I had a wonderful time with friends in Addis Ababa

I had a chance to talk to many of my friends from the Addis Ababa university, particularly with friends from Department of Foreign Languages and Literature in regardes to the project , A Journey back to Sedika from Winnipeg .

Sometimes back I have received a message of support from a group of students who notices the work we have been doing through the project , A Journey back to Sedika from Winnipeg. They informed me and one of our friend Mezemir Girma, who is working on another project, that they are willing to support the cause of our projects.

Accordingly , the meeting was orgaised on August 2, 2018. This meeting basicaly is a kind of geting-together to share our ideas and experiences . During this meeting I was given a time to do a short presentation about the project , A journey back to Sekika from Winnipeg.

I have to say thanks for the opportunity for it was a wonderful learing experience for me . During this time I was able to share the brief history of the project, what initaited me to work on this project , what are the main objectives of the project , what we have achieved so far in the project. I want to say thanks for the feedbacks and for word of encouragement I have recieved. I also want to extend my appreciation for your willingness to work together to achieve the objectives of this project and other projects with similar objectives.

During this meeting we also had a chance to hear from our friends , Tigi Fikadu , and Semehar about the work that they have been working on. They shared us a story about their intiation , which was touching and inspiring in many ways. We were informed about the initiation that some of our friends from Department of Foreign Languages and Literature took . The project was designed to support women come to one of the local hospital to deliver their babies.

This is how the story unfold. One day Tigi Fekadu , former DFLL student, went to visit her sister who deliverd a baby in Bahirdar General Hilospital. During her visit she observed the condition of some of the women who came from rural area to deliver during her visit. She observed and learned later that these women came from far to deliver their babies. When she get close to learn and understand the situation she learned that these women often don't have enough food during their stay in the hospital , even don't have a proper place to rest untill they are ready to get into the delivery room . They came to the hospital earlier for they would not have accesss to ambulance or any means of transportation that could bring them to hospital in time. She learned that they even don't have proper clothing for themselves and for the babies coming . She learend that they don't have many of the item they need for their babies after the delivery. She was particularly touched by the fact that the condition of the hospital delivery room and the condition of fabrics used to receive the babies when they come out.

She was touched and then she decided to take step to change the situation. She had a chance to talk to the nurses , but she was not able get a satisfactory answer for her questions . Then she shared the situation with friends after and they together decided to act to change the situation. That is how the story began...

Then they assigned Semehar , another friend to approach the hospital administrations formaly to inform them about their willingness to support the delivery room department. They informed them that they are willing to do something to change the situation. Then they took a personal commitment to collect baby clothes , and other items the department and those mothers need for their babies after delivery.

Now , they are ready to go to Bahrdar hospital to deliver all the clothes , and the material they collected and the items they bought for Bahrdar Hospital and for those women come to the hospital . I am glad I became part of this great intiation . We are all inspired and motivated to stand for the good work .

I believe we can do better if we come together. I believe we can do much better if we can stand together for the cause we are standing for .

Attached are some pictures taken during the meeting