January 2025: Ethiopia: A reflection of our work in Ethiopia

A reflection of our work in Ethiopia

January 7th is the Christmas celebrations day among the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. People come from far and wide to Lalibela, the iconic Holy City in the North Wolo region of Ethiopia for Pilgrimage. They come for spiritual nourishment and healing. Our Dear Dr Peter Bachmann came to Lalibela like any other Pilgrim 20 years ago for this Genna.

He observed around with his Human Eye and noticed many other challenges experienced by both the Pilgrims and the Residents of this Holy City. He saw Destitutes and Beggers on the streets. He saw homelessness experienced by the Pilgrims who stayed in hope of a better life. These challenges needed human solutions!

He started by building houses for the homeless, he cared for them by providing basic needs like feeding and took their children to schools. He has continually contributed to their medical care and treatment locally and in some cases abroad. He has done many things that many here can attest.

 

The opening of the PBF Memorial Clinic
As we celebrate the Genna this year, us the representatives of PBF, we are happy to represent dear Peter to inaugurate the PBF Memorial Clinic to the People of Lalibela as a contribution of the Healing many Pilgrims come for in this Holy City. This clinic has been built in a record short period of less than one and half years during a very difficult period in Ethiopia plagued with civil strife and economic downturn. It should be a great and everlasting witness for more dignity for the poorest and the suffering of the people of Lalibela and the world in general.

Apart from the Clinic opening ceremony, we visited the Laudato Si Village, a commodity housing for the homeless built by PBF in partnership with the town administration. We also distributed foodstuff to the Destitutes so that they can celebrate Gena with their families and neighbors. Later, the PBF fraternity converged at the Pearl (PBF accommodation for the Pilgrims) where we shared a meal together.

A visit to the Manja
The Manja are a historically marginalised community living among the majority Kaffa people in the South Western Ethiopia. They are ignored and neglected based on their lifestyle. They are treated as outcasts with limited access to basic services provided for by the government.

PBF through our Ethiopia trustee, Getachew Sale identified a public health pandemic that affects mostly the Manja community. Getachew is a nutritionist. His investigations mainly concern the Manja community. Poor nutrition coupled with unhygienic lifestyle has exposed this community to a rare disease, Elephantiasis! The affected develope swelling and pain on their legs. This disease has no local cure and the victims suffer very much. The local Catholic priest Fr.Mathewos who has worked with us in other Parishes has recommended at therapy to manage the disease. PBF has built a center where the patients can come for a monthly therapy involving thorough washing of the feet and legs and application of a herbal and oil ointment. The numbers who come for this therapy provided by volunteer nurses is overwhelming! We as PBF are trying our best with the limited resources at our disposal but the needs of are immense. Each month just this exercise of Elephantiasis therepy requires $ 2,500. There are other needs like shelter, access to clean water and education that we have not been able to provide.

 

A visit to VDI
Addis Ababa City is growing very fast. Like every other city, many people move from the countryside to try and ake a living in the city. Apart from the youth who come expecting to get jobs, the old and the sick also come to seek livelihood and care in the city. VDI is a center that accepts old sick and vulnerable street people. PBF has supported this project based in the center of Addis around Piassa for the last 15 years. Many people come here for atleast a hot meal a day and several others stay here. Apart from supporting the founder Terfa Dinka with repairs and maintains of this center, PBF pays for the monthly feeding, medical and other upkeep related expenses to the tune of $ 2,500. As I shared with Mr. Terfa, this amount is no longer enough due to the economic downturn in the economy of Ethiopia in the last one year. The Birr has devalued against the dollar by 1.5 times!

 

The Economy
Ethiopia is experiencing a catastrophic economic meltdown. This is caused by civil strife, wars and general insecurity. People have lost jobs, free movement within the country is limited, meaning, goods and services are not accessible by the population especially the rural residents. The prices of goods and commodities have tripled in the last one year.

The initial challenges PBF sought to address when we came to Ethiopia 20 years ago have increased exponentially and THIS IS THE SAD state of affairs in Ethiopia.

Dan Amolo,
PBF Director and a Witness.

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