From the little town of Bichena, Gojjam ๐ช๐น living the dream in Seattle ๐บ๐ธ - my home!
Positive by default.
Apologies are sincere.
Questions are genuine.
#Update
- a thread:)
2 weeks ago, I traveled to Bichena, Gojjam and inagurated the school with family, teachers, local officials & invited dignitaries in attendance.
I waited to see the kids happily jumping all over the beautiful classrooms. The feeling is indescribable ๐
This is one of the classrooms of the school where I attended elementary - FORMERLY called 'แแตแแต' Elementary school (picture taken 6 months ago) in Bichena, Gojjam ๐ช๐น. It was new and shiny then :).
This is one of the classrooms of the school where I attended elementary - FORMERLY called 'แแตแแต' Elementary school (picture taken 6 months ago) in Bichena, Gojjam ๐ช๐น. It was new and shiny then :).
#Ethiopia
I heard people, those on the front lines, need clothing & food. I thought I can contribute some but thought you might want to:
1. For clothing: I will rent a truck that will go from Addis to these areas and I hope you will donate new or used clothing (clean)
#Ethiopia
There is a demonstration planned tomorrow (Sunday) in Addis Ababa at Meskel Square in support of the ๐ช๐นn gov (and to protest western intervention in the war against
#TPLF
).
Be prepared for any portrayal of the event by western media - including pure lies.
#Ethiopia
See you soon!
I am glad I spent the last 11 days here. It would have been hard from a far. Today was a Rollercoaster of emotions - the massive rally in the morning & 'an equivalent of time travel' at the unity park, I am considering moving back bc I owe my ancestors!
#Ethiopia
I visited Unity Park today and this engraving on Menelik's sword struck me really hard considering the current situation. It says 'Menelik's hope is God'. It took me back 125+ years when he was fighting colonialism and the west. But then, He & ๐ช๐น WON! Forever indebted!
#update
Your tractors have been delivered to Bahirdar. Name tags posted and ready for work.
@AidWonfel
will host a space soon for more. Thank you all for your generosity!
#tractor4avillage
#update
@AidWonfel
's partner on the ground collected for bids from at least 4๐supplies and picked one based on different factors including pricing.
The cost of a ๐ with disc plough is ~ 1.9 million birr. Vendor is executing the purchase. More updates will to follow!
Why I love
@jeffpropulsion
:
- I learned alot about my motherland from his book
- He TRULY loves ๐ช๐น as much if not more than any ๐ช๐นn. Evidence: I know at least one person of ๐ช๐นn origin who made accolades by writing about ๐ช๐น is nowhere to be seen these days!
Thank you Jeff!
Then, 6 months ago, we laid the foundation to build two new blocks - total of 8 classrooms. That can accommodate over 600 students in two shifts at CROWDED capacity (reality). The goal was to have them ready for the new Ethiopian school year (next week). And here they are...
#Update
#Ethiopia
-
#Thread
Delivered!!
2.2+ mln birr worth to the frontlines!! (All brand new items below)
- 130 goats
- 1010 Blankets
- 1019 Tank shirts
- 4160 pair of socks
- 500 kg (250 cans) of Nido
- 4000 counts of underwear
-19 big towels
- 4 Bed Sheets
- 10 Shirts
#Ethiopia
So, customs at Bole wants me to pay tarrif on pens I brought to give away to students for FREE.
I have spent over $200k USD building school and they want me to pay customs on $500 USD worth of pens!
Explaining didn't help. I have only 10days & they already ruined 10%.
In Oromia region, you could be killed by OLA, regional security forces or ENDF or your neighbors.
If you own a business, it could be burned down anytime. There is no guarantee for your safety.
It is now Ethiopian Orthodox church's turn. There is absolutely no rule of law!
The school will be inaugurated with the NEW name next month - I can't wait to be there ๐.
This is my pet project. Buildings and desks are not enough, building people needs more than that. The
@jeffpropulsion
library (no kidding) and labs will follow until my pocket dries:).
Thank you
#Lalibela
แคแฐแฐแฅ แฐแต แฅแแต แ แแแ แ แณแแแ ๐
We will be coming back again and again and again...
แจแจแญแ แฐแ แญแ แแ ๐
#แแ
#UPDATE
The Truck with about 2 million birr worth of supplies is stuck in Debretabor. Because, HEAR this - they arrested the organizer for taking pictures of the truck! He is in Woreta jail right now. He was simply documenting. They have all permits, officials making phone callst
A workshop facility owned and run by disabled veterans in Bahirdar did the desks handsomely!! They also built enough blackboards for these new classrooms and then some.
