Melikami Fasika
Sunday past (2nd May) was Ethiopian Easter. Fasika is the most important Christian festival in Ethiopia, its significance is equal to the celebrations around Christmas in the UK. For the 40 days leading up to Fasika, Christians will have fasted from all meat and animal products sticking to a vegan diet.
On Easter Sunday the fast was broken with feasting and celebrations. Lots of Doro Wat (spicy chicken stew) is eaten. Tigist remembers the smell of onions cooking everywhere in preparation for all the food to be prepared.
The celebrations will continue all week, ending with the giving of gifts of special bread and drinks to family and friends next Sunday (9th May).
Image is of the Church of Saint George, Lalibela where many pilgrims go to celebrate Fasika.
Congratulations
We are delighted to announce our congratulations to Mary Jaffer who is the housemother to the scholarship girls at Toby’s house. Mary has been recognised nationally for her work as a children’s author in Ethiopia. Well done Mary.
Meet Dingiswayo (Dinghy for short)
You may remember the intrepid Ros Bennet who circumnavigated the island that is the South of England in the Cornish Crabber Demelza in 2015
Well, here is the sequel.
Demelza has been sold, and Ros is taking to the canals in her new vessel – Dingiswayo. Dinghy is , at present, berthed at Wembley, and shortly Ros will be embarking on her new adventure, bringing the boat back. You may be sure she will not take the direct route. She will be accompanied by ship’s dog, Leo and various crew members will, no doubt, be joining her en route.
We are telling you this as Ros is inviting sponsorship For Ethiopia – another water project. Instead of a well, this time she will be raising money to bring clean running water into our new Girls’ Hostel, Prudence House, which is being built in Addis Alem. This hostel will house another 16 girls, from remote villages, enabling them to complete their secondary education.
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RosBennet1/1
The sum raised will cover the plumbing costs of this venture.
