Worancha ወራንቻ

The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released $17m to help those affected by the worst drought to hit Ethiopia in decades. Ethiopian girls. Credit:Shutterstock After failed rains in the spring, the climate phenomenon El Niño has further exacerbated the crisis in the country increasing food and water shortages and driving malnutrition up. Around 2.9 million people in Ethiopia were in need of emergency food aid at the start of this year. By August this had almost doubled to 4.5 million and by October had almost doubled again to 8.2 million. Stephen O’Brien, UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator, said: “A timely response to the emergency is critical. If we don’t act today, we face an even graver situation tomorrow, with more immense needs in 2016. “CERF funds will immediately provide crucial food supplies for people affected by the drought now, when they need it most.” The emergency funding will be rele

Hunkute is a coop comprised of nearly 2,000 farmers who deliver their cherries to two washing station in the south part of the Wonsho District in Sidama, Ethiopia. A small group of highly-trained cuppers evaluate every batch of coffee produced in the country, maintaining the caliber of the area’s prized coffee. With such ideal growing conditions and commitment to quality, it is no wonder that Hunkute is a long standing favorite of our sourcing team. Pouring over this coffee we imagine ourselves, paint brush in hand, covering a sheet of textured paper in gouache. Not to be confused with watercolors’ diluted washes and transparent streaks, gouache pigments build up color to capture the blush of sun-ripened stone fruit, the matte shell of green beans or even the desert-cracked melon rind with depth and delicacy. We set down our brush, pick up our mug and if we could paint as well as this coffee tastes, we would frame it, too. Source

The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission with financial support of the Czech Embassy constructed six water wells in the village of Kiliye in Sidama zone. Photo from Czech embassy Addis Within a so-called small scale local project of the Embassy of the Czech Republic worth approximately 400 thousand Ethiopian Birr, six wells were dug out and equipped with hand pumps. This way, approximately 300 households in the village of Kiliye (Wonsho woreda, Sidama zone) have gained access to safe drinking water, and do not have to collect water from nearby streams or distant springs as before. The construction works were carried out with contribution of the local community. An awareness-raising campaign on hygiene and disease prevention was also carried out within the project. Ambassador of the Czech Republic Mr. Karel Hejč visited the project site at the end of October 2015 when the wells were being handed over to local inhabitants. Sour

Hawassa University is ranked the best University of the year 2014/15 (2007 E.C.) among the senior Universities in Ethiopia. A recent competition result disclosed on the annual University Presidents’ meeting atMekele. The FDRE Ministry of Education sets contest every year among the Universities of the Nation in different categories and the first generation Universities include Addis Ababa, Haromaya, Jimma, Gondar, Mekele, Dilla, Bahrdar, Aribaminch and Hawassa Universities. Among these Universities HwU stood second for two consequitive years 2012/13 (2005 E.C) and 2013/14 (2006 E.C) before it came first in 2014/15 (2007 E.C). According to Prof. Fikre Dessalegn, Vice President for Academic Affairs and delegate of the University President, the competition results appeared following rigorous evaluation by MoE team that visited every University in person and conducted its assessment based on 14 corporate and over 60 detail activities Ethiopian Universities are commissioned to execute.