ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia’s National Voluntary Service Program has been making significant contributions to the country’s social and economic development, officials reported. In an interview with the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), National Voluntary Service Lead Executive Gemechis Eticha highlighted the program’s success in fostering social cohesion and national unity since its inception in 2020.


According to Ethiopian News Agency, the program aims to enhance sustainable peace and nation-building by deploying volunteers across various regions. Over 75,000 youths have participated in the program, engaging in a six-month service stint following a month of preparatory training. These volunteers have spearheaded projects worth more than 340 million Birr in the last Ethiopian fiscal year alone.



This season, over 16,000 university students were also mobilized for voluntary activities after receiving short-term training. These students have been instrumental in initiatives such as house construction and renovation, planting seedlings, and beautification efforts in 33 cities and districts. The program has also succeeded in mobilizing approximately 653,000 community members to participate in local clean-up and beautification projects.



Eticha disclosed plans to expand the scope of the program to include cross-border voluntary services, aiming to further engage Ethiopian youth in international cooperative efforts that promote peace and development.

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