17 Families.
One Promise.
30 Years.

On Saturday, the time had come to say goodbye to the Meno Highlands. After a final shared breakfast, our luggage was loaded back onto and into the jeep, and nothing stood in the way of our return journey to Hawassa. Upon our arrival in Hawassa, we rewarded ourselves with a refreshing shower. In the evening, Kira, Max, Tamiru aka Mr. Amboma, and Abayneh aka Tino enjoyed a drink or two. At the same time, Mr. Amboma showed us his counterparts (real hyenas), or maybe they were cows, who knows. On Sunday, we were invited to attend a church service. We were greeted with a whole new way of celebrating the service. The three hours were filled with a lively and active community, an emotional sermon, and moving songs. After this intense experience, we recharged at the hotel and set off in the afternoon with Tino, Mr. Amboma, and Julia to Lake Hawassa. A bumpy boat tour gave us another beautiful view of the city and nature. Unfortunately, the hippos decided to hide from us, probably engaged in an intense dive with scuba gear. There are still a few days left for that introduction. After we successfully arrived back on shore as a team, we ended the evening at a rooftop bar with pizza. We would like to share the following with you: We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the Meno Highlands. We are truly incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to embark on a journey that one normally wouldn’t or couldn’t take. The people welcomed us warmly and cared for us as if we were part of the family - they even referred to us as such! We have grown very fond of the entire Meno Highlands and its residents. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! Goodbye for now Greta, Max, and Kira

January 29, 2023 Today it was time to say goodbye. In Sidame: Kere Kesche - Goodbye. While we packed our things and waited for the jeep, we heard the typical Ethiopian choir from the church next door. Before the church service, several dignitaries from Meno, including the pastor, came for an "audience" in Denbeshu's hut. It was a hello and goodbye. At 11:45, or "punctually at 8:00 AM," as promised by the driver, we set off. The driver Mabratu had been in the military; his eyes revealed that he must have seen terrible things in the war. He fears nothing, not even speeding down the seemingly vertical bumpy road. We were relieved when we passed the most difficult parts and continued on an asphalt road. Regarding the daring overtaking maneuvers on National Road A8, we can only say: Thank goodness we survived! Back in Hawassa, we were invited by Denbeshu to a farewell dinner at his home. Along with his family, some nephews also came to say goodbye to us in person.

Yesterday, we set off for the Meno Highlands. After waiting for 3 hours, the jeep finally arrived. Happy that we and our luggage fit inside, we drove off, unaware that we would have a few more passengers. Once everyone was in the car, the ride became faster. We sped up the mountains, and throughout the journey, we mostly laughed, either out of joy or despair, who knows. In the evening, we were warmly welcomed at Denbeshu's hut, along with some delicious food. After a restful night, we headed to the tree nursery this morning, where Denbeshu showed us his land on the way there and back. The workers at the nursery demonstrated their work very clearly, and we were able to ask many questions. We are very impressed by the unbelievably beautiful landscape. We enjoy every second without noise, cars, tall buildings, SUVs, stress, industry, SUVs, and oh yes, SUVs! Right now, we are all together in Denbeshu's garden, enjoying the sun! Take care, our dear ones, see you soon, depending on how the internet god allows! Best regards, Greta, Max, and Kira

January 27, 2023 In the past few days, we have seen Mount Meno from various angles. Today, we undertook a hike to the 3075m high summit. After quite a strenuous effort, we were rewarded with a magnificent view of the lowlands and distant mountains. In the afternoon, we played football. Some neighborhood boys joined in. The challenge was to keep the ball from rolling down into the valley. The barley is currently in full ripeness, and there is general harvesting activity. Today, it was Denbeshus' field, so several harvest helpers began to reap his barley field in the morning. A small portion of the harvested barley has already been threshed and roasted over an open fire. The crispy barley grains taste very good with coffee.

