Volunteering in Ethiopia can provide a life changing experience to participants.
In Ethiopia, though the famine in the 80’s caused a lot of loss of life, it creates awareness on global problems such as famine, education, health and war and drew many organizations to the country.
Volunteer opportunities are abound in Ethiopia aimed at making a tangible difference to people’s lives.
About Ethiopia
Bordered on the north and northeast by Eritrea, on the east by Djibouti and Somalia, on the south by Kenya, and on the west and southwest by Sudan, Ethiopia is a landlocked country.
Development in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of the world’s poorest nations. Its somewhat unstable economy is due to two major and ongoing weaknesses: food uncertainty and an almost complete dependency on coffee exportation (US$335-million annually) for foreign-exchange income. As of 2006, Ethiopia’s GDP per capita was US$800. Subsistence agriculture forms the backbone for the livelihood of around 85 percent of Ethiopians, and although much of the country is very fertile, erratic rain fall, pests, and severe soil erosion due to deforestation persistently keep agricultural yields unpredictable and low.
Tourism is thought to have great growth potential for Ethiopia’s economy and foreign investment is now being encouraged. However, unfavorable reports by the media of the country’s famines, ongoing strain with Eritrea, and the results from the last election have hindered growth in this area. Each year finds more tourists in Ethiopia discovering her potential for relaxing vacations, a birder’s paradise, and a history buff’s religious and archaeological dream.
How to Help
These are some of the most popular projects.
Community Work
Common volunteer projects in Ethiopia include those involving work with children in orphanages, schools or medicals institutions. Some of the projects prefer to house participants with local families to provide a rich cultural experience to participants. These programs can provide much needed perspective to permanently broaden a volunteer’s outlook on life.
Childcare
Volunteers provide assistance to disadvantaged children who have been rescued from a life on the street. As a volunteer in Ethiopia you can provide love, affection, education and support to former street children. Volunteers also serve at a local feeding center where meals are provided to the street community. You will also provide education, inter-cultural exchange and understanding in Ethiopian communities.
Education and Teaching
Majority of volunteers who visit Ethiopia are engaged in its expanding education sector. Due to government efforts, enrolment has risen in many of the countries schools persistently to date. Volunteers in the education sector are employed at varying levels including teaching and teacher training, ultimately aimed to have an impact on the overall quality of education children receive.
Healthcare
Another good sector for volunteers is health. Ethiopia has several active volunteer programs within organizations targeting preventive, basic curative and rehabilitative services. Through these efforts, national health coverage has reached 63%, which is still considered very low.
Volunteers in health are likely to be engaged in child and maternal health programs as the maternal and child mortality rates in Ethiopia are still among the highest globally. Health programs often run in partnership with the government Health Ministry and this may be a good location to begin investigating Ethiopia.
Locations
A lot of programs are located in the suburb of Asko, about 9 kms north of the capital city of Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa, translating roughly into “New Flower,” is the world’s third highest capital city, at an altitude of 2400m. Almost dead center, Addis is a bustling city that can feel overwhelming at first, but has much to offer. The streets feel almost mellow compared to other African capitals and although there are around 2.3 million people in this city, it doesn’t feel crowded.
FAQ
Getting to Ethiopia
Most international volunteers fly into Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa (airport code ADD). You will be met by a representative from your organization.
Climate
Located on the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia has a varied climate, but overall is quite temperate. In Addis Ababa, where the volunteer project is located, daytime temperatures range from 15-18 C (60-65 F), while in the evenings the temperatures can get down into 5-10 C (40-50 F) range. Around the country the climate can be dramatically different. In the Bale and Simien Mountains one can expect cold temperatures, even snow and frost, due to the altitude. If visiting the Danakil Depression, however, temperatures are often 50 C (120 F). The rainy season is generally between June and early October. Throughout the year many people carry umbrellas to shade them from the sun and to protect them from the rain.
