.  Together with her sister, they prepared an Easter feast!  Nine days previous they ground barley, added sugar and set a brew.  Nice flavor but must be careful, it does have kick. (Workaferahu phone the next morning to make sure we weren’t suffering from a hangover!).   They had popped popcorn in sunflower over the open fire.  Workaferahu prepared Traditional Ethiopian Coffee.

Workaferahu and Lydia visit as the coffee beans are roasting. 

As the Easter Bread is brought out (made by Workaferahu), we learn that Workaferahu's Father blessed the bread as is the tradition early in the morning.  Allan was able to take a picture from Workaferahu's Smart Phone.

Workaferahu's Father Blessing The Easter Bread

   Yumm.  The meal was set out.  Injera (East African sourdough-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture. Traditionally made out of teff flour, it is a national dish in Ethiopia), both dark and light.  The fast for them has finished so all stops are pulled!  Chicken wat with hard-boiled egg.  Wikipedia is a great help! (Wat, we̠t’, wot (Amharic: ወጥ^?, IPA: [wətʼ]) or tsebhi (Tigrinya: ጸብሒ^?, IPA: [sʼɐbħi]) is an Ethiopian and Eritrean stew or curry that may be prepared with chicken, beef, lamb, a variety of vegetables, spice mixtures such as berbere, and niter kibbeh, a seasoned clarified butter.)

There were two kinds of chicken Doro Wat, one hotter than the other spice wise, both delicious.  Then cottage cheese (a treat because milk is very expensive.  In the dryness cattle and goats do not produce extra we are told!  Allan takes special note of the spice powder on the table because Workaferahu warns us it is very hot!  Allan likes hot! 

Injera, Cottage Cheese, Dot Wat, Mutton

Now for the story of the day.  We only learned the details when Workaferahu’s brother drove us home.  On the Saturday, Workaferahu’s brother went to the market to buy a sheep.  When we were outside I asked if they had a rabbit because I saw droppings that looked like rabbit.  No, it was the sheep!  So Workaferahu’s brother’s job on Sunday morning to slaughter the lamb.  Oh dear.  So, we had the special dish of mutton, very special.  It too was delicious. 

Workaferahu’s dear Father has been ill with depression for several months.  He is a cartographer by profession and suddenly several months ago he knew he was unable to do a job that he had committed to.  Workaferahu has been able to work with the hospital and obtain medication but the medication was giving bad side effects so they have changed medication recently and he has improved considerably.  He came out to greet us.  A man of great dignity.  He and Allan had a nice talk.  Later a friend of his came by to visit.  He comes every day.  Workaferahu is pleased to see him gaining his interest in life back.  Depression is a mean affliction robbing one of their jois de vive.  She talked of the sudden change in him that he himself noticed. 

Allan and Workaferahu's Father Having A Nice Visit.

Despite his urge to sleep, Dawit sprung to life as soon as ‘Easter Basket’ was mentioned.  There were little gifts for everyone.  Blen got a little shoulder bag from ‘Bali’ and immediately found something to put in it (she loves shoulder bags).  Although meant for Workaferahu, Dawit immediately latched on to a bright yellow bag which he immediately opened to find a reflectent vest that Jeff Yuill had given us.  Dawit immediately jumped into the role of policeman, perfectly directing traffic in the middle of the living room just like the Addis policemen in the middle of the crazy intersections.

Dwait Directing Traffic In His Mother's New Vest!

With everyone asleep, Workaferahu, Allan and I had a great visit.  She is a wealth of knowledge having worked with EWEA for the last 14 years.  She was able to give great insight as we talked about how the women could better work together to help each other and how businesses could improve their products and move forward to better market them.  Such depth of relationship.  I can’t begin to tell you how Workaferahu works to help this organization totally as a volunteer.

