BY STAFF REPORTER
Addis Ababa City Administration is working persistently to realize its vision of making the capital city, Addis Ababa, a city that is as beautiful as its name; create an ideal and vibrant city where not only its residents; but also foreigners live in it comfortably also and enjoying it equally with a sense of unity and solidarity.
By designing a number of poor-centered development projects in all sub cities and carrying out various activities that can benefit those people living in extreme poverty and are leading a tiring life, the Administration is endeavoring to improve the lives of citizens residing in the capital.
As a result over the past few years, it has performed several encouraging activities, beamed a real ray of light and has lessened the burden of those vulnerable segments of the society, especially elders, persons with disabilities and those who were living in a low standard of living.
For instance among the projects that have been effective and brought about tangible result in the lives of the city residents, school feeding, public feeding center organized to provide standard nutritious meals for the needy and elderly people in the capital as well as the restoration and construction of shabby houses of the poor can be mentioned as instances.
We have witnessed while many unfortunate households, who had always been worrying about their fate and spent several sleepless nights during the rainy season for the reason fearing that their dilapidated houses (if it is called house) may fall down on them, weeping out of happiness.
Truly speaking, these people have a good reason to weep emotionally. It is because, they have never dreamt of coming such a day that would free them from their anxiety and has given them some type of relief. Thanks to the Administration, their anxieties and worries have squashed and started leading a happy life.
The activity, aside from practically demonstrating the commitment and dedication of the administration, it has also alleviated the burden of many households; made them breath a sign of relief and warmed their hearts because the problems and the danger they had been worrying about for long were lightened.
Recently, the Administration has inaugurated 17 people-centered development projects built at a cost of 171.2 million Birr in Gulelle Sub City in the presence of Addis Ababa City Administration Deputy Mayor and Head of Job, Enterprise and Industry Development Bureau Jantrar Abay, Gulelle Sub-City Chief Executive Konjit Debala and other senior government officials.
Deputy Mayor Jantrar Abay said that the Administration is always committed to respond to enquiries raised by the community. Among the inaugurated development projects, youth sport centers, district’s administration building expansions, bakery and other projects were included and over 170 million Birr was invested to complete the projects, it was said. What is more, it was possible to build 108 community-centered projects with 85 million Birr gained from the community and development partners.
In this activity, including the construction of a community center, a drainage bridge and the renovation of shabby houses of 104 poor people have carried out. And all are said fully completed.
The Communication Office of the City Administration also announced that the site which enables to construct “Ye Tesfa Berhan” (Light of Hope) Feeding Center has been handed over to the Company, which has sponsored the construction works.
Meanwhile, the City Administration announced the completion of the 17-storey modern juvenile detention center which has been under-construction by the administration.
The center which is built in a manner meeting international standards for the treatment of offenders has sport centers, and other facilities which are crucial for the overall development of the youth, it was stated.
The center, which rests on an area of 20,186.42 square meters, has a total of 17 blocks and comprises an administrative building, classrooms, library, dining and cooking rooms, clinic and counseling service room, workshop, study rooms, dormitory for students, as well as three males and two female dormitories, laundry, multi-purpose hall and other infrastructures, it was learnt.
Besides, while its 6,000 square meters area is covered with green space; urban agriculture works have been made on close to 2,900 square meters. What is more, two men’s and women’s sports fields that rest on a total area of 1,213.38 square meters have been constructed.
The construction activities of people-centered projects are also underway in various areas. In the similar manner, a 3 block buildings, which have 11 floors and can benefit more than 150 households have been completed.
Expanding feeding centers in all sub cities is the other target that the Administration is striving to meet the demands of the poor and economically disadvantaged group residing in the capital.
As part of this goal, in addition to the 11 feeding centers that are constructed in recent time and commenced providing services for the targeted segment of the community, new centers are well underway. Last Sunday, the capital has inaugurated its 12th feeding center and many more are in the pipeline.
In the effort made so far to support citizens who cannot get one meal even a day, more than 30,000 citizens who cannot eat once a day are eating on average. Simultaneously, more than 500 citizens have got job opportunities through taking part in the projects.
The Ethiopian Herald September 3/2022
