FULL CIRCLE


FULL CIRCLE

A striking image of felled trees up on the pedestrian walkway around Bole surprises onlookers accustomed to greener hues. The area was endowed with increasing trees in the lead-up to the African Union Summit, giving urbanites a sweet escape from the scorching sun in the capital. While it does not look it today, historical sources indicate that in the early 20th century, about 42 million hectares, or the equivalent of nearly 35pc of Ethiopia’s land area, was covered with forests. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's (PhD) Green Legacy initiative has attempted to restore some of the country's shades with an annual campaign going on ever since he ascended to power.


In-Picture

DELIVERING HOPE

A young man sits on an Isuzu truck delivering Ambo carbonated water and Coca Cola soft drinks to clients in the Gotera area. The transport sector, which involves many youth, creates numerous informal job opportunities. The ILO estimates that 31pc of employees are in the service sector. According to 2022 data from the Ethiopian Statistics Service (ESS), youth unemployment rate in urban areas stood at 27.2pc, one of the highest in Africa. ...


In-Picture

BOOKSTORE REVAMP

This long-lived building is a branch of Mega Books, after a recent revamp in line with corridor development projects around Arat Kilo. Established in 2007, Mega Publishing & Distribution has 32 branches including this which has been under renovation for five months. Since its establishment, the company has published and distributed several supplementary educational materials for primary and secondary education, adult reference materials, nonfiction books, and other literary works...


In-Picture

RISKY REALITY

Dangerous practices, including employees working without safety helmets and other necessary precautions, are observed in a building around Kazanchis. Buildings must be designed and constructed to ensure the safety of people, properties, and other structures. The law entails that those who construct buildings in a manner that endangers public safety could face imprisonment of five to ten years and fines ranging from 20,000Br to 50,000Br, according to the building proclamation...