And to give a little insight into the dynamism of her other activities, she is on her way this week to work with a Sock manufacture (Star Socks) which is interested in setting up a factory south of Addis.  She has a new job with a consultant.  https://iba.ventures/iap/   

Along with this, she had some really exciting news for us.  EWEA is going to open a ‘One Stop Shop’ at the airport here in Addis.  Wow.  This will give all members a chance to sell their product through this airport shop.  Their aim is to open in two months.  I was pleased to hear that the plan is to hire one full time person and the other good news is there is an accounting system they will use to organize the complexity of running a business.  What a great move forward.  This will open new worlds.  It’s like Workaferahu’s recent experience of taking one of Root in Style’s leather bags to her Norwegian friend who put it in the hands of a retailer in Norway who immediately initiated a request for a substantial order for Root in Style.  She had more good news.  The Norwegian group will do EWEA’s web site free for two years. 

An organization here in Addis that is very close to Workaferaheu’s heart is AWSAD, Association for Women’s Sanctuary and Development.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2016/jul/27/ethiopia-women-girls-safe-houses-shelter-ethiopia-female-survivors-violence-in-pictures

It is only when a person open’s their heart does another know learn of their life changing tramatic experiences.  So, friendships across the miles develop.  Such a special time together.

Workaferahu and Lydia.  Easter sharing at Workaferahu's.

Ethiopian Women's Export Association Completes Marketing Workshop

We have completed our time with EWEA (Ethiopian Women’s Export Association) and are now doing site visits with AWEP (African Women Entrepreneurs Program).  Our time here has been and is continuing to be an incredible experience.  Friday was the last day for the EWEA full day workshops.  I didn’t want them to end.  The participants were incredible.  Although they said they were not used to speaking in front of people, they came and sat in what we called the ‘hot seat’.  For each business, I prepared a slide show of their business and they talked about it to the group, sometimes in English and some in Amharic.  No problem for us because we had already visited the site and knew what it was about.  Then, the last day, we had a mini trade fair where they brought a display of their products.  Here is a link for you to have a look at our EWEA workshops, the participants and the mini trade fair.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/ethiopian-women-export-association-marketing-workshop-march-2017

Leather Root In Style, Semhal Guesh and Amour Addis Ethiopia

Ethiopian Leather is incredible. Three businesses participated in the EWEA Marketing Program presented by CESO VA's Allan and Lydia Sorflaten. Visit Root in Style in their shop in the mall. Have a look at their original designs, many of which have an insert of Ethiopian traditional weaving in the purse. Semhal Guesh and Amour are ready with original designs and fresh ideas for the market. Semhal has researched and exported doting all her 'i's and crossing all her 't's' as we say. It will be interesting to see how each business develops.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/root-in-style-semhal-guesh-and-amour

Mekedonia: Home For The Elderly, Disabled and Homeless Addis Ethiopia

Mekedonia:  Home For The Elderly, Disabled and Homeless

You know we have been concerned about the beggars, the homeless and the poverty stricken in Addis.  Negash, our go to man hired by AWEP to schedule us was available on Saturday, April 8^th so we hired him for the day.  One of the places he thought we would like to see:  Mekedonia.  This is the closest I have come to experiencing a Mother Theresa like home.  This home was begun by Ato. Biniam Belete in September 2011.  Mekedonia people (mostly volunteers) go out into the streets and pick up people who are destitute, sometimes almost at death’s door.  The stories of Before and After are bone chilling.    ‘Mekedonia welcomes people in desperate need with an open heart, to share God’s love together as a family. People who were once hungry are now fed; once naked are now clothed; once physically and emotionally abused are now in peace and once hopeless are now living a life filled with good memories and hopes for a bright future. Since many of our residents are bed-ridden and terminally ill, they are also provided with assistance in toileting, mobility, bathing and other daily activities’.  There are 400 in the village we visited.  This is one of four villages.  They are working toward building another which will include a hospital.                                                                                                                                                                      As you travel through the village, you will see a group watching a movie.  I watched a blind man all dressed in white being helped through the hall ways.  Several elderly men were out sunning themselves in their wheel chairs.  I was most interested in seeing how they prepare a meal for 400.  400 injera for starters and a humungous pot of cabbage soup.  A young fellow who cannot walk who was injured in a car accident asked us to pray for him.  The guide said if we knew of any medical supplies, even one syringe would be helpful.  

