Journey Impressions: Addis Abeba

Addis Abeba: approx. 2.74 m inhabitants (2009)
Ethiopia: approx. 80.7 m inhabitants
Population growth (2008): 2.6%
People per km²: 71
Gross national income per person in 2008 PPP: 870 USD


07.11.2010 Addis Abeba: Because our take-off in Khartoum was brought forward, we arrived several hours earlier in Addis Ababa, so that staff from the German Foundation for World Population (DSW) couldn't pick us up at the airport. But they welcomed us in the Sheraton hotel with some lovely bouquets instead. Before we could relax, we had to give a press conference, as several members of the media were attending.

Tirsit Grishaw handed us an agenda for the next two days. As a result, we knew which DSW projects we could visit and what we should see in the city. The day drew to a close.

08.11.2010 Addis Ababa: Tirsit Grishaw collected us at 8.15 a.m. The first stop of our drive through Addis Ababa took us to the Ministry for Women, Youth and Children. Zenebu Tadesse, Ministry for Women, Youth and Children, received us for half an hour to discuss with Tirsit Grishaw from the German Foundation for World Population (DSW) and us the responsibilities of sex education for young people, protecting women and young people's futures. She was pleased that the support from private sponsors and work with the DSW play an important role in the government's objective of developing perspectives for young people. We agreed that we and the DSW would decide which projects we believed should be given special support.

After this visit, we went to the DSW's Ethiopia Office, or the head office of the DSW in Ethiopia. We were greeted in a friendly manner with a coffee ceremony à la Ethiopia and told the principles of the DSW's work in Ethiopia.

Half an hour later we continued to the town of Chanco, about 35 km away from Addis Ababa. There was a youth club here that acts as a real magnet to young people by putting on music events and plays which encourage young people to discuss and talk about their sexual problems and plans for their future. At the same time, they use various opportunities to make a modest living, for example by founding a photocopying shop where condoms can be bought or sex education takes place. We experienced first hand what the music events are like and the other ideas this club has, for example welding together 30 chairs for a customer. A risky-looking welding tool helped achieve the final result. We were given traditional Ethiopian robes and the obligatory stick. Of course everything was tried on and discussed during a coffee ceremony. We were very impressed by the determination, openness and confidence of the girls and boys in the club. We were told that it was particularly important that young girls are encouraged to take part in sex education and to develop self-confidence so that they can stand up to their male counterparts in a self-assured manner. They have to practise saying no and not be dominated by young men to let their lives take a particular course. We saw how many of these girls confidently held short talks on their work and performed pieces of music. The principle is that young people have a lot of strength and enterprise if they are only given the chance - with a little effort and few resources they can achieve much.

The approx. 30 km return journey to Addis Ababa was a real experience again. Due to very heavy traffic and the associated exhaust fumes, we had to close the windows again to be able to breathe properly. On the road, we encountered traffic police who had nothing better to do than bellow out driving rules to the drivers passing by. It had a touch of cabaret about it!

In the afternoon, we visited another club in Areya after a drive right through Addis Ababa. This club works very closely with a neighbouring school. Approx. 40 young people, 90% of which were girls, had gathered with their teacher. They reported to us how they were taught about sex and health in their lessons and how vital this is for their futures and family planning - especially for the girls. One of the aims is to ensure that young women don't get pregnant at 16 already, but 18 at the earliest. This goal is pretty ambitious. The pupils seemed very bright, friendly and open. During a discussion, over 30 to 35 of the 40 pupils present had something to say. Particularly the girls were very articulate and looked adults confidently in the eye. It was great to see the energy, joie de vivre and frankness with which they discussed their problems and how they were trying to organise and plan their lives.

Afterwards, an interview with a TV station was planned. We then drove with our splendid driver to the Meet-ETV recording studio to carry out the exclusive interview. The editor, Tifera Ghedamu, gave us a friendly welcome and started the interview quickly. He asked me questions, particularly about my reasons for the trip, about my flight around the world, about wind energy and other more personal topics. Of course he also asked about the work by the DWS and the reasons that led my wife and me to help this association. The programme will be aired on Wednesday, 17.11.2010 on Arab Sat. Then it was time for Martin and me to return to the wonderful Sheraton Hotel.

09.11.2010 Addis Ababa: Tirsit Grishaw and our driver picked us up punctually at 8.00 a.m. This time we were off to the DSW training centre BONITA outside the city. The drive took an hour on packed roads and with amazing impressions that darted out from all directions. Once at the BONITA Youth Development Center, we were surprised to see a very tidy, large complex of houses and gardens. There was a training centre with library, computers and recreational areas and of course a kitchen and reception rooms for visitors. We took part in an awards ceremony. The main issues are always the basic problem of family planning, conflicts in the family and conflicts of youth with each other. A play was performed which was extremely expressive and powerful. Applause frequently erupted spontaneously. Despite not being able to speak the language, it was clear who had which role and what the outcome was. It was Tirsit Grishaw's job to translate the play for us briefly. Afterwards, we had an Ethiopian meal, where no knives and forks, but hands are used. But of course you wash your hands beforehand. We were served highly exquisite Ethiopian food that our stomachs liked.

All in all, we were enormously impressed by the hospitality and the tenacity with which young people are given sex education and trained here. We were also bowled over by the way that young people in particular are trained to build up and impart basic knowledge to their contemporaries - which is vital for their futures.

Finally we rounded off the afternoon with a visit to the German ambassador. The Officer for Economic Co-operation in the Germany Embassy in Addis Ababa explained the country's economic and political situation, assessed various conflicts and highlighted the goals of co-operation with the Ethiopian government. Ethiopia plays a key role in the development of Africa, particularly if we consider which countries border the nation and which conflicts exist in some of these countries. He wished us a lot of success and we were delighted he had given us information and a detailed illustration of German foreign policy. The two days in Addis Ababa came to an end with a fantastic culture and music show that the DSW invited us to.

At midday, we took a two-hour break with various trips around Addis Ababa. In the hotel, we enjoyed some cappuccinos and noticed that two young girls - blonde and clearly from Europe - were also enjoying their coffees. I heard them speaking German and introduced us to them. That was quite an amusing encounter. The two students had come to Addis Ababa to extend their visas. They used the opportunity to visit the Sheraton Hotel. Both had been sent by NABU (German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union) to study the impact of climate change on the rainforest and to discuss and formulate conservation measures. Fanny Mundt studies landscape ecology in Greifswald and Johanna Steinkühler is at Eberswalde. They wanted to visit Addis Ababa and see the Sheraton hotel. We wished them luck and they wished us a pleasant flight.

Unfortunately, our stay in Addis Ababa comes to an end today. But there was a splendid finale. This evening, together with Tirsit Grishaw we went to an Ethiopian restaurant with cultural events, in other words dance on the stage to Ethiopian rhythms. Martin was really enthusiastic because he used to practise African rhythms. We tasted a traditional Ethiopian meal. You eat just with your hands, not using any cutlery. Five of us ate from one huge plate or a big platter. It was very tasty, a bit spicy, but we really enjoyed it. When we said goodbye to Tirsit Grishaw and we told her that it had been a wonderful stay. We thanked her and all those involved and said that we would be glad to support the DSW's work in Ethiopia in the future and to an even greater extent than in the past.

I mustn't forget to say that we met some interesting people over the last two days. For example, Henrik Seeger and Peter Fischer who had landed here in their Cessna 210. Both had also come from Khartoum and learned by coincidence that we were also in the city. We arranged to meet up, talk about our experience of flying in Africa and wish each other good luck. We will definitely stay in touch.