The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with its affiliated institutions, launched the 2017 E.C. Annual Green Legacy Planting Program and Institutional Summer Volunteering Service in Dire Dawa City, aiming to reaffirm national commitment to environmental sustainability and promote inclusive development. The Green Legacy planting program officially commenced on Saturday (August 2), at the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone, following the delegation’s arrival the previous evening via the Ethio-Djibouti Railway.
Convening over 550 senior officials, executives, and staff from the Ministry and affiliated institutions, the initiative was honored by the presence of State Ministers Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye and Ambassador Hadera Abera, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya Bacha Debele, and the Mayor of Dire Dawa City Administration, Kedir Juhar.
During the event, Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye emphasized the Green Legacy initiative as a generational and transformative project, highlighting its vital role in advancing national environmental sustainability while contributing to global efforts that foster regional cooperation. He further underscored the initiative’s significance in strengthening national green development, combating climate change, preventing land degradation, enhancing agricultural productivity, and securing a sustainable and healthy environment for future generations.
Mayor Kedir Juhar of Dire Dawa, for his part, highlighted that the planting of over 700 million seedlings in a single day stands as a remarkable reflection of national unity and shared commitment.
In addition to the planting program, the event also featured an Institutional Summer Volunteering Service, comprising a cornerstone-laying ceremony for 20 homes for elderly and vulnerable residents, an effort organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in Kenya. The distribution of educational materials to 500 students in need was also carried out during the ceremony. These activities underscore the Ministry’s broader commitment to advancing national integration and social inclusivity.
The Green Legacy initiative reflects national commitment to environmental sustainability and resilient development. The Ministry reaffirmed, in this regard, its ongoing efforts to strengthen the program, ensuring that successive generations inherit a greener, more prosperous, and united nation.