Addis Ababa—The Mayor of Addis Ababa, Adanech Abiebie, announced the launch of the city’s annual summer voluntary service, which is expected to positively impact the lives of over 1.2 million citizens in the capital. At the launch event held in Lideta District, Mayor Adanech emphasized that this voluntary service initiative is a crucial component of Addis Ababa’s modernization efforts, aimed at enhancing the well-being of the residents.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the previous summer and winter voluntary service programs resulted in the construction and handover of 6,730 houses to less privileged local residents in the city. This year’s house construction and renovation program aims to benefit 17,500 citizens by building 3,500 homes for underprivileged members of the community.
The mayor highlighted that this year’s summer voluntary service will engage over 2.2 million volunteers in various programs. She expressed confidence that this widespread participation will ensure the success of the endeavor, ultimately benefiting more than 1.2 million Addis Ababa residents.
Additionally, Mayor Adanech announced the commencement of three new 9-story buildings in Lideta sub-city, a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders. Three beneficiaries of the previous summer’s house construction and renovation program, Zufan Sitotaw, Abeba Kassahun, and Aregash Tulu, expressed their gratitude for the positive impact of the initiatives on their lives.
It is estimated that the summer voluntary service program in Addis Ababa will transact over 5 billion birr, underscoring the city’s commitment to improving the living conditions and opportunities for its residents through this extensive community-driven initiative.