[May 6 – 13]
1. Meeting with Fredrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation
This week ACSOT met with The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Foundation. FES is a German political foundation committed to ideas and basic values of social democracy.
Its mission, both at home in Germany and in over 100 countries including Ethiopia, is to promote democracy, social justice and economic-reform through capacity building, policy development and promotion of dialogue. They have been active in Ethiopia since the early 1960’s.
The purpose of the meeting between ACSOT and the FES Foundation was to discuss ACSOT’s role in facilitating a workshop on capacity building for the regional council. After the meeting the FES Foundation representative along with Auto Zemicael G/Medhin, ACSOT’s Executive Director traveled to Adigrat to give the workshop.
2. Visit from our Donor TROCAIRE
Last week we were visited by a consultant of our Donor organization, TROCAIRE. She was sent to Mekelle from Addis to evaluate and asses ACSOT’s 3 year Networking and capacity building plan. The plan is in its final year. Findings of the consultant’s assessment will be given during a meeting that will take place on June 22, 2012. We will keep you updated on results.
3. Operation SMILE
I had the great honor of witnessing what seemed like a miracle to me. Last week Operation Smile came to Tigray, set to change the lives of over 150 people born with the facial deformity known as Clef lip.
“Children with facial deformities who do not receive reconstructive surgery often have difficulty breathing, drinking, eating and speaking. As a result, many suffer from malnutrition, medical and psychological problems. ‘’ This does not begin to uncover the social hindrances of the deformity. Many of these youths are discriminated against and at times ostracized from their families and societies.
A small irregularity, can determine the entire future of a baby. “It takes as little as 45 minutes to repair a cleft lip and costs 2,400 Birr / $240 USD” a surgery that is not normally widely available in Ethiopia even if the patient could afford the cost. Operation Smile, originally an American Organization established itself in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in October of 2005 and has expanded its efforts to cover Tigray and Jimma as well. Since its inception in Ethiopia Operation Smile has provided free medical evaluations to more than 1,300 patients and performed life-changing surgery to more than 700 children. World Wide they have treated more then 115,000 children and young adults.
What makes Operation Smile so great is that is houses one of the largest volunteer networks worldwide. I had a chance to see the volunteers in action and take many pictures (which I will post). Also I had the great pleasure of meeting two ladies working with Operation Smile, Ruth Emmauel and Kia Guarino who were kind enough to expose ACSOT to their massive campaign. Thanks Ladies.
For all of you out there looking to look into a great cause I recommend checking out Operation smile, here is a link to their website http://www.operationsmile.org.et/.
About Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray
The Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray is a non-political, not for profit consortium that acts as an umbrella organization for all federaly registered Civil Societies in the region of Tigray in Ethiopia. It is a national participatory initiative that encourages local groups (however small) to empower not only themselves through collective experience sharing but to empower those in their communities to uplif themselves from the issues at hand.
Each member organizations battles diverse societal issues that reach to all facets of local population. ACSOT represents Childrens groups, Health initiatives (Including HIV/AIDS based societies), Societies for the blind and differently abled, and many Mass-based societies like Women, Youth and Pofessional Associations. With such a broad and diverse network of people and topics, ACSOT strives to create a common forum for it’s members to bring about a common voice. We have all heard the popular saying “ United we stand but divided we shall fall.” This is something that applies to the core values of ACSOT. With a unified common voice even the smallest members can be heard. As an umbrealla Organization ACSOT is an essential arm to conduct lobbying and dialouge on subjects of societal importance. It’s mass base opens dialouge for its members with parties they would not normaly have access to if standing alone. Dialouge is the first step towards sustainable, societal development.
ACSOT’s primary objectives are as follows:
1. Promote Participatory development in a coordinated and organized manner.
2. Enhance Technical capacity of member organizations through different training
programs.
3.Service as a bridge among regional government, CSO’s and the People of Tigray.
General Background of ACSOT
The Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray was established in 2007 and has a total of 74 registered members, federally and regionally.
ACSOT envisions strongly bonded vibrant CSOs’ networks, effecting good governance, democratization, improved livelihood, and green and friendly environment throughout the world.
ACSOT Works with International Partner charities like TROCAIRE/CAFOD/SCIAF, European Commission (Civil Society Fund), UNAIDS as well as National and Regional groups like The Consortium of Christian Relif & Development Association (CCRDA), Relif Society of Tigray (REST), and Tigray HAPCO.
Further, ACSOT wants to expand its working relation with other Regional and National charities and societies like NECSO-Oromia, Resource Centre - SNNPR, APDF - Afar, BGDAN - Benishangul–Gumuz.
Legal and Loose ends
ACSOT definition of Civil Society:
The area of uncoerced collective action around shared interests, purposes and values.
List of all Federally Registered Members who adhere to the “Charities & Societies Proclamation Number 621/2009”
• Tigray Region Teacher’s Association
• Partner for Development Association
• Union Disability Association of Tigray
• Ethiopian Society of Sociologist, Social Workers and Anthropologists
• Ethiopia Siga Dewe Tetekiwoch Beherawi Mahiber
• Organization for Social Services for AIDs
• Family Umbrella Association
• Save Generation Association Tigray
• Human to Human AID Program
• Vision in Action Social & Development Association
• Daughters of Charity
• The Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission
• Human Being Association of Brotherhood
• Tigray Development Association
• United Evangelical Church Association
• Children & Youth Welfare & Development Association
• Ethiopian National Assocaition on Intellectual Disabilities
• Welfare Association Arch Bishop Yohannes
• Quality of Education for Sustainable Development Association
• Relif Society of Tigray
• Mums for Mums
• Chora Abuguda Association
• Operation Rescue Ethiopia
• Champions of Change HIV positive Demobilized Fighters Association of Tigray
• Lola Children’s Home for HIV Orphans
• New Vision HIV Positive Association
• Nesanet HIV ve Associaiton Tigray
• Rese Debriteka Senior Citizens case support Assocaition
• SOS Children Village Mekelle
• Nur-Selam HIV positive Muslim Association of Tigray
• Hdasea HIV positive Association Tigray
• Ethiopian National Association of the Blind
• Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development & Inter-Church Aid Commission
• Progressive Ethiopian Women Development Associaton
• African Service Committee
• Bright African intergration
NOTE: ACSOT is a transparent organization that promotes accountability and good goverenance not only in its ranks but amongst its members inclusivly. If anyone has further questions on ACSOT operations or how one can get involved please feel free to contact us.
Address: Kahsa Building, 1st floor, Rooms 104& 105, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Contact: Ato Zemicael G/Medhin
Executive Director ACSOT
Tel: 034.440.03.53
Mobile: 094.77.00.96
Email: acsot@ethionet.et
acsot 