Over Three Hundred former Peace Corps members who served in
Ethiopia During the last Forty Nine years in different places of the country
converged to-night at the Auditorium of the Ethiopian Embassy here in Washington
DC by colorfully commemorating the Fiftieth anniversary of the launching of the
Peace Corps program worldwide.
Ambassador Girma Birru, Special Envoy and Ambassador
Extra-Ordinary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the US, who
was on hand to receive members of the congregation elated in a celebratory and
jubilant spirit saluted and welcomed the volunteers by congratulating them all
on the 50th Anniversary of the start of the Peace Corps Program on behalf of
the government of Ethiopia and on his own behalf
Ambassador Girma in his speech reminisced that Ethiopia was
one of the pioneering countries to invite Peace Corps to begin its program
in1962, just one year after the Peace Corps program took off and recounted by
saying that there are many Ethiopians who remember those programs and the Peace
Corps volunteers associated with them with fond memories.
Peace Corps Volunteers continuously served in Ethiopia until
1977 when the military dictatorship in Ethiopia had interrupted the program
which resumed again in 1995, bringing back its distinguishing feature of
enhancing people-to-people friendship, he reiterated.
The Ambassador recalled that since 1962, a total of 3085
Peace Corps Volunteers have served to-date in Ethiopia, including those volunteers
who served in Eritrea when it was part of our country.
He emphasized that currently there are 101 Peace Corps
volunteers working in partnership with the people and Government of Ethiopia,
in line with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) which
is an important aspect of partnership between our two countries.
Citing as a remarkable achievement and ample testimony to the
contribution of the men and women who have taken part in the project during the
past Forty Nine years in Ethiopia, Ambassador Girma praised them all for
educating tens of thousands of young Ethiopians who later became entrepreneurs,
educators, engineers, government leaders, and diplomats making a difference in
extending their share of professional support to the development effort of the
nation.
He seized upon the auspicious occasion and extended his
profound thanks for the invaluable service to "our people and our
country" and that "the people of Ethiopia are truly grateful for your
noble contribution" he added.
Apprising the former Peace Corps Volunteers about the
gigantic progress Ethiopia is making at present, Ambassador Girma briefed the
audience by especially referring to the social sector.
He pin-pointed to the strides made in the realm of education
that "Primary education coverage is now close to 95%, with 22 public
universities built in the last 20 years and other ten more universities are now
being built.
He underlined that at present the student population stands
at a staggering twenty million, or one-fourth of the nation's population.
The Ambassador made a passionate call on the volunteers to
support Ethiopian universities by helping create partnerships with US
counterparts and support the initiative for the establishment and strengthening
of an Ethio-American Friendship Association.
He urged the volunteers to register by joining as members or
supporters in the effort and expressed his firm belief that Peace Corps
Volunteers, are best positioned to continue to help promote the cordial
relationship between the peoples of Ethiopia and the U.S.A.
Ms. Marian Haley, President of Ethiopia and Eritrea Returned
Peace Corps Volunteers, and chief organizer of the event expressed in the name
of those who served in Ethiopia by saying that "'We truly love Ethiopia
and its warm and friendly people".
"We are bound to the nation and its great people where
and among whom we grew and experienced the real challenges of life. She made a
pledge by saying, "We will always offer our support where ever it is
needed."
The event was graced by hosting a traditional coffee ceremony
accompanied by the scent and aroma of incense undertaken by Ms. Ladena
Schnapper, a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia.
Cultural and traditional songs played by the renowned
vocalist and Masinko player, another former Peace Corps Volunteer, Charles
Sutton who was a member of Orchestra Ethiopia, in Addis Ababa in the 1960's
gave an added dimension to the occasion by igniting memories of the Peace Corps
Volunteers during their service in Ethiopia in their prime ages.
Since you are historically connected to the advancement of
education in Ethiopia, I wish to take this opportunity to request you to
support our universities by helping create partnerships with universities in
the U.S.A.
We believe that you, It is perhaps appropriate at this
juncture to bring to your knowledge that we are now in the process of
establishing an.
This body is envisioned to help enhance the people to people
relationship between Ethiopia and the US in areas of culture, education, health,
arts and aesthetics, sports, entertainment and other related spheres.
Therefore, I have the distinct pleasure to request you to
volunteer yourselves to be members or supporters of the Association and extend
your due share towards enhancing the relationship between our two great
nations.
No comments:
Post a Comment