Time flies, and our time in Ethiopia has already come to an end. We spent the last two days of our trip in Addis Ababa. We explored the city a bit, but unfortunately not as extensively as we had hoped. A day filled with police and pickpockets disrupted our sightseeing plans. Nevertheless, we were able to talk a lot about our experiences from the past two weeks during our time in Addis Ababa and to prepare ourselves for Germany again. We are curious to see how we will settle back into our home and look forward to conversations with friends, family, and everyone else. Thank you for taking the time to read our admittedly very irregular updates! Please feel free to share our blog with everyone you know and talk passionately about the project. What we have experienced through our journey makes the club's mission much more tangible, so if you are interested in hearing and seeing our experiences in more detail, please feel free to reach out to us or join us on April 26, 2024, at 7 PM at Sebastian-Bach-Str. 13 in Dresden. Thank you very much for your attention. See you soon. Goodbye. Yours, Max, Greta, and Kira

First of all, dear ones, please forgive us for not keeping you updated yesterday! Time is flying. Yesterday was also our last active day up here in the Meno Highlands. Max and Kira set off again with the usual suspects Ermias, Tamiru, Abayneh, and Denbeshu was also with us. Greta preferred to stay in the hut to avoid another confrontation with the sun. We visited the farmer Jombeh and were allowed to tour his land; he showed us everything. We were simply impressed by his work. Just entering his property gave great expectations. What he does is still unique. His commitment and willingness to learn, to continuously improve his work, is truly remarkable! For lunch, we were served very delicious food and fresh honey harvest for dessert. We then took motorbikes towards Denbeshus' hut, making a stop in the town of Tutitscha. Strengthened with coffee, tea, and local beer, we cruised the last stretch towards the hut. Upon arrival, we were finally reunited with Greta, who had also spent a relaxing day with Julia, enjoying many walks, conversations, and the view in the shade. In the evening, we went to bed early, as a rest day awaited us. Today, we enjoyed our peace, had a late breakfast, sat by the water, observed the animals, read, and sketched. Until we were startled from our tranquility by the cry of the Ambomos. Finally, there was food! With full stomachs, we continued to relax, sitting together in the garden until we decided to become a bit active. We took another short walk and enjoyed a beautiful view of the sunset. Now we are back and will soon go to sleep. We wish you all the best! Goodbye. Kira, Max, and Greta

We evaluate the effects of bamboo leaf supplementation on feed intake, body weight gain, and carcass yield of Arsi Bale lambs. Eight treatments were used with different levels of inclusions at 150 g (T2), 300 g (T3), and 450 g (T4) in both groups (i.e., indoor-fed vs. grazed in the field). T1 and T5 were control treatments for indoor-fed and those grazed in the field, respectively. A 2 x 4 factorial experiment was used with T1-T4 for indoor feeding and T5 -T8 for those grazed in the field. Carcass evaluation was carried out for all lambs. Feed analysis and evaluation of the nutritional quality of feed samples were examined. The results showed a significant (P < 0.000) increase in the nutrient and dry matter (DM) intake and growth performance of lambs with increased levels of bamboo leaves supplementation. There was a significant (P < 0.000) increase in the average daily gain of indoor-fed lambs from 33.33 to 62.67 g/day. The feed conversion efficiency of indoor-fed lambs was within the range of 0.057 to 0.084. The results confirmed that fresh bamboo leaf supplementation had a positive effect on the growth performance and carcass yields of lambs with improved DM intake. We suggest that the inclusion of fresh bamboo leaves is crucial to improve the performance of lambs. Increased inclusion of bamboo leaf supplementation in the lambs' diet resulted in improved body weight gain and would be a viable option to boost sheep production. The above paragraph is the abstract of one of the articles of my PhD thesis. The feeding trial of lambs was conducted in Meno highland using grass cut from area exclosures, bamboo leaf and field grazing. Mountain bamboo is one of the major plants covering the forest of Meno highland. About 10 years ago, the bamboo coverage was much higher than today's coverage. It is declining at an alarming rate due to deforestation. The deforestation of bamboo is happening because of bamboo's multipurpose use. It is used for the construction of houses, fences, baskets, house furniture, and as livestock feed. Bamboo is evergreen and used as livestock feed in the dry season when grass becomes scarce and dry. Nowadays, the deforestation is getting more intense and rapidly progressing due to human and livestock population growth. The Meno highland project is working against the bamboo and other forest trees deforestation by employing area exclosures project, where plots of individual grazing lands are closed, hindering the free access of humans and animals to the closed land. Area exclosures help the bamboo population to regenerate by quick growth and multiplication. This action protects the natural environment from degradation and contributes to the sustainable use of natural resources. Therefore, any person interested in supporting the sustainable use of bamboo and environmental protection is invited to take part in supporting the Meno highland project financially.