Visit Mekedonia with us:

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/mekedonia-home-for-elderly-and-disabled-addis-ethiopia-74817747

Tinsaye Peanut Butter & Food Manufacture: Addis Ethiopia

Tinsaye Peanut Butter & Food Manufacture:

We go to Hirut’s home where she employs six people (herself included) in the manufacture of Peanut Butter (25-50 dozen jars a week) as well as the grinding and packaging spices and nuts.  Hirut graduated in accounting in 1992, worked in a bank for a number of years but four years ago opened her own ‘factory’ in her own home manufacturing Peanut Butter and preparing spices.  First we watch the Peanut Butter being made.   We were surprised to find how hot the Peanut Butter was coming out of the electric grinding machine.  The cover goes on immediately creating a vacuum seal as the Peanut Butter cools. We had to wait several minutes to taste it to let it cool.  Delicious!  Organic.  No added sugar, pure roasted peanuts.  The hot bottles of Peanut Butter have to be put in a water bath to cool so the jars will retain their shape. 

She also grinds and packages spices.  In the slide show, we identify and taste berbere, chico butter and Seneff Kollo:  (yegebse kolo-roasted barley mixed with chickpeas and nuts), all her own products.  Not only that, Hirut had a full meal of injera ready for us complete with Traditional Ethiopian Coffee prepared by Hirut’s mother the Ethiopian way with the little charcoal stove in the living room.  She first roasted the beans in a little frying pan, then ground them, then put many tablespoons full in the Traditional pot, bringing it to a full steam before pouring it with the pot several inches above the cup.   This was our first taste of injera and first Traditional Ethiopian Coffee made extra special because it was at Hirut’s family home! 

Enjoy the visit with us:

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/tinysate-peanut-butter-and-spices

Kumneger Yishak Coffee Exporter Addis Ethiopia

Kumneger Yishak Coffee Exporter Addis Ethiopia:

Kumneger Yishak established as a Coffee Exporter June 2012.
In our visit to Kumneger Yishak coffee exporting office, we learned most from her Expert Coffee Taster, Asnake who speaks English well and certainly knows the coffee industry well.  The slide show shows different kinds of coffee that Kumneger Yishak exports.  We learn that most of Ethiopian coffee is exported as green coffee.  All Kumneger's coffee is hand-picked and sun dried, making the best of flavors!  Kumneger is considering getting into Roasted Coffee but this requires big investment with questionable profit margin.  Meanwhile, meet Kumneger and Asnake as they show us different kinds of coffee that they export.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/kumneger-yishak-coffee-exporter-addis-ethiopia

Yordi Traditional Ethiopian Painting: Addis Ethiopia

Yordi Traditional Ethiopian Painting:

Yordi, like her paintings, grows on you.  Her unique little shop compactly displays her varied art pieces for walk by mall persons to catch a glimpse and stop to study her Traditional paintings on wood.  Yordi creates artifacts that frame traditional crosses with a backing of Ethiopian art.  She has done illustrations for children’s books.  But her volume sales are light weight jewelry (earrings and pennants) with traditional patterns or smiling faces to warm people’s souls.  The most amazing thing is behind her display she is painting constantly.  It amazes me that she works in water colors, then varnishes her finished product.  Enjoy your visit with Yordi.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/yordi-traditional-ethiopian-art-painting-shop-addis

Mulu Honey Products Addis Ethiopia

Mulu Honey Products

Mulu buys and processes a minimum of 2000kg of honey per year.  There are two harvest times/year for honey, October and February.  Mulu must be assured of the supply so she buys from a Farmers’ Union a standing order.  She sells to small stores in Addis.  Demand increases for Weddings, Holidays:  September, Christmas, Easter and New Year’s especially for her Honey Wine.  Dark honey comes from bees that get their nectar from coffee flowers, yellow honey from sunflower flowers.  White honey from the flower of a tree.

