BY YOHANES JEMANEH
Ethiopian embassies in various countries are collaborating the diaspora community to stand in unison on national affairs. The most common meetings being undertaken these days focused on current affairs and the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Ethiopians living in North America, Europe and the Middle East are actively engaged in supporting Ethiopia’s political and diplomatic position including the construction of GERD both in cash and in kind.
The Ethiopian Embassy in the U.S. has recently announced that the diaspora community in the U.S. has broken a record through donating hundred thousand USD to GERD in a single day.
The participants have raised 33,000 and 80, 000 USD to GERD on the platforms held in Atlanta and Boston respectively. Accordingly the country has secured 113,000 USD from the diaspora community to the construction of GERD.
According to the ambassador, the Ethiopian Diaspora has written a new history for donating 100, 000 USD in 24 hours to the construction of the GERD. “Each day is a gift to do better and be better, he wrote on his facebook page. He also appreciated the donators for exerting relentless efforts to lighten the burden of more than 60 million lives in Ethiopia.
“Life by itself is a gift. Thanks God for enabling us to have the willingness to offer a gift to GERD from the greatest gift of life,” Fitsum noted.
On 30 July, he wrote: “We are only less than 100,000 USD away from reaching our goal to raise 1 million USD for the GERD . We raised 400,000 USD just in two weeks. We can reach our goal in the next few days. Let’s join hands and make it happen,” he appreciated.
Peace and Unity for Ethiopia Association has organized a platform to raise fund to GERD. The program themed “It Is My Dam” has enabled the association to hand over notable cash to GERD through the embassy.
It is known that lack of infrastructure and services has caused hardship to the country. Everyone knows that using country’s man-made and natural resources to solve this problem is the only solution. In this regard, the construction of the grand dam that is expected to be a major development pillar and symbol of Ethiopians’ unity is near completion.
Ethiopians have been looking forward to see the turbines generate electricity. The participation of all of people is needed to ensure the functionality of the Grand National project. It is only unhindered support of all kind that will help to finalize the construction of the dam shortly.
Among those who exert efforts to facilitate programs that help securing fund for GERD is Badir Ethiopia which participate in online fundraising campaign. “Our participation in this project is a great show of solidarity to our people out there shouting “The dam is mine!”. That is to say “You are not alone, I am on your side for your development!” And to put it into practice. It is like erecting a monument that is alive and well,” the campaigners stated.
Badr Ethiopia taking into account the national significance of the dam and the milestone of its construction, is launching international support and fundraising for the completion of the dam. Therefore, we call on all Ethiopians in the Diaspora to fulfill their historic duty and contribute their share, the campaigners urged.
The Ethiopian Herald August 4/2021
