On July 18, during the Green Legacy 2022 Annual Tree Planting Day in Ethiopia we planted 57.000 trees on the Worja Hill in Ziway/Batu and at Berta site in Koka. This brings the total amount of planted trees starting from 2017 close to 1 million. In the project that aims to ensure sustainable protection and wise utilization of the Worja catchment, Sher, IDH and VoCDA collaborate and strive to fight deforestation and climate change by:

• Reforesting area’s and developing eco-tourism (approx. 285 ha of communal land)
• rehabilitating degraded land by digging gully’s and building stone gabions
• sowing grass seeds for cut and carry fodder use
• setting up income generating activity groups (f.i. beekeeping)
• teaching and implementing Good Agricultural Practices, f.i. using improved cereal seeds by local farmers

The final goal is to have a community managed and owned conservation site.

We thank our employees and all volunteers that have helped to plant 9 different species of indigenous trees.

In collaboration with the Grounds for Health organization we launched a campaign to offer a free of charge cervical cancer screening to our female employees between the age of 30-50 years. This is to protect our female workers from developing cancer and detect early stages of cancer that can be treated. It tests for a virus named high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) which causes cervical cells to become abnormal. Most cases of cervical cancer are linked to high-risk HPV.

Creating awareness among the employees is very important according to dr Demis of Grounds of Health. Together with his team he gave counselling in small groups before the individual test is taken. In the unfortunate case of a positive test, a treatment is offered. We would like to thank our partners at Grounds for Health for their support and encourage all women to participate.

On July 12 and 13 we celebrated the ending of schoolyear 21-22 at our Sher-schools. Thousands of students, parents and guests gathered at the school sites in Ziway and Adami Tulu. The ceremonies were colorful with several acts like poem reciting and cultural and street dance. All kindergarten graduates looked at their best, dressed in black gowns with matching hats. Among others, speeches were held by Sher managers and representatives of the Education Bureau. The best performing students and teachers were awarded with certificates and presents. We can look back at two successful days.

Giving high quality, free of charge, education to thousands of children, Sher-schools have enabled many to dream of a bright and better future. Building on the legacy of the founders of the schools, Mr. Gerrit and Mrs. Nel Barnhoorn, we are determined to keep this dream alive.

To strengthen the communities in the areas we operate in, Sher Ethiopia supports several projects to develop income generating activities for groups formed by community members. Over the last months, many groups have been trained in beekeeping and eco-tourism.

50 beehives were distributed to 13 groups of 4 to 10 members. In total 80 people have gained basic knowledge about honey-production. Behind every member there are large families that benefit from the project. One example is the group named the Mustafa Abu sub-group/apiary (photo). The members of this group are very motivated to start with this activity and have agreed to invest most of the revenues of the honey sales in buying extra beehives. By working together, the whole community will benefit, rather than just one family. A small part of the yield will be for their own consumption.

In the eco-tourism project 20 beneficiaries (youngsters) from Worja Washgula and Kamo Gerbi area have been trained to serve tourists and visitors of the Worja hill eco-center. The area is known for its abundant birdlife and fantastic views. At the opening ceremony more than 200 people attended and enjoyed the cultural foods and of course the famous Ethiopian coffee ‘macchiato’, that are now served daily at the eco-huts. A 100,000 ETB seed capital injection enables the members to run their own business and take responsibility to preserve the 200 hectares of reforested land. Bylaws (legal documents and rules) that will help them to sustainably manage and utilization the micro-catchment area, are being developed with the help of VoCDA and IDH.

Recently some new equipment was donated to Sher Hospital, by our neighboring farms AQ Roses, Braam Roses, Herburg Roses and Ziway Roses. An ECG machine, three patient monitors and a delivery coach are now at the hand of our dedicated medical staff. We would like to thank the companies for their generosity and for supporting the emergency room.
At Sher hospital all employees (approx. 20.000) of the 5 floricultural enterprises in Ziway get free medical care. Over 100.000 patients (employees, students and community members) are treated every year.

In the prolonged project in the Worja catchment area (Rift Valley) we are, together with IDH and Vocda, trying to achieve sustainable protection and utilization of the area. The area is communal land and the project aims to improve the livelihood of local residents as well as conserve the environment. Several initiatives have started after the kick-off of the project in March.