Mulu makes a product from soya bean and cinnamon.  She is working toward getting a paten so no one will copy the recipe.   She grinds spices for market.  You will see in the slide show more specifically her product line.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/mulu-honey-addis-ethiopia

Elsa’s Traditional Clothing Store and Factory

Elsa’s Traditional Clothing Store and Factory

It is no exaggeration to say that Elsa works 16-20 hours a day.  Her husband died three years ago leaving her with two children, now 11 and 9. Her husband had a little factory.  Elsa took the challenge.  Her factory now employs 10-11 workers permanently.  The workforce goes up to 20 when she has orders of 500-600 units.  Her factory is in her home.  A lady named Blessing was at Elsa’s shop for our visit.  She did some interpreting and was our model.  Blessing is a minister well named! 

At the factory (Elsa’s home), I was amazed at the variety of product being produced.  The sports suits with the Ethiopian flag in the colors of Ethiopia look great for football (our soccer) and are being produced by the hundreds.  She has a large cutting table and an electric cutter.  After sewing, the football two piece ware are packaged in a special area.

A baby is asleep on the bench, unaware of all the activity around her.  Her mother needs to work.  Lots of variety in products:  t-shirts all sizes and colors, baby layette sets in pink and pure white.  A baby bath towel with a hoodie as well as traditional dresses.  Amazing really.   A link to the slide show is below.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/elsa-traditional-shop-and-factory-addis

Aleph Design Addis Ethiopia

Aleph has been in business 9 years.  The first year she worked from her home.  She has had her shop for 8 years, 6 in her present location.  Her traditional cultural dresses are well known locally.  She has sent dresses to Dubai, London, America, South Africa and Germany.  She usually sends them with people who are travelling.  Her sketches reflect her artistic abilities.  Customers tell her what they would like.  She sketches the outfit, adds color, takes measurements and the customer chooses the fabric, the woven pattern, the embroidery pattern and leaves the shop to make the garment. I love her gentle way.  https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/aleph-design-addis-ethiopia

 Enjoy the show

Negist Handcraft, Clothing and Textile Store Addis

Negist is an upscale Handcraft, Clothing and Textile Store strategically located in an upscale community across the street from the American School and near Embassies. You will enjoy virtually shopping to discover their excellent products. For us there was lots of room to look around, very pleasant, cool surroundings.  Sammy Abdella founded Negist in 2005 with his mother, sister and two artisans working out of his family home in Ethiopia. Bridging contemporary demand with age-old traditions, Negist brings the vitality and rich heritage of Ethiopia to life.’ (http://tfocanada.ca/docs.php?page=5_5&chapid=5).  I love the light weight soft leather tie dyed bags. The company works with local designers, embroiderers, weavers and cotton spinners to produce high-end, handmade textiles from natural materials.   From the main shop, you can step into the weavers and spinners area to see them hard at work.  The looms are made of bamboo, the patterns authentically traditional. ‘Negist works with over 47 permanent artisans and exports its products to all corners of the globe, from Europe, to Japan, to Australia, to Africa, to the Middle East and Canada.’ Sam, Negist’s Owner tells us that his business was started by his mother, Aster Retta who began in her own home with only one loom.

