Ethiopia

Haik Integrated Rural Development Project 

 

Dry land flourishes in Ethiopia

 

Harsh environment, unreliable rainfall average and frequency, and erosion makes Ethiopia hard land for farmers. Still over 80 % of the Ethiopians derive their livelihoods from agriculture. Ortaid started Haik Integrated Rural Development Project in 2006.

The project consists 16 000 beneficiaries in three villages in Amhara National Regional State 430 kms North of Addis Ababa.

 

 

Picture Hannele Järvinen 

The project objectives are to increase agricultural production and productivity, to improve health status and safe water for rural communities, and to increase food production and cash earning ability. 

Solid Know-how

 

The cooperation partner in Ethiopia is the EOC-DIACAC, Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter Church Aid Commission. EOC-DICAC has worked for development in Ethiopia for over three decades.

The listed main intervention areas are areas are food security, water resource development, inter-church programs, relief, farm forestry, HIV/AIDS prevention and control, Integrated Rural Development, refugee and returnees’ affairs and gender specific projects.

Project staff. Picture Hannele Järvinen

 

Clean water and health station

 

The project’s biggest construction objective was the health station in Goguadit village. The construction part of the project was finished in 2008 and it has 5000 beneficiaries. The health station employs three villagers.

Water-related diseases and long distances to water sources are major problems in the rural area. In 2008 three new dwells were constructed in the project area. Now the people have safer and cleaner water supplies.

The new Health Station.  Picture Hannele Järvinen

Project has carried out community discussion concerning HIV/AIDS meetings between local religious leaders, administration officials and women organization. 

New sources of livelihood

 

One fifth of the project area households are female-headed and these families are in vulnerable situation. They have had lambs and goats so their income would be more sustainable.

Bee keeping is a traditional occupation in Ethiopia. Some family’s and local convent has hade bee hives. Local fishermen have had education and material support. 

 

 

Picture Hannele Järvinen.

 

Pride and joy

 

The Sustainable development is important part of the Haik project. Composting and other pro-environmental methods are implemented.

Farmers and their family’s constructed irrigation system in the village of Hardibo in 2008. With the irrigation scheme farmers can have bigger harvest and can cultivate new variety of vegetables and produce fruits. The irrigation scheme is pride and joy for the community.

Within the project over 400 000 tree and vegetable plants were produced. From the trees and vegetables the communities will have construction materials, food and prevent erosion. Picture Hannele Järvinen.

 

Empowerment of the community

 

The sustainability of the project is ensured by participation of the beneficiaries. The people participating to the project will be obliged to be examples to the community. For example the project oblige the women who had the goats and lambs to give the young goats to next women. New ideas spreads through education and the people participating. In the traditions of the community, like the traditional dry lavatory, lies the solutions.

 

 

Education has been vital part of every component of the project. Irrigation trainees. Picture Nina Loimi

 

 

Haik and the project in 2009

 

The project objectives for the year 2009 are construction of dwells and lavatories, educating farmers, and ensure the increase of the cash earning opportunities for single women households.

In the future fourth village will be included in the project and as a new mission helping the AIDS – orphans.

 

Together with the people in Haik we can change the world, learn more and enjoy the collaboration.

 

See more pictures from Ethiopia.

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