Social and Culture

Meles Calls for Extending Support to Great Run

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi stressed the need to extend support to enable Ethiopians to involve actively and as much as possible in the Ethiopian Great Run.

While addressing the more than 20,000 crowd who are taking part in the Ethiopian 2004 Run which took place in Addis Ababa, Meles said the Great Run is intended, among others, to promote athletics, and involve as many young people as possible in such a healthy endeavor.

Meles said that the Great Run deserves respect and support for it is a noble cause in fighting the spread of the pandemic, by highlighting the threat HIV/AIDS poses to future of our country and to mobilize the people in the fight against the scourge.The Prime Minister thanked the organizers, particularly, Athlete Major Haile Gebre-Silassie for initiating and sustaining "this great initiative" and the participants in general.

The 23 years old Athlete Abebe Dinkessa stood first, Athlete Zenbaba Yigezu second and Athlete Maeregu Zewde third in the 10-km road race. Athletes Abebe, Zenbaba and Maeru finished the race in 29 minutes and 56.01 seconds, 30 minutes and 57 micro seconds and 30 minutes 04 seconds respectively. Athletes Gente Getaneh, Teeba Erkeso and Eyerusalem Kuma completed the race in first, second and third places respectively.

A new feature of this year's event is a special Tricycle Race for 25 disabled participants which were conducted before the start of the mass race. The tricycles were being provided by Cheshire services. Great Run was also attended by President of the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF), senior government officials and resident ambassadors as well as invited guests. November 28, 2004 (ENA)

Ethiopians in Diaspora to ConstructHospital

Ethiopians in Diaspora with Gondar origin have reportedly raised one million birr for the construction of a referral hospital in Gondar town of the AmharaState.  

Hospital construction committee chairman, Ambassador Zemene Kassegn and his deputy, Bayu Mullu, told Walta that the stated sum was contributed for the construction of a hospital expected to consume 100 million birr.  

They said the hospital with seven-storey building would accommodate more than 400 bedrooms andadditional rooms for various purposes.  

Two engineers of Gondar origin have already finalized the design of the hospital for free and that would have cost over 800,000 birr, they said.  November 10,2004 (WIC)

Walled City of Harar Wins Award

The walled city of Harar in the Eastern Ethiopia Region has won the 2004 United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Cities for Peace Prize in an award ceremony held in Barcelona, Spain.

This biannual award, hosted by the Mayor of Barcelona, recognizes the initiatives of municipalities in creating a basis for peaceful coexistence.
This ancient city of Harar, capital of the HarariState, thus received a certificate and 20,000 Dollars in award.
The city won the prize from 55 nominee cities in Africa, city Mayor Zeidan Bekri told ENA. He said the award will be instrumental as support to the activities underway to see the city registered in UNESCO World Heritage list, he said. September 13, 2004 (ENA)

Committee Calls On People, Donors To Support Axum Obelisk Welcoming

The National Committee for the Return of Axum Obelisk during a meeting In Addis Ababa on December 25 called on the public and donors to assist in the ongoing activities being made to welcome the ancient treasure.The Obelisk is retuning home soon after 67 years from Rome, Italy. 

Committee Chairman Ambassador Teshome Toga said the return is the result of diplomatic struggle of the incumbent government and the present generation. 

Ambassador Teshome, who is also Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, said not only the Ethiopian peoples and government, but also the entire Africa will take pride at the return of the Obelisk. 

He indicated plans to incorporate Ethiopians in the Diaspora in upcoming celebrations on the return of the highly valued treasure- the footprint of the country’s ancient civilization.He called on the people and donors to join forces in the efforts in the efforts underway to welcome the Obelisk. 

The national technical committee on the occasion presented a report of its latest activities to facilitate the reception and related celebration programs when the Obelisk arrives here and taken to its original spot for re-erection. 

Italian contractors are expected to arrive here and look at the airport and the re-0erection site, it was learnt.

The meeting heard reports presented to it by the various sub-committees and passed resolutions. December 03,2004 (ENA)

Oprah To BuildSchool For Girls

Oprah Winfrey, a well known American talkshow host and philanthropist recently paid a short visit to Ethiopia. During her stay in Addis Ababa, Oprah, she participated in the inauguration ceremony of a training center under the FistualaHospital which was found by an Australian, Dr. Cathrine Hamelin.

Oprah on the occasion said that she was inclined to build a leadership school for girls in the capital. "I am going to speak to the mayor and mayor's wife and see if we can build a great school for girls here in Addis Ababa," she said during her welcome reception.

Mayor of Addis Ababa, Arkebe Equbay told journalists that the city administration gives priority to education and Oprah's assistance in this regard could be of great importance.

Similarly, on Dcember 6, 2002, Oprah announced a partnership with South Africa's Ministry of Education to build the "OprahWinfreyLeadershipAcademy for Girls - South Africa," which is scheduled to open in 2007