#Ethiopia
: Update
- We are working to get trailer truck this weekend
- Permits from AA police to help with security
- Pick locations: the ๐ will spend 1-2hrs for donations - ONLY clothing - not accepting $ (new & clean used - แแณแแณแ แซแแฒ แจแแ ONLY New)
Happy Giving!
@antonioguterres
@UN
Should we believe what we see or you??
As a leader, you should request a full investigation to right the ship. Now, the security council is meeting weekly to address famine caused by
#tplf
and put a blame on ๐ช๐นn gov. If this not political agenda what is?? How does that feed ppl?
Calling for creative Architects
Help needed with the design of a sustainable one story library ( not แแ ).
- Capacity 200 - 300+ ppl
- Made from earth-block ๐
- Must be functional!!
Awesome != expensive โ
A few great references
@jeffpropulsion
@PowerUSAID
@IntlCrimCourt
Can it really look any worse for the ๐บ๐ธ??
- The USA is not part of the ICC
- ICC is setup to twist arms in the name of justice - mainly targeting Africa & some eastern European countries. It can he used in place of or in addition to aid, & of course threat of regime chmage
Enough for an update that one asked about but will post some more from the inauguration:)
And
@FLEthiopia
, we would be happy if you attend the inauguration.
From breaking ground to inauguration it took about 7 months. In ๐ช๐นn construction standard, that is lightning fast (I will let experts chime in :)).
I director / principal told me, the bee classrooms will accommodate over 40% of the 1900 students in 2 shifts.
As the students gathered for their morning meetings, we gave them inaugural memorabilia (pens prepared for the event). And I shared with them the books
@Samriethio
donated (which will be kept in library).
Then I shared them my story, that I attended the same school years ago
Despite what is going on in the country, the teachers and locals broke sweat to make the inauguration memorable and it was more than that. I was treated like a king by the humble people who cheered my success and frowned on my missteps when growing up.
I thought I would be done for a while but then I want to build a library because I happen to have a few books and a name for the library. I want to build it my way, with new sustainable technology that cuts building costs and time significantly. Stay tuned...:)
and I didn't care if there were chairs, if there were nice classrooms or if I was were wearing shoes or proper clothing. All I cared was if I am learning something new & mapping my future. Also, I would like them to grow & be successful - possibly help their families & country.
Adwa Museum in Addis Abeba commemorates
#Ethiopia
โs historic victory over
#Italy
at
#Adwa
town in 1896.
Itโs a visually stunning museum showcasing an important African history.
Iโd the pleasure of attending a pre-inauguration tour today. A must visit when it officially opens.
@jeffpropulsion
I am in Addis. I will try to go to Entoto to just post a holistic picture since you asked!
If you need updates, you only need to read
@SecBlinken
's tweet - things are not good for
#TPLF
แแแ แญ แฅแฉแ is more than qualified to teach in high-school but he is helping kids st the elementary school in Western Gojjam zone. The reason, he says, is they are not coming through the ranks, and he sacrificed.
1/2
Help needed!
Mobilizing Rep. Brad Sherman's constituents.
He wants State to meet only with his TPLF supporters.
He is over 30th congressional district of California (San Fernando Vally including Northridge, Woodland Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Universal City).
#Ethiopia
@1_filsan
@AAAquaponics
I don't think the security forces in Jijiga will be reading this Tweet and even if they read it they won't Def respond. Fly or drive there, ask why and tell us if it is for no reason. This is not something I can Google and answer.
@BronwynBruton
Addis has seen a lot of chaos during
#TPLF
including days they massacred hundreds of protesters and NOTHING of this sort was said. In a city that is running as normal as possibly could, they are trying to create chaos. I am in town they can't lie to me!
My brother (cousin to be exact) Dr. SIrak Hailu from St. Paul / Minneapolis, MD made sure everyone at the event was fed well - the event lasted days! He must have done it from his heart!! :)
@melmoh25
Like a typical TPLF:
- you failed to tip the poor driver
- romanticized the sad situation - failure to tip
- came here and made an ostrich out of a chicken
The amount of money
#TPLF
diaspora spent to feed Tigray = Zero!
The amount spent to help them die in masses (war) $$ ๐