Haramaya University Institute of Gada Studies held a forum on Gada laws and their contributions to justice, peace, and environmental protection.

The forum was attended by higher officials and staff of Haramaya University, staff from Bate School; guests from East Hararghe Zone Tourism Bureau and Harari Region Culture, Heritage and Tourism Bureau; and prominent elders from the surrounding community.

According to Dr. Reta Duguma, Director of the Institute of Gada Studies and the organizer of the forum, Haramaya University is working in close collaboration with the surrounding community. As one part of the university, the institute of Geda studies works with the community in studying Gada Laws and their contributions to peace, justice, and environmental protection; family relations; intra-and-inter-clan relations; Guma and Diya; justice delivery system; environment and wildlife protection.

Moreover, concepts and trends were presented by Abba Gadas and knowledgeable elders of the Afran Qallo, Ituu, and Humbanna (Anniya) who have accumulated knowledge on Gada laws with regard to political, economic, social, environmental and other matters that affect the Oromo society, and their contributions to peace, justice, and environmental protection and discussion by the participants.

Prof. Jeylan Wolyie, vice president for administration and students’ affairs at Haramaya University, stated that the institute’s research works have a significant role to play in reviving and utilizing the history of the Geda system with the effort of Oromo scholars. To do this, it must research the community’s culture and way of life.

Prof. Jeylan promised that the university will support scholars, elders, and religious leaders to play their part in promoting peace and development by identifying the common values like those in the Geda system that bring people closer to one another.

Ahmedin Muktar Abdullahi, Abba Hawas in Afran Kalo Abagada, explained to the participants that equality and environmental protection are important in the Geda system, adding that the Geda system treats all human beings and creatures equally.

Shamil Ahmed, Itu Abba Geda, said that the Geda system is a source of peace, and peace is the greatest wealth that can be used by all human beings.

The participants remarked that such forums are crucial and Haramaya University Geda Research Institute should concentrate on such discussion.

By: Shemsedin Mohammed

Camera: Fuad Ahmed

Haramay University Public & International Relations Directorate

Haramaya University Donets 17 Million Birr Worth of Improved Seeds

Haramaya University (HrU) Office of Research Affairs donated 3416 quintals of improved (quality) seeds which is worth 17 million birr to 21 drought-affected woredas in East Hararge Zone and Harari Regional State in a ceremony held on June 1, 2022 at the Main Campus.

Haramaya University’s Vice President for Research Affairs, Dr. Tesfaye Lema, handed over the donation to the East Hararge Zone Agricultural Development Office.

According to Dr. Tesfaye, the improved seeds will be distributed to farmers in western and eastern Hararge zones and Harari Regional State that are affected by this year’s harvest as a result of drought.

To replace the damaged crops, the East Hararghe Zone Office of Agriculture requested different stakeholders including Haramaya University (HU) to support farmers through emergency seeds supply. Based on this ground, HU sourced about 3415.75 Qts of seeds and allocated them to 21 woredas in East and West Hararghe Zones and Harari Regional State.

There are about six crop types and 11 varieties sourced and allocated for distribution. This includes Wheat (Kingbird, Wane, Kakeba, Danda’a), Teff (Bose), Chickpea (Ararti), Maize (Melkasa-2) and Common bean (Ser-125, Awash-2, Ayanew and Tinike).

Generally, it is expected that about 5,662.42 ha of land will be covered by different quality seeds of high-yielding varieties. Based on the average yield estimation on the farmer’s field, about 160,775.33 Qts of different grains might be harvested from the indicated land area.

Similarly, based on the current grain price estimation, a gross return of 548,742,666.67 million birr might be generated from the sale of the grain. This will significantly contribute to household food and income security, dietary diversity and the possibility of seed saving and exchange for the following year.

Overall, about 17,406,725 million birr have been spent to buy the seeds, it was indicated.

On the occasion of the hand over, Ato Getahun Nigatu, head of the zonal Agriculture Office East Hararghe Zone, said currently, Hararghe Zones are hit by drought.

Farmers had lost an average of more than 90% of the belg/bone season crop production due to lack of rainfall, he added.