We were interested to talk with Sam. He says travelling to show at Trade Shows is very expensive! • Air fare • Accomodation • Cost of renting a booth • Cost of transporting display • Employee time away • He has participated in Trade Fairs in Toronto but more lately New York • Sam lived five years in the US (Virginia and New York). That accounts for his smooth American accent. • Employees’ Comments: • Sam is like family • Sam cares for his employees • Everyone loves Sam!  Enjoy the visit:  https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/negists-handcraft-store-addis-ethiopia

Four Businesses in Addis

K Design:

We have met several ‘wise old (not old) owls’ who have been in business for a number of years and have learned much from their vast experience.  Rahel Zewde, the vibrant owner of K-Design takes pride in her family-owned business established by her mother Kidist (hence the name K-Design) who began as a dressmaker.

Rahel Zewde, Owner of K-Design

It was in the first of her three shops that I saw Ethiopian cotton and rayon for the first time.  I could not believe the superior quality of the fabric.  Rayon looks like silk.  Such beauty!  K-Designs employs 50 weavers.  Rahel aims to give them something to do every week.  Many are illiterate but use a phone.  Phones work without electricity.  Electricity is a big problem.  K-Design prides itself in providing employment to so many, giving them a stable income.   Rahel is a true business woman.  I was impressed to see her price list and the incredible quality of her products. Her three outlet stores are strategically located, each targeting a different market. The duty free shop at the airport carries only one brand of scarves, K-Design. 

Just to add a little story to show Rahel’s underlying compassion and probably one of her motivating reasons for employing 50 weavers, we were travelling from one of her stores to a second.  The car was stopped in traffic and a beggar came to her window.  She quietly took from her stash of coins and placed it in his hand.  I only wish we could do this but we have to behave ourselves and help by working with those who can really help in the positive way of giving employment. The slides will bring K-Design to life.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/k-design-addis-ethiopia-ethiopian-weaving-and-embroidery

Three Designers, Three Locations, Three Stories:

TG Designer has her store and production area on the second floor of a mall.

Maedot Tibet has her tiny store on a street with good walk by traffic.

Buley explaining the hand embroidered design to VA Allan with Maedot behind the counter of her store.

Helina Daniel’s family business is on the outskirts of Abbis.

Helina on the left.  Beluy second from the right.

Helina’s son Beluy joined us for two of the visits. His contribution as a family member was invaluable, not only for his humor and excellent English but his knowledge of the business.  As well, he came to each of our workshops often helping with the technical side.   Have a look to see how each business has its own vibrancy in distinctly different settings.  

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/three-fashion-designers-three-locations-three-stories-addis-ethiopia

Lila Bring Hope

Lila’s:

It started out as a normal morning.  Our schedule said we would be going to a Jewelry and Handcraft Business called Lila’s.  When we arrived at the workshop, we were met by Gelila who began telling her story.  Five years ago she had just graduated from Nursing School and could not find a job in her field so she began working as a tour guide in Addis.  When she visited the TB Hospital and Dump Site she decided she had to do something.  Lila tells her story best:

www.lilaproducts.com 

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/lila-74339269

After we visited Lila’s workshop, she offered to take us to the Dump where the landslide occurred.  Here is how NY Times described the scene on March 8, 2017. ‘It was not immediately clear what caused the landslide at the Koshe Garbage Landfill, which buried several makeshift homes and concrete buildings. The landfill has been a dumping ground for the capital’s garbage for more than 50 years.

About 150 people were there when the landslide occurred, said Assefa Teklemahimanot, a resident. Mayor Diriba Kuma said 37 people had been rescued and were receiving medical treatment. Two had serious injuries.

Many people at the landfill had been scavenging items to make a living, but others live at the site because renting homes there, which are largely built of mud and sticks, is relatively inexpensive.

“In the long run,” Mr. Kuma said, “we will conduct a resettling program to relocate people who live in and around the landfill.”

Around 500 waste-pickers are believed to work at the landfill every day, sorting through the debris from the capital’s estimated four million residents. City officials say that close to 300,000 tons of waste are collected each year from the capital, most of it dumped at the landfill.

Since 2010, city officials have warned that the landfill is running out of room and is being hemmed in by nearby housing and schools.

