Lia Thiesmann's Visit to Ethiopia

Saturday, February 26, 2011

John Baigent, Partners In The Horn of Africa

Lia left to come home last night and I wanted to tell you what a fine, young woman she is. One of the best fits we've had and that says a lot given the high quality of the EBA ambassadors that have been sent over. She is quiet, easy going and unflappable. Very low maintenance. Along with the Areki and injera we were fed raw meat on a few occasions...not a dish that most Canadians gravitate to naturally. She handled it like she ate raw meat on her lunch break every day in Calgary. She also was helpful with suggestions on the reforestation. She has good judgment and confidence in her ability within her field of expertise. 

EBA's GROW Ethiopia project (Dinsir Metakir) was even more amazing than last year. Our trees are now shoulder high and the planted area has stretched around the corner of the mountain.The eucalyptus are no longer a pale green. Rather, a robust darker green with hues of purple. The indigenous trees are also shoulder high. But the real surprise was the turnout of local people. Last year I think there were maybe 60. Lia and I figured that there were well over 300 this year. Lia thought that the layout of the project and its progress were very first rate....a comfort to me as this is an area where we have little expertise.

The water projects are doing fine. The springs, in particular, are proving themselves. They provide steady stream of water and more of it. This allows for washing facilities and showers.

The Little Nile River has been diverted as part of the bridge construction. The Friday before our Monday visit there were 2,000 (yes, that's not a typo, 2,000) people working on site. Tessfaye cut back the daily workforce and there were about 250 men with groups of four men carrying 250 lb. sand bags into the river channel the day we were there.

I returned from Gojjam gratified to see the good we have been able to accomplish among these impoverished, gracious people. There are now over 20 good, clean water sources directly attributable to EBA. And in Dinsir Metakir the whole side of a mountain is turning green again and people are so keen to restore their land that they are turning to animal fattening and raising bees to make a living compatible with their new (old) forests. I am coming to appreciate the value of a long term commitment to development such as that of EBA. Time allows us to "get it right", to modify and improve and to have a more profound impact on a community. 10 wells in a year is great.

Again, Terry, thanks to EBA for making all this possible.

Cheers
John