Furthermore, the meher/ganna rain season started over a month late and has been very poor with only a couple of rainfall days, according to Ato Nigatu.

This significantly delayed land preparation and planting activities in the lowland; whereas complete or partial damages to long maturity crops in the highland and midland, he added.

Ato Nigatu said his office is working in collaboration with various donors  specially with the HrU to prevent the drought and the University’s support has played a significant role in alleviating the problem and the  seed support will be distributed to the farmers at the zonal and woreda agriculture offices.

“The University has always stood by our side and solved the problems of our people,” Ato Getahun said.

By: – Shemsedin Mohammed

Camera: – Fuad Ahmed

Haramay University Public & International Relations Directorate

The 67th graduation ceremoney of Haramaya University held.

Haramaya University graduated 1,866 students in various fields of study On June 2, 2022.

Of the total graduates 24 in Doctorate (PhD.), 361 in master’s degree (MA/MSc), 1460 in Bachelor degree (1218 in regular and 242 non-regular programs), and 21 students were graduated in specialty programs of health sciences. From the total 372 are females.

The graduation ceremony was attended by the university higher officials, community members, parents of the students and other invited guests.

Prof. Mengistu Urge, vice president for academic affairs at Haramaya University, said in his opening speech that the 2014 academic year was and is peaceful. That is why we were able to graduate 1866 students peacefully, he added.

Prof. Iyasu Elias, Guest of Honor, Minister of State for Natural Resources Development of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Chairman of the University Board of Trustees, said education is an important tool to build the human mind and help us live rationally in all relationships.

According to Prof. Iyasu, these graduates are expected to serve the country and their people faithfully and diligently in their field of studies. “Graduates must play a role in reviving the already-started economic, social, and political campaign to develop our country and pass on the sovereignty we inherited from our forefathers to the next generation,” added Prof. Iyasu.

Prof. Jeylan Woliyie, Vice President of Administrative and Student Affairs at Haramaya University, stressed that students should be optimists and must be ready to serve their country with their knowledge in all areas, including peace building and promotion. Peace is a very important lubricant for our daily activities. And it is the sense of brotherhood and peace among the students of the university that enables the university to operate in a calm manner, added Prof. Jeylan Woliyie.

By:- Shemsefin Mohammed

Photographers:- Foad Ahmed & Tewodros Lishan

Public & International Relations Directorate

Haramaya University, in collaboration with Academic Assessment and Quality Assurance, Academic Program, and Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation directorates, organized a capacity-building training for higher and middle-level educational and administrative leaders on July 7, 2022, on “a SMART strategic planning as a means to enhance the quality of education.”

In his welcoming speech, Dr. Garkabo Basha, director of the Academic Assessment and Quality Assurance Directorate at Haramaya University, said, “The training will give us an opportunity to see where we are now, where and how to go, and what to achieve in terms of quality education.”

In his opening remarks, Professor Mengistu Urge, vice president for academic affairs, said that preparing a SMART strategic plan is crucial for a leader and, in fact, knowing how to plan is vital because every activity should depend on preplanning and aligning the plan with the university’s plan. This training is timely as this is the time of preparation for the next academic year’s activities, stressed Professor Mengistu.

Professor Mengistu added that quality education is the sum of many participants’ and stakeholders’ efforts, just as the university accomplished its role successfully in the past academic year (2014 EC). Last year, to ensure quality education, Haramaya University made many improvements like curriculum review, allocating appropriate time for courses, educational infrastructure, and others which enable us to advance more quality education for the upcoming academic year, said Professor Mengistu.

Mr. Esubalew Tsehay, director of the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Directorate of the University and one of the trainers, said, “SMART strategic planning is a management process that helps facilities stay on track toward goal achievement.” “Similarly, a SMART implementation plan involves setting objectives for workers, systems, and production lines that would lead to benefits such as efficiency or waste reduction.” “Therefore,” says Mr. Esubalew, “in an educational establishment, preparing SMART strategic planning is basic for attaining quality education goal achievement.”