We warmly invite you to the general meeting again in person: on Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 3:00 PM to approximately 5:30 PM at the Evangelical Reconciliation Church in Koblenz-Arenberg and also online The general meeting will begin with the handling of internal club formalities, and from 4:00 PM, there will be a presentation on the project status and the current situation in the Meno highland with a slide show. Additionally, Kira Lorentz will share her experiences and impressions that she and her friends gained during their trip to the Meno highland in March of this year. Guests are warmly welcome for the second part, where the slide show will take place. Feel free to invite friends, relatives, and acquaintances.

on Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 3:00 PM to approximately 5:30 PM at the Evangelical Reconciliation Church in Koblenz-Arenberg and also online Our general meeting will begin, as always, with the handling of internal club formalities. An amendment to the bylaws must also be carried out to ensure the non-profit status of the association can continue. Subsequently, we will present the current status of project phase III. As phase III of our project in the Meno highland is nearing its end, we would like to discuss the objectives and contents of a possible new project phase with you. A draft concept for project phase IV will be presented. We look forward to your questions, suggestions, and the opportunity for mutual exchange! As preliminary information, you can view a presentation on the current status of the project.

After the Corona period, we held our first in-person members' meeting again, with some members joining via video. The technology worked well, allowing for discussions.

January 28, 2023 Today is the last day in the Meno Highlands. After the eventful and intense days, we took a rest day. We sat in the garden and enjoyed the view of the beautiful landscape. In between, there was an official board meeting of the farmers' cooperative in Denbeshus Garden, which Helmut attended. This provided insight into the work of the cooperative, including the challenges and discussions of potential solutions. Farmer Gimbio, who has made his land available for the nursery in Soka-Sonicho, rode the long way to Denbeshus' house to see us and say goodbye.

It has been quiet for a while, but we are back with news for you! The working group has successfully secured funding for a beekeeping project in the Meno Highlands, made possible by the Development Policy State Network of Rhineland-Palatinate (ELAN, https://elan-rlp.de/). The project has already started; since September, our Ethiopian community has been able to implement the first steps. Denbeshu and Ermias have managed to acquire 21 modern beehives and transport them from Hawassa to the Meno Highlands. These have been distributed to 8 farmers: - Tanana Bunana - Legesse Bune - Kassahun Dawalke - Bona Bunura - Keba Arusa - Girma Nega - Asefa Debeko - Weleso Menka All farmers, except for Bona Bunura, already practice traditional beekeeping. However, he is willing to engage with modern beekeeping and keep bees himself. The traditionally kept bee colonies were transferred into the modern beehives, although the farmers faced challenges due to bad weather. There is a lot to consider in this process, so we will briefly introduce you to how a beehive is structured and how it needs to be populated to increase the population. The beehive is divided into three boxes: the brood box at the bottom and two boxes above for honey production. It is important that the bees are placed in the lowest brood box, which is intended for the queen bee and her brood. The upper boxes will then be populated by the bees themselves after successful acclimatization, reproduction, or swarming, and used for honey production. You might be wondering: Why did we even initiate a project to modernize beekeeping in the Meno Highlands? We are happy to explain that to you. The goal is to create a financially rewarding way of farming. The production of honey on a larger scale than before should ideally enable the sale of honey and provide an income source for the farmers. At the same time, the idea of modern beekeeping should be shared with other farmers, creating a kind of demonstration site. We are grateful for the support from ELAN and the positive and motivated response from the farmers in the Meno Highlands. We hope that something wonderful can emerge from this. We will keep you updated on further news about the beekeeping project and, of course, about the general work of the association! Warmest regards to everyone!

