Addis Ababa, December 27, 2021 (FBC) – State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano, the leader of the operational sector of the committee established to facilitate the Great Homecoming Challenge, said the committee has finalized schedules to smoothly run various events.
She thanked Ethiopians, people of Ethiopian origins, and friends of Ethiopia for positively responding to the challenge reaffirming their continued support and unwavering commitment to stand by Ethiopia in times of its needs.
According to the program, participants in the Home Coming Challenge, among others, are scheduled to visit tourist destination sites in Ethiopia, including celebrating Gena (Ethiopian Christmas) at Lalibela and Timiket (Ethiopian Epiphany) in Gondar.
Following an official welcoming ceremony on December 29 in Addis Ababa, the Home Comers will participate in seedling projects, fundraising events to support families of Ethiopian soldiers, rehabilitation and restoration projects as well as a forum on pan-Africanism.
Ethiopian Diaspora Agency Deputy Director-General, Mohammed Idris (PhD) has detailed activities that the Ethiopian Diaspora and friends of Ethiopia will carry out to support affected people and the economy.
He said participants would visit uprooted people and areas destroyed by the TPLF and Bazars to market services and encourage buying Ethiopian products.
State Minister of Tourism, Selamawit Dawit, on her part, highlighted preparations that have been made in collaboration with pertinent regional bodies to provide secured services in tourist destination areas.
Deputy mayor of Addis Ababa City Council, Jantirar Abay, also presented a briefing on preparations to host events with dependable services and security to the Home Comers.