Nia Foundation received a green light last week from the city's land administration office to start the construction of an autism centre.
Expected to be completed in two years’ time, the cost of the 300-million-Br centre of excellence will be covered through donations. The launching of construction came about after several delays that pushed the project back more than 20 months.
The centre will have four buildings, three of which will have four storeys, while the remaining one will have eight storeys.
The cornerstone for the centre was laid two years ago but was delayed after the City Administration considered using the land for part of a road project. Relocation of seven households for the construction of the buildings caused a delay as well.
“After several hurdles, we managed to secure the land again that was given to us by the City Administration initially,” said Zemi Yenus, founder of Nia Foundation. “The government is not supporting us as much as the sector needs attention.”
The building will include living dorms for children, a research and training centre to produce professionals in the field as well for parents of autistic children and a therapy centre. The building, expected to house 400 autistic children at once, will also include a theatre hall to help the centre generate income.
The new centre is expected to have a capacity of accepting more than 400 autistic people.
Designed pro bonoby At-Con Engineering & Architecture Consultancy Plc, the building, which will lay on a 5,000Sqm plot, is located in the CMC area, Bole district. At-Con will also conduct the supervision work.
“The hardships that autistic children and their parents are going through concerns us,” said Tsega Gebrehiwot, general manager of At-Con, which has also participated in the design and supervision of Modjo Cable & Wires Factory, Meqelle University dormitories and cafeteria buildings and Ambo Bullet factory. “That’s why we participated in the project.”
The contractor for the building will be Family Construction, which has participated in projects such as the Fincha Sugar Factory’s residential buildings, an asphalt road that leads to Megenagna and an ongoing tower project for Ethiopian Airlines. The contractor will finalise the initial phase of the construction for free.
“It’s every individual’s responsibility to support the centre,” said Mebrit Tiame, general manager of Family Construction.
Joy Centre for Autism has 80 employees and 50 autistic children living in it. Over 1,000 people have applied to join the centre. It also uses classrooms in schools in each district of Addis Abeba and the Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Addis Abeba for teaching students.
“We give priority to serving children with autism who have no parents or who come from single-parent households,” said Zemi. “Financial constraint is our major challenge.”
The Foundation plans to mobilise financing for the new centre through fundraising campaigns such as public auctions.
Joy Centre was established in 2002 by Zemi after her son was diagnosed with autism. An estimated one in 160 children around the world have autism although the actual prevalence rate in low and middle-income countries is unknown, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Seble Hailu, an educational psychologist and counselour, is impressed by the Foundation’s efforts.
“The centre will go a long way toward alleviating the burden on parents,” she said.
PUBLISHED ON
Nov 16,2019 [ VOL
20 , NO
1020]
Fortune News | Sept 18,2021
Radar |
Verbatim | Sep 02,2023
Radar | Dec 29,2018
Fortune News | Jun 12,2021
Agenda | Oct 20,2024
View From Arada | Feb 20,2021
Radar | Oct 09,2021
Radar | Feb 27,2021
Fortune News | Mar 30,2019
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Jun 28 , 2025
Meseret Damtie, the assertive auditor general, has never been shy about naming names...
Jun 21 , 2025
A well-worn adage says, “Budget is not destiny, but it is direction.” Examining t...
Jun 14 , 2025
Yet again, the Horn of Africa is bracing for trouble. A region already frayed by wars...
Jun 7 , 2025
Few promises shine brighter in Addis Abeba than the pledge of a roof for every family...
Loading your updates...