In the morning, we were picked up by Denbeshu, Abayneh, and Tamiru and drove to the Haile Resort. With a beautiful view, we enjoyed our drinks. It felt as if we had suddenly immersed ourselves in another world. The contrast to the city was remarkable. For lunch, we continued to a local restaurant. Greta, Abayneh, and Kira took a taxi. The brothers Tamiru and Max cruised behind on the motorcycle and had everything under control. Upon arrival, we were served a local dish called Injera. It was very delicious and, to Denbeshu's relief, also super healthy! After we finished eating, we went to Denbeshu's house, where we had the pleasure of meeting his family. We were warmly welcomed with coffee and roasted barley. We ended the evening with a walk back to the hotel. Tomorrow, we will head to the Meno Highlands, and we are looking forward to it! See you tomorrow Lgggg

We made it, we have arrived. The first impression: warm, sunny, and green! After a very warm welcome, we drove from the airport into the city. Even during the drive, we got a first glimpse of the beautiful landscape. After resting a bit and recharging our energy, we headed to a small café in the city center. There, the first local meal awaited us: a very delicious avocado salad, along with fresh juices. We then continued, together with Denbeshu, Ermias, Tamrui, and David, walking along Lake Awassa - our personal highlight of the day. There, we were greeted by monkeys, cranes, and various goats, who accompanied us along the way. After a short break by the water, we headed back to our accommodation to be well-rested for the next day. We are looking forward to tomorrow and are excited about what awaits us! Kira, Greta, and Max

Our luggage is checked in, provisions are in the bag. We have gathered at the gate and are now starting our journey to the Meno Highlands. We look forward to enriching encounters and an exciting time. We will keep you updated here for the next two weeks. Have fun! Greta, Max, and Kira

MenoVerein_ Newsletter No. 52 (PDF, 245 KB) – as the association's newsletter with news from the Meno Highlands.

MenoVerein_ Newsletter from 28.08.2024 (PDF, 127 KB) – with new information from the association and the Meno Highlands.

Exclosures are a type of land management that is usually implemented on degraded lands for environmental restoration. Area Exclosure in the Ethiopian context can be defined as degraded land that has been excluded from human and livestock interference for restoration. Establishment of exclosures has been an important strategy for the restoration of degraded hillsides. This practice has become very common since the early 1980s, especially in the highlands of Ethiopia, due to the impressive improvement of productivity and reduction in soil erosion within enclosed areas. Exclosures established are effective in restoring species composition, diversity, and biomass yield of degraded grazing lands, factors that normally lead to improved ecosystem function and health. Exclosure is a cheap and fast mechanism for restoring degraded lands. Land degradation refers to the worsening of land resources and hence decreasing the sustainable productive capacity of agricultural lands in the world. In the Meno highland, Sidama, Ethiopia, exclosures are established in private grazing lands in agreements with the landowner farmers. In the agreement, it is stated that the farmer obliges himself to close his land for a period of five years, during which time he plants indigenous tree seedlings inside the land; in turn, the project agrees to give him 5000 ETB/ha as a premium after completion of 5 years. This demands a lot of money from the project. The farmers who own area exclosures plant not only tree seedlings inside but also improved grasses so that there is increased grass production. The natural and planted grasses will be used by the cut-carry method to feed animals kept indoors. Indoor feeding of animals is advantageous in that it conserves energy spent for movement in search of grass in free grazing lands. When animals are fed indoors, this energy will be converted to animal products like milk and meat. When you feed animals indoors, you don't tie them in stalls for 24 hours; rather, you let them move freely to exercise around the homestead where they can also exhibit their natural behavior, but you don't let them enter the area exclosures. Another advantage of indoor feeding is that land degradation caused by overgrazing and trampling is prevented. However, indoor feeding also has disadvantages in that by the cut-carry method, you only take cut grasses out of the land, and hence, there is a chance for nutrient depletion from the land. In order to balance this phenomenon, you need to distribute animal wastes (dung and urine) into the area exclosures to replace the nutrients taken out with cut grasses; this is called nutrient recycling. Area exclosures also provide abundant flowering plants which could be used as bee forage to increase honey production.

January 26, 2023 After breakfast, we walked through Denbeshus' orchard, where apple and pear trees grow and two beehives are located. We discussed our project and the challenge of convincing farmers to implement the area-exclosure project and how to engage more farmers in our initiative. In the morning, Meseret and Skinder from the GIZ office in Hawassa, as well as Dr. Tesfalem from Hawassa University, visited the Meno Highlands. They gained insight into our project work by visiting the nursery in Soka-Sonicho and meeting some farmers participating in the area-exclosure program. They were very impressed by the successes of our previous work and expressed their willingness to support us in the future. During a concluding discussion in Denbeshus' garden, we enthusiastically explored ways in which this support could take shape. In the afternoon, we spoke with some farmers from the current board of the cooperative. They explained their current situation, which is particularly challenging in the dairy business for various reasons. We discussed potential solutions to improve the current situation. The day ended with a plentiful and delicious meal at Denbeshus' hut, surrounded by his lively circle of friends and family.