Thanking the organizers, the participants, in the discussion and way forward session, said such a timely and supportive training is crucial to make SMART strategic plans.

By: Aweke Ayalneh

Camera: Fuad Ahmed

Haramaya University Conducts Workshop on the Role of Student Organizations

A team of Haramaya University in collaboration with USAID conducted a workshop on enhancing student organizations’ role in peaceful teaching-learning process in higher learning Institutions on July 1, 2022 at Blossom Hotel, Dire Dawa.

Representatives of Ministry of Peace and Ministry of Education took part in the workshop.

Haramaya University team has designed and successfully implemented a project titled a “Capacity Building and Technical Support for Student Organizations to enhance their Capacity to Conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution in the Universities of Eastern Ethiopia.”

According to Ato Bacha Daba, a lecturer of law at Haramaya University, the purpose of the project is to enhance the student organizational leaders’ capacity to conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution activities and to sustain peaceful teaching-learning activities across universities in Eastern Ethiopia.

To achieve the aforementioned objectives, several activities were conducted over the past four months, he added. These include consultative workshops, trainings, dialogues, award ceremonies to exemplary workers, student organization networking, and closing workshop.

The project activities were implemented in Haramaya, Dire Dawa and JigJiga universities and involved about 810 students as participants of training and dialogues, it was indicated.

As a part of strengthening student organizations in each university, office facilities such as desktop computers, printers, chairs and tables were purchased at a total cost of 1.13 million Birr and three pieces from all items were distributed to each student organizations in the respective universities.

The meticulously designed activities were effectively implemented and produced positive outcomes such as strengthened student organizations, enhanced capacity to conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution skills, enhanced communication and leadership skills, improved peaceful teaching-learning environments and improved understanding of university structures and complaint hearing mechanisms, as expressed during the workshop.

At the workshop, Professor Jeylan Woliye, Vice President for Administration and Student Affairs, enhancing the role and contribution of student organizations is pivotal in fostering peaceful teaching and learning in higher education institutions.

Sustainable peace and development can be attained in a political system and environment that appreciates the creation of intelligent, informed and responsive citizenry. Intelligent, informed and responsive citizenry is necessary for survival and sustained peace, Professor Jeylan highlighted.

It is also essential for establishing and sustaining a well-functioning and healthy democracy and a responsible government, he added.

In this regard, higher learning institutions assume principal responsibility to create and widen the moral imagination of their students and contribute their roles in the efforts to create citizens of greater moral imagination. Citizens with greater moral imagination have robust accommodative mentality, problem solving skills, greater moral virtue or wisdom, tolerance to frustrations, humility, democratic mind sets, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, relational intelligence or relational wisdom, among others.

On behalf of the Ministry of Peace of FDRE, Dr. Awoke Atanafu said Peace Building project of Universities in Eastern Ethiopia, provides students support in conflict resolution and peace keeping. He stated that stakeholders should work hard to prevent conflicts and disturbances with community and students’ participation in universities.

Participants indicated that they are happy with the training and the event has enabled them to get answers to the questions that have bothered their minds concerning conflicts and conflict resolution in higher education institutions.

Participants also said that they gained knowledge that will enhance their conflict resolution, leadership and communication skills for the betterment of their fellow citizens.

By፦ Shemsedin Mohammed

Photo፦ Tewodros Lishan

HU PIRD

The Presidential Mentorship Program in collaboration with the Haramaya University Women, Children and Youth Affairs Directorate offered a three days training on Mentees Entrepreneurship, Career Development & Mentorship Program for 2022 female graduate students from July 14-16, 2022 at Harar Wonder Land Hotel.

According to Ms. Seada Jemal Program Coordinator for Presidential Mentorship Program, the training was given for students who are participating in Presidential Mentorship Program that has been implemented in Haramaya university.

Ms. Seada added that the program aims at building the leadership capacity of female university students who are left with two years to graduate and it covered the key concepts of effective presentation skills and helped them improve their presentation skills.

Endashaw Yohannes Lecturer at Wollo University and Co-founder and Project coordinator, Kuraz Consulting, said the training included three important soft skills, which are career planning skills, presentation skills, and entrepreneurial skills.