City officials have been trying in recent years to turn the garbage into a source of clean energy with a $120 million investment. The Koshe waste-to-energy center, which has been under construction since 2013, is expected to generate 50 megawatts of electricity when completed.

Ethiopia, which has one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, is under a state of emergency imposed in October after several months of sometimes deadly protests by demonstrators demanding wider political freedoms.’

Now, an update.  We walked with Gelila.  She turned and said, ‘No pictures, there is a newly imposed ban on pictures.’  We walked through the area where she had first set up her workshop.  On the one side behind tall, thick walls are homes of rich, wealthy people.  On the other side of the road, living shelters made with any steel, cardboard or plastic people can find.  Goats were running freely.  Then we came to the area where they are actively removing 50 year old compost looking for bodies.  We were careful where to step because oversized dump trucks were hauling loads of debris away and dropping large chunks of black goop.  The stench was unbearable.  I hate it when flies crawl around my nose but my problems were minor!  Most dump truck drivers and back hoe operators were wearing face mask covers.  The army soldiers lined the walkways armed with long guns.  Two large fire trucks were parked on a side street.  They are still finding bodies.  There is a media ban.  Gelila said she heard the count is over 200 found.  In the write up above they mention a waste to energy center under construction.  This building is right at the top of the landslide site.  Allan asked if there might be any chance this mammoth structure might have made the land unstable.  No answer!

We said little.  Observed more than we wanted to see.  A school bus van pulled in and about 20 children, all in uniform got off the bus and were escorted down a side walkway past a family group huddled in obvious grief.  Each child carried a bamboo 15 inch candle wicked stick lit as they somberly walked.  We had to be very careful to stay out of the way of the big dump trucks whose main aim was to move quickly to destination to dump their load, only to return to the back hoe for more.  Gelila said that this situation has made people more aware of the plight of the garbage pickers.  She said lots of water has been donated for example.  Many have said the squatters should have been moved from this dangerous location a long time ago.  I felt the whole scene was one that humanity should not experience!  Never have I seen anything so awful.

The good part of this is there is a small way we can help.  More on this later after we work on documenting our research and plan and talk to the Rotary Club here.  In some cases, Rotary has place shelter boxes in a disaster area.  I don’t know the count on the displaced people who were really displaced in the first place but they did have shelter and garbage to sort through.  I do know the government has put the media ban on it.  I do know we are here on the ground and that the scene is awful.  

The Flood at the Hotel

The Washington Hotel 5th Floor Room

Our Little Table Before the Flood

The Side Door Where The Water Came Pouring In.

                      Hotel Entrance:  Front Desk in Background                           (Notice how clean the floor is!)

The Flood.  Well, it all started off quite innocently around 4:30 in the afternoon.  We were in our hotel room, 5^th floor when a torrential downpour started.  It seemed heavy and there was hail but we didn’t think much about it.  As it was time to head down to the ‘bar’ for our afternoon relaxation time, we did just that.  We chose our cozy two chairs and placed our usual order.     

Suddenly water began to flood in through the side doors.  What happened next was a sight to behold.  Waiters, bell hops, front desk people all came running.  They took their shoes and socks off and lined them up on the front desk, then rolled their pant legs up.  First the carpets got rolled up and put on the tables.  Then all mops and brooms came flying in along with buckets and pails of all sizes.  Then all 20 staff, dressed in their white shirts, bow ties and black pants rolled up to the knees, began pushing water toward the front doors.  From our perspective (sitting now on the high bar stools with our mouths open), all we could see were 20 elbows rising and pushing, rising and pushing.  Then water began pouring down from the second floor.  Allan wanted to move but where to?  Our drinks were sitting on the counter ready to be delivered so Allan acted as bar tender.  The whole scene went on for over ½ hour.  We still laugh with the staff about it because the situation was ridiculous.  They said it had not really happened that way before.  The rainy season is not due to start until June.  Climate change maybe?