January 25, 2023 In search of good internet, we hiked up to the school hill this morning on Denbeshus' recommendation. Although the internet signal was still very weak, the interest from about 200 students in us white outsiders was much stronger. Denbeshu had told us a lot about his agriculture in the Meno Highlands. He has developed a farming model in line with the area-exclosure project that can be showcased as a best practice to the farmers. Today, he guided us through his area-exclosure zone and the cow, goat, and sheep barn, explaining the key features. We walked down the slope of Denbeshus' property to the nursery located in the valley. There, we met the workers and managers, Bona and Asefa. Back at Denbeshus' hut, we enjoyed freshly prepared beef. In the Meno Highlands, meat is only served on special occasions. In our honor, a calf was specially slaughtered. In the afternoon, we hiked to several farmers participating in the area-exclosure project.

January 24, 2023 Today was the day. Around 9 a.m., Denbeshu, Ermias, Tamrui, and Mabratu arrived with the jeep in front of our hotel. We quickly loaded our luggage and set off. Our first stop was the nursery in Soka-Sonicho. Tariku showed us the successes in raising seedlings. After a large portion of kotcho, we continued our journey to Juradula. Juradula is a farmer who has only recently joined the area-exclosure project. He spoke with us about his expectations and concerns. The last stop for today was Tuchita. We first visited Jombi. He has successfully adapted and implemented the Meno project out of his own motivation: he has planted numerous apple trees in his area-exclosure zone, breeds bees, and keeps dairy cows. He sells his products at the market in town. From the proceeds, he can live relatively well. To conclude, we also visited the milk bar in Tuchita. After all that, we drove to Denbeshus' hut, where we were already awaited by Tigist and many friends and relatives. By the open fire and with laughter, we ended the evening.

This morning, Ermias and Tamrui picked us up for an excursion to Lake Awassa. We arrived just in time to see the fishermen preparing their nets for the next trip. The caught fish attracted a lot of birds, especially marabou storks. In the nearby forest, (rather fearless) monkeys were climbing through the trees. Around noon, we had our first official meeting of the day at Denbeshus Buero. We discussed possible collaborations with his colleagues from the Seqota project. Over a delicious lunch, we discussed project ideas for further development. The lunch also served as preparation for our meeting with Mr. Meseret from the GIZ department in Hawassa. After presenting our project to Meseret, he was spontaneously enthusiastic and wants to visit us with his colleague during our stay in the Meno Highlands. This way, he can get a firsthand impression of the Meno project. Such a meeting couldn't have gone better. The Seqota team and the GIZ have received the Meno project positively. We sincerely hope that concrete collaborations will materialize in the near future. Tomorrow, we will drive to the Meno Highlands by jeep. We hope to have sufficient internet reception there to write new contributions.

Today, we attended the service at the Mekkane Jesu Church. It belongs to the Lutheran World Federation. However, the service is not comparable to our contemplative ones in Germany. A large gospel choir, accompanied by keyboard and bass guitar, leads the singing. The congregation sings and calls along. In the afternoon, we visited Ermias and Tamrui Shugute, Denbeshu's wife, and their lovely daughters. There was freshly brewed coffee. The coffee beans are from bushes in Denbeshu's garden. With the children, Wolle played Uno. Then we enjoyed delicious mango-avocado juice.

Today, we safely arrived in Awassa. Denbeshu, his son Ermias, and Debeshus' nephew gave us a warm welcome at the airport and took us to the hotel. Over a delicious Ethiopian meal, we made plans for our trip to the Meno Highlands. We ended the evening with a spontaneous boat tour on Lake Awassa.