The career planning training helps to identify and articulate their skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to the position desired and their career goals and identify areas necessary for professional growth.

Mr. Endashaw added that individual can explore job options, understand and can take the steps necessary to pursue opportunities, and understand how to self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.

Mrs. Kedija Abdulkadir, Director of the of Women, Children and Youth Affairs Directorate at Haramaya University, said female students are selected based on their qualifications and behavior to take part in the program.

Presidential Mentorship Program is gender inclusive universities project that was initiated by President Sahlework Zewde in cooperation with internationally well known organization, Institute of International Education (IIE). It is implemented in selected five universities including Haramaya University during the first round and the program was started in April 2021 at Haramaya University.

“Women participation and providing the possible maximum support is highly appreciated and we have such fruitful practice that was implemented in our University and we are working to increase its participation in collaboration with stakeholders by providing input on how to empower female students ,” Mrs. Kedija said.

Among the trainees, Yohana Aschalew, and Hana Gessese said that participating in Presidential Mentorship Program as well as taking such kind of training allowed them to test themself, identify their behavior and background and helped them even in their Education.

On the closing remark Dr. Garkebo Basha, Haramaya University Academic Assessment and Quality Assurance Directorate Director, said that Haramaya University hosted this program mainly focusing on preparing female graduates for the task ahead of them – mentoring and empowering women in order to grasp good understanding and skills on important issues related to the why and how of empowering women.

Dr. Garkebo emphatically entrusted the trainees to exercise the basic skills on career plans, entrepreneurial mindset, and presentation skills.

At the end of the three days’ training, Dr. Garkebo handed over certificates to the trainees.

More than 70 female graduating students took part from all colleges at the training.

By፦ Shemsedin Mohammed

Photo፦ Fuad Ahmed

HU PIRD

 “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Warren Buffett

Is it because Haramaya University considers such a wonderful idea?

In a campaign Haramaya University conducted on July 21st, 2022, the University and local community planted approximately 20,000 seedlings of various species in the campus and Ganda Sharo Mountain, Damota kebele.

In this campaign, all the vice presidents of the university, teachers and other staff, as well as the local residents, have participated.

On the occasion, Prof. Mengistu Urge, Vice President of Academic Affairs, said more than 400,000 seedlings of different species adapted to the local climate have been prepared at the university for the fourth Green Legacy Program.

Prof. Mengistu added that the work of mobilizing the community to plant and approve seedlings, as well as protecting and caring for them, has made it possible for the approval rate to increase from time to time.

In the same way, Mr. Dine Rashid, Coordinator of the Haramaya Lake Basin Development Project, said that the University prepared nearly four hundred-thousand (400,000) forest seedlings, fruits, forage, decorative, and medicinal seedlings to plant in the watershed to support soil and water conservation activities undergoing in the watershed area with biological means.

Starting from July 10th, around two hundred fifty-thousand (250,000) forest seedlings have been transported to the plantation sites in a given watershed (upper stream degraded hilly areas) and planted by local communities in collaboration with the Haramaya district Agricultural office. The remaining seedlings of fruits, forage, medicinal, and decorative plants were distributed to farmers and local communities and planted in the main campus of Haramaya University and local primary and secondary schools.

Totally, Haramaya University has planted more than 1.2 million trees in the green legacy program carried out over the past three years.

Dr. Yisak Yusuf, the University’s Vice President of Community Engagement and Enterprise Development, said that the university has made a significant contribution to the restoration of local natural resources, including Lake Haramaya, by carrying out environmental protection works in the mountains and other places in the area. This planting seedling is one among other environmental protection work the university does, according to Dr. Yisak Yusuf.This environmental protection effort of the university has been showing its fruits.

Concerning this, the university and the local community who participated in a survey pointed out that planting seedlings in the area has reduced the risk of flooding and soil erosion in the past.

Mrs. Kimia Yuya, a resident of Damota rural kebele, said that Haramaya University has planted various tree species in the past years and taught us a lot to protect our areas as we saw the benefits with our own eyes. Moreover, following the recovery of the area and the growth of grass and trees, wild animals such as deer and tigers displaced have returned, and springs have developed.

