Voluntary service to benefit over 1.2M residents of the capital

Addis Ababa, May 26, 2024 (FBC) – The Mayor of Addis Ababa, Adanech Abiebie announced today the launch of the city’s annual voluntary service, which is poised to positively impact the lives of over 1.2 million citizens in the capital.

The voluntary service is annually undertaken during Ethiopia’s most rainy months (June to August, also known as “kremt” or Ethiopian winter).

Launching this year’s “kremt” voluntary service in Lideta area of the capital, Mayor Adanech emphasized that this voluntary service initiative is a crucial component of Addis Ababa’s modernization efforts, aimed at enhancing the well-being of the residents.

She expressed her commitment to strengthening the program further.

According to the mayor, the previous “kremt” and “bega” voluntary service programs resulted in the construction and handover of 6,730 houses to less privileged local residents in the city.

Elaborating on this year’s plans, she revealed that the house construction and renovation program will benefit 17,500 citizens through the building of 3,500 homes for underprivileged members of the community.

The mayor further highlighted that this year’s “kremt” voluntary service various programs will be implemented by engaging over 2.2 million volunteers.

She expressed her confidence that this widespread participation will ensure the success of the endeavor, ultimately benefiting more than 1.2 million Addis Ababa residents.

Moreover, Mayor Adanech announced the commencement of three new 9-story buildings in Lideta sub-city, a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders.

Three of the beneficiaries of the previous Ethiopian winter’s house construction and renovation program, Zufan Sitotaw, Abeba Kassahun and Aregash Tulu, expressed their gratitude for the positive impact of the initiatives on their lives, ENA reported.

It is estimated that the “kremt” voluntary service program in Addis Ababa will transact over 5 billion birr, underscoring the city’s commitment to improving the living conditions and opportunities for its residents through this extensive community-driven initiative.