Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the largest city of Ethiopia with over 3 million people. This is a city of contrasts. Parts of the capital show signs of economic development with new construction right alongside many neighborhoods in severe poverty. Tin shacks alongside skyscrapers and dirt roads alongside city highways is part of life in Addis.  Many people migrate to Addis Ababa from rural areas in search of jobs and a better way of life. Unfortunately, they typically find only disappointment and worse poverty. Employment is scarce and homes are often makeshift dwellings made of whatever scrap materials can be found. Often, families lack basic amenities like, electricity, public sanitation or running water.

Daily Life

Many men are farmers or herders. They are responsible for plowing, harvesting and caring for animals. Women cook and raise their children. You will see women and girls pounding grain into flour and gathering firewood for cooking. Older girls look after children, while older boys look after livestock. All water needs to be carried back from a nearby well or river. In the city, you will see many women selling injera on street corners or fruit at the local food market. Unemployment in urban areas are very high, with over 50% of the population struggling to survive. At the end of the day, many people drink coffee and visit. Most people cannot read and instead enjoy sharing stories.

Transportation

Many roads in our country are unpaved and in bad condition, so even short trips can take a very long time.  Affording a vehicle is extremely rare, so many people walk miles per day and carry large loads of supplies on their head. You will often see donkeys or a gari, which is a two-wheeled horse drawn cart, carrying supplies. If one can afford, buses and bajajs (motorized rickshaws) are common ways people travel in cities. Except in the big towns and cities, there are few cars on the streets.

Health Care

Health care is dismal in Ethiopia. Chest colds kill infants, car accidents claim lives, birth defects are prevalent, pedestrian hit and runs happen daily, meningitis and starvation are common. Ethiopia has a high rate of infant mortality and those deaths are usually due to treatable illnesses. Malnutrition is still the main cause of death for 54% of our children. Ethiopia’s healthcare consists of one hospital for every 659,000 people, which means many sick people do not have access to medical care or cannot afford to pay for treatment. Over 70% of doctors are found in urban cities, where only 5% of the population live.

Food We Eat

Our main staple food is called injera, an unleavened bread made from teff, a crop only grown in Ethiopia. Injera is often eaten with sauce made from meat, grains, beans or vegetables. We eat our food on large platters with our fingers and share one plate with the entire family. Many days during a year, we do not eat meat, eggs or dairy due to religious tradition. The coffee ceremony is an important culture tradition of how we end our meal. For the coffee ceremony, we roast coffee beans over a hot fire in a small cast iron pan, and then pound them into a fine grind. The fine powder goes into a handmade pottery coffee pot, and is placed over hot coals. Coffee is poured into tiny cups with sugar.

Typical Ethiopian Homes

A traditional Ethiopian home, called a tukel, is round and made from mud and grass. The thatched roofs are cone shaped. Most homes have one or two rooms with dirt floors. In urban areas, you will see a mixture of styles. A tin roof shack will be next to a two-story concrete home.

Our Country

Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries and has been a symbol of poverty, hunger and human struggle. You can see rock hewn churches, mountain plateaus, lush green valleys, and the biblical way of life that is still lived in many areas. Despite the beautiful diverse country, poverty in Ethiopia is astounding. You cannot escape poverty, with death and hunger being a part of our daily life. You see the desperation and hunger in people’s faces. Malnutrition and homeless people of all ages are in our country. You often see nursing mothers and women with small children living on the streets.

Our Languages

There are 87 known indigenous languages in Ethiopia: eighty-two spoken and four extinct. The vast majority of the languages spoken in our country can be classified by a person’s location – those living in highlands of the north, lowlands of the south-central region and those living in the south. Amharic has been the dominant and official language for the last 150 years. English is the most widely spoken foreign language and the language in which secondary school and university classes are taught.