By:- Shemsedin Mohammed

photographers:- Fuad Ahmed & Tewdiros Lishan

HU PIRD

“Haramaya University’s support has practically confirmed that it is really owned by the public,” approves Mrs. Miski Mohamed, East Hararghe Zone Administrator.

Haramaya University timely response to the public request

Haramaya University bought more than 400 quintals of rice it bought for 2,000,000 Birr and donated it to the residents of Melka Bello district, who have been affected by drought. Mrs. Miski Mohammad, an administrator of East Hararge Zone, received the donation to disseminate it to the target society to cope with the drought manifested due to the late rains in East Hararge Zone.

According to Mrs. Miski Mohammad, administrator of East Hararge Zone; Haramaya University provides support, including agricultural supplies such as seeds, fertilizers, and chemicals, in addition to sharing knowledge to the farmers in the zone to help them be self-sufficient in food security.

Mrs. Miski added that due to the lack of timely rains needed for this year’s crop production; the farmers have faced a shortage of food grains, but thanks to Haramaya University, it donated more than 400 quintals of rice to the needy citizens in two kebeles in Melka Bello district, based on our request for help.

Witnessing that the support Haramaya University renders to the society assures the university’s public ownership, the administrator called other governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as individuals to render similar support for the community affected by the drought.

In the same vein, Mr. Dine Rashid, the representative of Haramaya University, stated that the University is doing several similar activities that can solve the problems the community is facing, and Haramaya University bought more than 400 quintals of rice it bought for 2,000,000 Birr and it hand over to Mrs. Miski Mohammad, an administrator of East Hararge Zone to disseminated it to the residents of Melka Bello district, who have been affected by drought. So the support is one of the activities that the University performs to solve the problems of the community.

By Aweke Ayalneh

Camera: Tewodros Lishan

HU-ACE-Climate SABC Conference Hub

http://huaceconfhub.haramaya.edu.et/

For more information about the conference

Kindly send an email to the organizing committee through
Dr. Sintayehu Workeneh @ sintekal@gmail.com

Scholarship Opportunity for MSc in CMMAAE

http://huaceconfhub.haramaya.edu.et/

The 67th graduation ceremoney of Haramaya University held.

Haramaya University graduated 1,866 students in various fields of study On June 2, 2022.

Of the total graduates 24 in Doctorate (PhD.), 361 in master’s degree (MA/MSc), 1460 in Bachelor degree (1218 in regular and 242 non-regular programs), and 21 students were graduated in specialty programs of health sciences. From the total 372 are females.

The graduation ceremony was attended by the university higher officials, community members, parents of the students and other invited guests.

Prof. Mengistu Urge, vice president for academic affairs at Haramaya University, said in his opening speech that the 2014 academic year was and is peaceful. That is why we were able to graduate 1866 students peacefully, he added.

Prof. Iyasu Elias, Guest of Honor, Minister of State for Natural Resources Development of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Chairman of the University Board of Trustees, said education is an important tool to build the human mind and help us live rationally in all relationships.

According to Prof. Iyasu, these graduates are expected to serve the country and their people faithfully and diligently in their field of studies. “Graduates must play a role in reviving the already-started economic, social, and political campaign to develop our country and pass on the sovereignty we inherited from our forefathers to the next generation,” added Prof. Iyasu.

Prof. Jeylan Woliyie, Vice President of Administrative and Student Affairs at Haramaya University, stressed that students should be optimists and must be ready to serve their country with their knowledge in all areas, including peace building and promotion. Peace is a very important lubricant for our daily activities. And it is the sense of brotherhood and peace among the students of the university that enables the university to operate in a calm manner, added Prof. Jeylan Woliyie.

