Advertisement
Published: September 30th 2009
What a great name to a great community... we found some info in the guide: It's a small community, isolated, secular, believes that education is the key to development so one can find adults attending primary school, they are socialists, they believe in Gender equality and children’s rights, the kids are not allowed to beg money from foreigners and visitors, the community charges the same price from locals and Faranji (white people) and the best way to support them is to buy the woven products they sell. We read, we were amazed, we thought it's interesting and surprising so we go on the bus. OH YEAH!!!! I'm inlove!!!! Yes, my next trip to Ethiopia is planned!!!
AWRAMBA I have to check that they really stand for what they declare. They are not secular, they believe in one creator, they didn't name him, the community members can believe as they wish... We got there on Tuesday; it's the community work day. Every Tuesday, they all work for the community, the productions and the money made from it goes to the community and helping the poor and the weak. EVERYONE works together: men and women are sitting under the tree, sharing the work.
They believe in honesty and love for all human beings. Children and women are respected and equal to male adults. They believe in good practice and in preventing disputes, they believe that if people will be good and nice to each other, it will bring good to everyone. The philosophy seems a bit naive to the cynical western visitor. To those who know Africa and the African culture it's a miracle: a social kibbutz here?? They follow the rules of equality, education, social aid to those whom are in need. Those practices are not common (so say the least) in this continent, and, hate to say it, but also in other “developed” areas.
I could have written a lot more, I was so impressed with this place, and I just see that the technological difficulties are interrupting with my ability to explain. It took me 45 minutes to write what took u all 2 minutes to read and 180 minutes to upload the photos, in 3 different internet cafe (in a way, it’s like cooking ;-) )
The internet keeps cutting off, refreshing, freezing, whatever one can think of (if you are above 30 and remember the days that internet
connection had started). I can just say that I was impressed with the story, I was impressed with the buildings, I was impressed with the elderly people's home, I was impressed with what this people are doing with the little they have, and they are creating amazing houses and furniture from the same sources every African village has: mud. The difference is that they create it esthetically, while thinking of energy saving, while thinking of the need of having furniture, and the possibility to create them from the same mud, not only the basic needs for cover and walls and then sitting on the floors with the fire in the middle of the house, and the smoke is everywhere. I hope the photos will explain some of what I was so impressed about. Those of you whom have been to Africa would understand what I'm talking about. Would understand why I've decided to go back and study this community, looks like my PHD thoughts are getting a little more focused now. For now, the idea is to come back here for few weeks and study them, the culture, the houses. I think that this community might interest everyone, especially the
Anthropologists, environmentalists, engineers, architects, sociologists etc... and there are lots of you on my list.. Anyone wanna join?
Epilogue
This post is by far my most popular one. Every day a new person who does not know me reads it, every week one of those people contacts me, asking for some information.
As I look back to my visit in Awra Amba I feel strongly that this is a truly unique community with important ideas that should be spread as wide as possible, to be an example of what people can achieve.
This village, and its unique ways are a food-for-thought when dealing with the issues that are being discussed this days of global financial crisis, cultures, values and religion (and violent acts in the name of religion and god) I believe that this community is the answer to those issues.
One of the people who have contact me about this blog is Paulina Tervo who is a film director that had visited Awra Amba and documented them. She’d also built an
official website and, like me, feels very strongly about this community. I do hope that my post and Paulina’s website would help others to know this
community better in hope for a better world
Advertisement
Tot: 0.106s; Tpl: 0.015s; cc: 9; qc: 29; dbt: 0.0345s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
roberta
non-member comment
very interesting indeed! I cannot join for now (I'll explain when we'll have a Skype session) but will be happy to visit you there take care and be well ciao cara, baci!