BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
At this particular time and situation talking about the most valued and cherished culture of Ethiopians is more pressing because it means a lot.
As it is pronounced time and again, Ethiopians have a longstanding culture of helping each other and making others feel at home; even those foreigners who want to visit or live and work in the country.
In fact, for the last almost three decades, some conspiracies had been carried out by some groups targeting to fracture the longstanding moral fabrics of the people and erode their social bondage and trust- to make fellow citizens moving to other areas of the country treated like foreigners in their own country and to feel like strangers in their own homeland.
Luckily, though there were some inconveniences in some parts of the country, the plan could not yield the outcome at the level it was designed.
Currently, we the aim to further strengthen the age old culture of the community at the same time to pass it to the next generation, Gondar University has launched a new program – “One student one family” project.
As many people agreed, the program is much helpful to rebuild and reinforce social fabrics among students. It also enables to share cultural values between and among students of other states and to make sure that the safety of students [who came to the University] will be ensured and secured.
The Ethiopian Herald made a call to Bamlak Yideg, a political Science Instructor and Head of the Department to learn about the program and its impact in strengthening the social cohesion and safety of the students who came from different parts of the country and joining the university.
As Bamlak stated, “One Student One Family” program is a platform designed to embrace students who are allocated from other parts of the country and joining the University. The program is devised to link 5,000 first year students with Gondar families and to let them exchange cultures as well as deal with students’ problems on behalf of the students’ families.
“The University is synonymous to the community and we are working with the city administration to capitalize the values of humanity, ensure the peace and security of the city, students and the University as well,” he remarked.
The project was launched on the 7th of December 2019 at the University of Gondar.
According to him, Gondar has been a city for close to 500 years and once it was the capital city of the entire realm. In its rich history, the city does not only house all Ethiopians, but also it is a home for peoples
from all walks of life. Greeks, Armenians, Italians, Saudis and Yemenis have all been able to live together with Ethiopians in unity.
The historical city of Gondar is also the home to the three major religious faiths, which include Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
In view of this, the project tries to maintain the once Gondar used to be known for its hospitality.
The Gondar Family project could see hundreds if not thousands of freshmen students meeting with their new family from Gondar and in the weeks and months ahead the coordinators and heads of the project will look to connect the remaining students to their new Gondar families at a scheduled time framework, he added.
“Since we are humans with many blessing we should not see each other as foes; rather as brothers. Most importantly, we should not tie to the unfavorable and negative aspects of history and try to walk forward. The rhetoric that had been propagated among the Ethiopian people for long has damaged the social fabrics and trust of the people.
Due to the fabricated and unbalanced propagandas, we had endangered the great social values that were built for centuries, and led us to see each other as foes; not as fellow citizens. This has cost us a lot. However, “The one student one family” project is helping in addressing the challenges and do away the rhetoric’s that were sown among the communities for political consumption,” he underlined.
Concerning the program, both the communities and students are happy. They have been giving us encouraging feedback. They have also forwarded their suggestions as the program is too fascinating and vital to learn from each other apart from being a platform that university students discuss their burden with their new families and solve them accordingly,” he opined.
The City Administration is also working with the University in realizing the project in to a reality. The University is determined to keep it up and is ready to share the experiences it has gained in this regard.
Gondar, once the capital city of Ethiopia, is known for ushering many foreigners and locals in one place with dignity as well pleasure.
The City is also known for its long aged tourist spots such as Fasilides Castle, the most impressive mason castle, built in 17th century as well as the Qusquam Enclosure with Mentewab’s Palace and St. Mary Church, the Debre Berhan Selassie Church, Kiddush Yohannes; the Sosinios Castle, also known as Maryam Ghemb, the Gorgora Church and the Palace of Guzara.
Gondar is also a noted center of ecclesiastical learning of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and known for having 44 churches.
The Ethiopian herald December 19/2020