 The third picture above shows the front desk in the far distance where all the shoes and socks were lined up.  In this picture you can almost see the x-ray machine at the front door where we are checked each time we enter.

We love the hotel.  As you can see, the lower area is cozy, the dining room quite elegant, the food in good and the staff is so friendly.  With all the kafuffle, no harm was done, the staff pulled together to be an awesome team and we enjoyed the entertainment!

Dondoors Textile and Handcraft Open A New Store in A Mall

Dondoors  

Aaliyah and her father, Mehamud took us to the Mall where Aaliyah has designed and is setting up a shop.  Aaliyah is in her third year of a degree in Architecture and obviously has a flare for Interior Decorating.  In fact, she is already designing interiors for businesses.  We discovered that many of the businesses are being financed by energetic people like Aaliyah, well-educated and doing contract work to support the development of their business.  Mehamud, Aaliyah’s father, established the business three years ago.  He graduated from the Ehtiopian Leather Industry Development Institute three year program a long time ago he says, then worked in the government textile industry as a factory floor supervisor. This new shop is a brave move because rental space in malls is very expensive.   The slide show at the end will show how Aaliyah is combining the traditional with the modern to develop the display areas.  Allan was impressed with her choice of his favorite color scheme, brown and gold.  The following Sat they took us to their factory site.

 Mehamud owns the building where their production factory is.  I loved the character of the entrance way.  They have 30 machines, do volume discounting for large orders.  He says they need to work on marketing their products.  The new store outlet will bring new opportunities for them they hope.  Orders mean work.  As their flyer says, ‘Thank you for helping us help them change their lives and the lives of their siblings.’

It was fascinating to watch the weaver at work.  Hand woven, a scarf takes 6 to 8 hours to weave.  Traditional is right, the loom is made of bamboo. 

It will be interesting to follow this business.  Although Aaliyah appears shy, I found her so enjoyable to work with in the development of a new product that we hope to hear more about as time goes on. 

Meet Aaliyah through the slideshow.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/dondoors-ethiopian-handcrafts

Ethiopia: Our Introduction To Addis and EWEA

We began Allan’s CESO assignment with EWEA, the Ethiopian Women Exporters’ Association officially on Monday March 20^th, 2017.  The introductory meeting was held in the office behind Hadia Mohammed’s grocery story.  Hadia is the president of EWEA. Together with a group of strong women committed to helping women grow their businesses and export internationally established EWEA in 2000.  Behind this is the desire to empower, inspire, create opportunity and employment to lift women and their families out of poverty.  The owners of these businesses who are are clients are from the upper middle class segment of Ethiopian society.  A positive approach in an environment of extreme poverty and pockets of affluence.  CESO Regional Reps were anxious to outline how the two weeks would be set up for the assignment.  It was quickly decided that there would be three full days of workshops Wed, Thurs and Friday of the following week.  CESO would arrange and pay for a meeting room, coffee breaks and lunch all to be held at the Washington Hotel (very convenient as this is the hotel where we are staying).   We would aim for a mini Trade Show on the Friday.  Allan will prepare a SWOT analysis for each business visited and Lydia will put a Power Point together so each business can present their business to the workshop participants.  The ideal number to attend would be 20-25.  We were ‘turned over’ to Workaferahu, our coordinator, who is arranging site visits to some 20 businesses of the 60 member organization during the first week, beginning immediately! 

