I just returned from Ethiopia where I spent about 10 days with the folks from Partners In The Horn of Africa (Partners) visiting EBA projects as well as some of Partners' other projects. For the benefit of newer employees, I thought that I should start this update with a brief summary of our involvement in Ethiopia to this point.

Addis Ababa is a dusty and confusing city and not easy to get used to. Having said that, it’s been great having John Baigent’s local home as a base located near the centre of the city. During our few days here, we visited a clinic where prosthetic limbs are provided to young children. The services include the assessment, design, installation and physiotherapy and all for less that $100 per child! Partners have been helping up to 225 children per year through this clinic.

Yehalem has just returned to Addis Ababa after a field trip which included a visit to the EBA Reforestation Project. He was accompanied by a Canadian forester ("Doug" who is mentioned in his field report). I am now enclosing an extract from Yehalem's report, which I found both interesting and gratifying. It is clear that this project has transformed the area and also refocused the community's thinking about the environment.