By:- Shemsefin Mohammed

Photographers:- Foad Ahmed & Tewodros Lishan

Public & International Relations Directorate

Declining education quality in Ethiopia and Ministry of Education to curve the problem

“Destroying any nation does not require the use of atomic bombs or the use of long range missiles. It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examinations by the students.” Nelson Mandela

In a discussion Professor Birhanu Nega, education minister of Ethiopia, and Dr. Samuel Kifle, state minister of higher education, held at Afrankalo Hall on August 2, 2022, with Haramaya University community, including senior leaders, teachers, and administrative staff, regarding the quality of education and related issues, the minister called on citizens to do their part to break free from the cycle of problems in the sector by stating that now is the right time to find a solution to the problems in the education sector.

At the opening of the discussion, Professor Mengstu Urge, Haramaya University vice president for academic affairs, said that, even though education quality is alarmingly decreasing at the country level, Haramaya University has achieved excellent results in agricultural research, establishing links with industries, and working closely with the community in teaching, research, and community service, despite budget deficiency for the wide range of activities it does and location disadvantages. Professor, Mengstu, further, explained that it is important to find a solution to those problems because the university is losing its experienced teachers as teachers are not getting the various benefits they deserve.

Dr. Samuel Kifle, for his part, said the quality of education in Ethiopia has decreased because of four main reasons – the unruly and unsystematic expansion of universities; the creation of an inappropriate relationship between higher education and politics, the local sentiment created by politics, and the moral failure we have experienced. Dr. Samuel added that although the problem of education quality has a global issue, the pressure is especially heavy on countries like ours. In order to get out of this failure, the ministry is developing a system that can motivate the teachers to teach well and the students to learn and study hard, according to Dr. Samuel Kifle.

As a part of the solution, Professor Birhanu, in his turn, said Ethiopia is in the process of getting its universities autonomous and urged Haramaya University to start doing the necessary activities to be an autonomous university.

The discussion came to an end with the questions raised by the participants and explanations from the minister.

By: Aweke Ayalneh

Camera: Fuad Ahmed

Alumni Celebrate 30th Anniversary

Haramaya University’s alumni who graduated on September 5, 1992, celebrated their 30th anniversary on the Main Campus in the presence of HU’s higher management, and invited senior academic staffs.

The celebrants included senior researchers, educators, leaders, entrepreneurs, and development practitioners who are working with national, regional and international organizations.

Haramaya University’s Vice President for Research Affairs, Dr Tesfaye Lemma, Arsi University’s President, Dr. Duguma, and Selale University’s Vice President for Administration and Development, Dr. Adugna, are among the celebrants.

Professor Mengistu Urge, Haramaya University’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, made welcoming remarks on behalf of the President of HU. In his welcoming remarks, Prof Mengistu emphasized the importance of strengthening and formalizing linkage of the University with its alumni as part of the strategies of HU to realize its grand vision of becoming one of the top universities in Africa with global reputation.

Alumni can and should contribute in several ways to enhance quality of education and research excellence at HU, according to Professor Mengistu.

Alumni Associate Director, Frezer Tilahun, made presentation on the current status of HU and the need for establishing alumni association.

Representative of the 1992 graduates, Dr Asnake, thanked HU on behalf of the participants for a very warm welcome, love, and hospitality extended.

The graduates established Haramaya University Alumni Association Establishing Committee and planted tree seedlings. In addition, the 1992 graduates agreed to strengthen their own network. A committee was established to facilitate the networking.

Moreover, the 1992 graduates were able to meet and honor some of the previous students’ cafeteria workers.

Dr. Tesfaye Lemma said that the University will take care of the alumni’s footprints; the tree seedlings planted, and will help realize the establishment of HU Alumni Association.

On their 30th graduation anniversary, the former graduates of Haramaya University presented gifts to their University and to Mrs. Kelemua WondaAfrash and Mr. Amare Getachew who used to serve them in the Students cafe.

By: – Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographer: – Fuad Ahmed

PIRD

“Community Participation for Institutional Change”

Haramaya University’s Hiwot Fana Specialized Hospital held a discussion with community representatives from East Hararghe zone districts and the Harari region.