Culture
Ethiopia is an incredible country, rich in tradition, culture, and varied landscape. Ethiopia is not widely traveled by tourists and Ethiopians are very welcoming and friendly to visitors.
What to Know Before You Go
Ethiopia has its own calendar system, thirteen months in total; each month has 30 days and the last month is one week long, hence the country slogan “Thirteen Months of Sunshine!” For more information we suggest you purchase the Bradt Travel Guide to Ethiopia.
Accommodation
Volunteers usually live in a volunteer house with other volunteers. There is some running water, but no hot water; however, boiled water can be provided for showers. There are sporadic electricity outages. Bathrooms have a western style toilet, and a tub for taking bucket showers. Three meals per day will be provided.
What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
The following is a list of the vaccines you may need for your placement in Ethiopia. We strongly recommend that you consult your travel doctor for further details.
Yellow fever (legally required)
Diphtheria and tetanus
Polio
Hepatitis A & B
Typhoid
Rabies
Tuberculosis
Cholera
Meningococcal Meningitis
Malaria
Malaria needs to be closely discussed with your doctor. Preventative malaria medication is strongly advised, however malaria is not as prevalent in Ethiopia as it is in other Africa nations due to the altitude. Generally malaria only occurs in areas below 2,000m, and is more abundant in marshy areas and still water. Therefore, even though volunteers are most likely not at risk while in and around Addis Ababa, traveling on the weekends, and extensive travel before or after volunteering, may put you at risk. Some of these can be taken in oral form, so please do discuss all options with your doctor to see what is best for you. Some people can be affected quite differently to others by medication.
Language
You will usually need to speak English, as this is the common language and also a subject that the children are learning in school. While there are many local languages also spoken in Ethiopia, the majority of people speak English.
How safe is Ethiopia
Ethiopia is considered a safe, stable country, with relatively low crime levels compared to other African countries, but sensible precautions for foreigners are recommended as you do draw extra attention. Foreigners are perceived as wealthy and although the people are generally warm and friendly towards foreigners, as well as appreciative of the work done by volunteers, not every individual is the same. The most common occurrence of crime is pick-pocketing, which usually only occurs in and around the larger cities and bus stations. Volunteers are advised to bring/wear money belts while traveling long distances, however, they can safely lock up their passports, important documents, and extra money in the volunteer house, only taking smaller amounts of money with them into the city. Violent crimes are rare in Ethiopia, however, use good judgment as with any city, and do not travel alone late at night.
Special diets
Most of the food served in accommodation is vegetarian and sometimes even vegan. If this is not acceptable to you, you will need to supplement your diet at your own expense.
Holidays and festivals
There are many holidays and festivities in Ethiopia throughout the year. Because Ethiopia uses its own calendar it is important to clarify which calendar someone is referring to when they give you a date: Ethiopian or Western. The main holidays are: Gena (Christmas, January 7), Timkat (Epiphany, January 19), Kiddest Mikel (St Michael’s Day, January 29), Good Friday and Easter (usually a fortnight later), Assumption Day (August 22), and Meskel (The Finding of the True Cross, September 27). September 11 is when Ethiopia celebrates its New Year, and 2007 inaugurated the millennium; they are seven years behind the Western world! One thing about Africa is that schedules are never written in stone; therefore, volunteers should use the break from the regular work schedule to soak up the culture and get to know the people in your community.
Tourism and top things to do?
Take an awe-inspiring trip to the ancient tombs and obelisks of Aksum, or the medieval stone churches in Lalibela. Spiritualists will want to visit Lake Tana and it’s centuries-old island monasteries. Adventurists must see the Simien Mountains for some of Africa’s best trekking, and enchanting glimpses of numerous types of animals from birds to baboons.
Ethiopia offers high mountain ranges such as the Simien and the Bale Mountains, as well as the heat of the desert and one of the lowest places on earth: the Danakil Depression. The rock-hewn churches of Tigray and the astounding monoliths of Lalibela are just a few of the attractions Ethiopia has to offer.