Hadia (Pres EWEA) Belay, (CESO Rep)
Lydia and Allan (CESO VA's) Ziad, CESO

Belay, Hadia, Lydia, Workaferhu (Our Coordination) and Allan

The phone is the ultimate communication tool for action here.  Everyone seems to have a Smart Phone.  They say even the beggars have a phone!  Phone numbers are more important than addresses.  Texting is convenient because for us to understand a phone number or even to identify who is calling is so difficult if not impossible for us.  Workaferahu had prepared an excellent schedule with phone numbers, times of visits, etc for us.  One thing that has amazed us is the absolute promptness of the clients for the appointed time.  You just know when the phone buzzes that it is exactly the appointed time and they are waiting for us outside the hotel or in the lobby.  Workaferahu is like a mother.  She makes sure we are on site, then makes sure the next client is picking us up, then checks to see if we are there.  Amazing really.  It has worked like clockwork.   The one factor that cannot be controlled is traffic.  One funny story is a client came to the hotel to pick us up but his driver was stuck in traffic.  It was decided that we would get a taxi, preferable a ‘Lucy Taxi’ (they are named after Lucy, the Cradle of Civilization beginning).  Lucy taxis are clean (the seat belts work and don’t get your clothes filthy) and very reliable.  However, the traffic was so jammed that there were no Lucy’s.  After walking several blocks, our client asked if we would mind travelling with him in a Lada.  No problem.  Now that was a trip!  Allan and I were in the back seat with the client.  I don’t think it was our weight that made the back end sound like it wouldn’t get us there!  We managed the trip with lots of good laughs.

Another funny story was the last client of the day was to deliver us back to the hotel.  We headed out and after some time began to realize that they did not know their way to the hotel.  We were given a sheet that we printed out at home which gives the name of the hotel, phone numbers of CESO reps, etc.  So, I gave the list to the client.  The driver stopped beside a policemen who wasn’t any help.  The client’s phone had no time left on the card.  Fortunately we were able to give them the antique CESO phone and they were able to phone the hotel to get directions to the hotel.

In a city of 4 million you can imagine what traffic is like!  The main streets are four lane, crowded with a few real stop lights with a mix of donkeys, hand carts, the biggest double trucks that exist, people selling everything from mops to produce in homemade bamboo wheel barrows and more.  Drivers have to be aggressive to cut in, cut off, go around broken down busses, etc.  Line ups can be blocks long waiting for taxis, buses, the train that doesn’t travel very often, etc.  Once you manage to get to your turn off point, you head on to rough side-alley like paths.  Pollution is terrible.  Black clouds of smoke emit from exhaust pipes all around.  Some people wisely wear a face mask!  In our hotel room on the 5^th floor we have learned to open the door to the hall and have the wind blowing out instead of the pollution coming in.

 Each time we go to a site visit, I am always amazed at the atmosphere within the business.  Many businesses operate in a very confined space because it is expensive to rent space.  But, as you will see they do such a great job of using the space to advantage. 

Before we move on to specific business sites, a comment about begging which is something we encounter each time we travel.  There are different types of beggars and different approaches by our drivers to the beggars.  For our part, we keep our car windows closed and do not make eye contact.  Personally the situation that I find most upsetting is all the little boys coming to the window begging, some not a lot older than our little grandson.  Our client yesterday said that the government must address this because it is a breeding ground for raising boys to a life of crime and drugs.  She mentioned glue sniffing in particular.   So how do our clients and taxi drivers react to beggars?  A few keep small coins for older beggars.  Most speak in the native tongue and do not give.  Beggars are a symptom of a much bigger underlying problem of no income, so safety security net, hunger, victims of the drought moving into the city with no means to earn a living, no place to live.  The ‘other side’ is not pretty!  Our clients take a very positive approach.  Through sales, employment is created and people can live with dignity. 

 So, we were off to do two site visit the first afternoon.  Over the next few blogs I want to share with you stories of some of the businesses we visited.  Each is unique in its own way.  Overall, I want to say that I have never seen such quality cottons and rayon’s and such beautiful leather.  The cottons are so soft, all hand woven, the rayon’s have a sheen that makes me think it is silk.  The leather is beyond belief.  And the people.  They have opened their business and hearts to us, sharing with us the pride they have in their product, how they have managed to develop their business, the challenges they have faced and are facing.  In all of this I have to say we are so fortunate to have had this opportunity to be here and be so close to such wonderful people.