On the same day, a monitoring and control committee was established to enable the community to contribute to the improvement of the hospital’s services. The hospital also inaugurated a community drug store named the “Chefea Model” to stabilize the price increase that patients face at private drug stores. Mrs. Misra Abdella, the Vice President of Harari Region and the Head of the Regional Agriculture Office and the Chairman of the Hospital Board, said that the pharmacy will provide medicines at affordable prices and eliminate the unnecessary price increases that the community has been experiencing.

Dr. Abdi Amin, Head of Medical Services at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, said that they held the discussion with community representatives from all the districts of the Eastern Hararghe Zone and different districts of the Harari region under the theme of “Community Participation for Institutional Change” to help improve the hospital’s service delivery.

Noting that Haramaya University’s Hiwot Fana hospital is providing many health services in the eastern part of the country; Mr. Mohamadin Kebir Husain, the board member of the hospital and the head of the health office of the Eastern Hararghe zone, promised that his office will work closely and collaboratively to close the gaps in the hospital’s services.

Likewise, Mr. Yasin Abdulahi, head of the Harari Region Health Bureau and the hospital’s board member, said that the hospital is constantly working closely with the community to improve the provision of health services.

Appreciating the hospital’s services being expanded time after time, the community representatives who participated in the discussion recommended that its service delivery system should be improved more than it is now.

The community has become aware of the various efforts we exert to provide quality services to the community, according to Dr. Ahmed Mohamed, Chief Executive Director of Haramaya University College of Health and Medical Sciences.

By: Aweke Ayalneh

Camera: Fuad Ahmed

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

What is Haramaya University doing for graduates and the community at large?

On September 13, 2022, Haramaya University, re-graduated more than 50 graduates it, in collaboration with the Master Card Foundation, was giving entrepreneurial training for nine weeks.

Concerning this training, we have collected and incorporated the ideas of honorable gusts and the trainees, among whom Prof. Jeylan Woliyie, Dr. Getachew Shambel, Dr. Tesfaye Lema, Etisam Sirajudin, Hana G/Hiowet, and Mohammad Juhar Musa are some.

Prof. Jeylan Woliyie, Vice President for Administration and Student Affairs of Haramaya University, said in his opening speech that young graduates should use the agricultural sector as a source of wealth and develop their thinking to create jobs.

Dr. Getachew Shambel, the coordinator of the Master Card Foundation project for the promotion and enhancement of agricultural and rural technologies at Haramaya University, pointed out that the main objective of their foundation is to empower entrepreneurs like these ones. Apart from the theoretical and practical training, the trainees were given a support budget of 2400 US dollars to start work in their respective associations, according to Dr. Getachew.

Dr. Tesfaye Lema, vice president for research affairs at Haramaya University, said that the university has been doing various activities in the past for graduates to join the workforce, but the current training is different because it incorporates both theory and practice. In addition to the training, the trainees have been provided with business start-up financial support which will create a good opportunity for the trainees to create a job, according to Dr. Tesfaye, who promised that the university will continue similar trainings, indicating that the current trainees are expected to perform effective work by using the knowledge, skills, and technology they have acquired.

The trainees, who graduated, presenting their work to the guests of the day, in their turn, appreciated the training from different perspectives. They say that this special training has created an opportunity for them to be competent in the world of work.

Etisam Sirajudin, who graduated from Haramaya University with a degree in food science and is a representative of the Ethiopasta (which is prepared from Teff and Kocho) food entrepreneur group, said that the training showed them how to enter the world of work. She also stated that they are planning to make the country’s products widely accessible to consumers by engaging in the hotel business.

The other trainee, Hana G/Hiowet, who is a representative of Kasimir (Ambuka) fruit juice producers, said that they prepared the Ambuka product in the form of juice and offered it at a discount price to the community because ambuka, which has many health benefits, is widely available fruit in their area. She added that, even though the training was not about getting a job, it has changed their thinking about how they can create their own jobs from available materials and enabled them to get material and financial support for starting a business.

Finally, Mohammad Juhar Musa, the other trainee who made a chicken hatching machine and presented it to the audience, expressed the importance of the training. He said that they were facing difficulties that discouraged them from putting entrepreneurial ideas into action, but thanks to Haramaya University and Master Card Foundation, the training made them come out of the hopelessness they had before.