One of the initiatives is to develop eco-tourism activities because of its scenery and proximity to Lake Dembal and Batu town. The area is very suitable for wildlife viewing and migratory birds and easily accessible via the Batu-Butajera asphalt road that crosses the sites/mountain chains. Ecotourism has a dual purpose to protect the environment and generate additional income. Therefore, we trained 20 local community-members to run the newly constructed eco-tourism center. In cultural huts, visitors can now enjoy local drinks and food before walking the trails and enjoying the views. The training was provided in two forms; theoretical training on ecotourism by invited experts from ATJK Woreda Tourism Office and the practical training by Haile Resort experts.

Another example is the Income Generating Activity-groups where groups of local women are taught Business Development Skills. For instance, the Biftu Baha-group where 20 women have decided to produce and sell aloe vera and moringa soaps. Beekeeping is also stimulated. 50 modern beehives were handed over after a technical training was given to the beneficiaries.

Soil and water conservation is now organized by the local community. To support them, we distributed 80 pickaxes and 80 shovels. At the beginning of the upcoming rainy season, 1600 kg of improved maize seeds will be given to local farmers to increase the yield of fodder production. And 50.000 seedlings were sown (Moringa, Leusiniya and Sesbania amongst others) at the nursery site in Adamitulu Jido Kombolcha Woreda with collaboration of the ATJK Woreda Agriculture and Natural resource office.

Lastly, bylaws are drafted, making sure that by the end of this project, the community can take full responsibility of all activities in a sustainable way. We are happy to see that so much progress has been made for the 350 beneficiaries of this project that focusses on a wide variety of initiatives.

On Thursday May 19 we celebrated International Safety Day. A program was prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Water and Energy Office, 5 flower farms (Sher Ethiopia, Ziway Roses, AQ roses, Herburg Roses and Braam Roses) and the neighboring Soda ash company. All 100 participants joined a field visit at Ziway Rose and a panel discussion at the Sher Clubhouse. The theme ‘Act together to build a positive health and safety culture’, resulted in a lively discussion.

In the morning, the field visit started with a tour in town and on the compound creating awareness amongst the flower farm workers on health and safety matters. At the closing ceremony several awards and certificates were handed out. The meeting ended with a blessing by the elders and a joint lunch.

We thank our Health and Safety committee members for their continuous efforts on this important topic. Acting together and taking ownership will make our farms and community a saver place.

On Wednesday April 13 a meeting was held in Ziway to kick-start a new pilot project to find sustainable solutions to the water hyacinth (embodj) problem in Lake Ziway. Nine partners have joined forces in a two-year project: 5 flower farms (Sher Ethiopia, Ziway Roses, AQ Roses, Braam Roses and Herburg Roses), IDH, specialists from PUM, Haile Resort and implementing partner Fair & Sustainable.

The project aims to produce briquettes from dried water hyacinth and to develop handicrafts. The goal is to create small businesses for women and youth. Within two years of piloting approximately 70 people will have an additional income or a full-time job. When proven successful, the project can be scaled up to a larger area around the lake resulting in the processing of large quantities of water hyacinth.

During the kick-start meeting all stakeholders including local government, farmers, fishermen and scientists were introduced to the project’s goals and expectations.

Recently the Pharmaceutical Fund and Supply Agency (PFSA) has donated a new Cobass C311 labmachine to Sher Ethiopia Hospital. The donation acknowledges the longtime commitment that Sher Hospital has made in providing affordable medical services to the local community in and around Ziway/Batu.

The Cobass C311 machine can process all kinds of chemistry, electrolyte, and enzymatic tests such as cholinesterase with a capacity up to 300 tests per hour.  Last week, the Sher laboratory staff received an extensive training by agent Retina and supplier Roch.

Surafel Kebede, lab technician at the Sher Ethiopia hospital says:” I would like to thank the supplier Retina representatives Asheber Gurmesa and Tesfahun who have trained us on using this machine. We are now fully prepared to provide the necessary services to our patients by using this machine to its full extend”.

Our sincere thank goes out to the staff of PFSA, Retina and Roch for this remarkable donation that helps to maintain affordable medical care for the region.

Sher Ethiopia is looking for talent!

Have you finalized your MSC in Environmental Studies and more than 5 years of relevant work experience? Do you know how to explain and present technical features on agricultural / environmental issues? Can you make annual environmental plans which are according to the actual legislation and can you perform and guide environmental audits?

Look at our job vacancy for which Ethiojobs is supporting us and apply via their website.