Lia Thiesmann of the Calgary Natural Science Group left for Ethiopia this week and will be there over the next two weeks. She is the seventh EBA staff member to visit the country since 2006 as part of EBA's 10-year commitment to support the charitable activities of Partners in the Horn of Africa. These include water protection sites, footbridges, school upgrades, health posts, orphanages and reforestation plots. She left armed with a fistful of pens and other items for the children she encounters. Thankfully, it is still the dry season there and temperatures range from 10 to 25 degrees Celsius. 

After spending a day or two in Addis Ababa, the capital, she will be joining John Baigent and David Cosco of Partners and Yehelam Abebe (our prime Ethiopian contact) on a trip to the Gojjam area in northeast Ethiopia and close to the Sudan border. This area is known as the breadbasket of Ethiopia and close to the Blue Nile, which feeds 90% of the water to the main Nile River at Cairo. In the adjacent Highlands, however, the land is often dry and we continue to support spring protection projects and the reforestation plots, which continue to flourish.

Lia will be visiting these areas and assisting with ensuring that the reforestation area provides both erosion protection and a future-managed supply of fire wood, which is scarce in the area. Following this work, we understand that Lia has planned a solo side trip (as many of our ambassadors have) to several historical sites in Gondar, Axum and Lalibela. These cities were the early capitals of Ethiopia from about 800 to 1400 AD and are truly amazing.

Let's all wish Lia a safe and successful adventure and look forward to her sharing the experiences with us when she returns.

By: Brian Adeney