ADDIS ABABA – Youth volunteering in parts of Addis Ababa have promised to support government’s ambitious plan to plant 200 million seedlings in 12 hours by July 29, 2019.
“Youth volunteers were the major forces behind the current record of India in massive tree plantation as they were able to plant 50 million seedlings within 24 hours. Nothing will be impossible for us because we have a power, initiation and strong culture of volunteerism,” said Miftah Abegaz, a volunteer around Megenagna area of Addis Ababa.
“Cognizant of the fact that we Ethiopians have a long history of volunteerism and genuineness, it is easy for us to succeed the plan of the premier and break the world record,” said Kinfe Tariku, another young volunteer around Piassa area of the capital.
Surprisingly, the government has planned to plant this large amount of seedlings just through realizing that serious efforts are required to reduce carbon emissions to mitigate the effects of global climate change.
About 12.7 million volunteer youths are engaged in voluntary services this rainy season across the country in addition to the existing volunteers. Therefore the rest is our role to help the government to achieve the anticipated result, he added.
Messay Habtegiorgis, another volunteer around Adissu Gebeya told The Ethiopian Herald “It is a wonderful opportunity for us to be part of this historical feat for many reasons. Mitigating carbon emission, nurturing green areas for internal satisfaction and benefiting the coming generation are among them. Which means the more we plant saplings right now the better the next generation will be benefited. Which are almost our sons, daughters and siblings.”
Miftah emphasized that great attention should be given for protecting the saplings after planting them. It is not as such easy task to plant large amount of saplings, we volunteer youths should be committed to protecting them until the end. He further avowed that, seedling plantation and environmental protection must not be done for the sake of report rather it is big social and environmental concern.
All things considered, “there is nothing for youth without youth subsequently we should support the government’s plan to break the world record. And we are waiting the day eagerly to leave our finger prints,” volunteers confirmed.
The Ethiopian Herald July 2/2019
BY HIZKEL HAILU