We landed safely in Addis Ababa this morning. On our way to GIZ, we stumbled upon the celebrations of the Epiphany festival. It is celebrated here on a grand scale with a procession in the streets. There is singing and dancing. After our first Ethiopian coffee, we were able to present our project to GIZ. The initial reactions were positive. We will have another meeting with the GIZ branch in Awassa on Monday to discuss a potential collaboration.

The day after tomorrow, from Thursday, January 19, 2023, until January 31, 2023, we (Wolfram Schmidt and Helmut Lorentz) will be traveling to Ethiopia's Meno Highlands. We will fly via Cairo and Addis Ababa to Awassa, where Denbeshu lives. From there, we will spend 5 days in the Meno Highlands. In two meetings with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), we will explore a potential collaboration. In the Meno Highlands, we will visit the tree nursery, the bulls, the milk shop, and AreaEyclosure, talk to farmers, and meet the cooperative. In this block, we will keep you updated.

On May 1st, the city of Koblenz invited the local associations to honor their volunteer work. After 2 years of COVID, many associations have been affected by the restrictions, said Mayor Langner in the fully occupied Kaisersaal of the castle in front of about 450 representatives of associations. He promised the associations the greatest possible support to promote the important role of associations in social life and thanked the representatives for their ongoing commitment. The Meno Association was represented on-site by Elfriede Wollmann-Köthe and Harald Köthe with a small stand, explaining to Mayor Langner, the organizer Mr. Mannebach, and many other interested parties the tasks and working methods of the association.

So here it is: Denbeshu's new motorcycle. Thanks to generous donations, we were able to make this purchase a few weeks ago. Until now, Denbeshu had to walk the last kilometers to the new project areas. Given the local conditions, this meant hours of marching. With the motorcycle he bought used, he can now reach the remote villages faster and with a bit more comfort. Thank you to everyone who supports our project!

At our virtual working group meeting last week, Denbeshu Debeko was able to participate again. He reported that the nursery in Soka Sonichu has now been put into operation. The planned hut has been built and beds have been created. The first seedlings are to be distributed to the farmers in September. The topic was also the urgently needed motorcycle, which should help Denbeshu reach the highlands faster and more easily. Currently, we lack the financial means for this. We are looking for donations or perhaps a motorcycle club that would like to get involved. We would greatly appreciate any tips, ideas, or contacts! The next larger virtual meeting with Denbeshu, which we discussed at the members' meeting, is scheduled for Sunday, September 19, 2021, in the afternoon. Please mark your calendars; an invitation will be sent out in due time!

Our first virtual members' meeting has just concluded. The minutes will be available soon. Therefore, just a small personal feedback: Denbeshu experienced a power outage again, so he and his nephew unfortunately could not participate. Nevertheless, it was very nice and motivating for us "newcomers" in the association to meet the founding members who have brought the entire project to life together with Denbeshu. We hope to continue fostering our community even during Corona times and have planned further virtual meetings without a formal agenda. Perhaps the power will work in Awassa this time, and Denbeshu and Takka can join us. Guests are warmly welcome. If you would like to participate, please send us an email at meno-hochland@gmx.de!

The second phase of our project is truly coming to an end. Denbeshu is preparing the handover of the certificates and "rewards". Here you can see what the certificates look like in both Amharic and English: He is also in the process of creating the final report to accurately document what has been achieved over the past five years. In our last Skype conference, he reported that the 17 families who successfully completed the phase have significantly improved their living conditions while also making a visible contribution to reforestation in the area. According to his accounts, the women can now pay for their children's school fees solely from the sale of milk. Therefore, the "rewards" that are now being distributed are more of a small bonus for the courage and pioneering spirit that the participants have shown in joining the project. It took a long breath - according to Denbeshu, three years! - for the effects of the project to unfold. Many who initially wanted to participate dropped out early. Now, the successes of the project are clearly visible. According to Denbeshu's study, the tree population has increased by 20%. Denbeshu is confident that now, even without the project in the background, more farmers in Meno-Mollo will take advantage of the newly established methods. The cooperative continues to support this. And more good news: Denbeshu will be getting an internet connection in his house. This will surely significantly improve communication between Koblenz, Dresden, and Awassa!

Over the last twenty years, a new form of management has been introduced in the Meno highlands during the first two phases of our project. The focus has been on reforestation of the heavily erosion-prone, hilly, rainy, and overgrazed landscape. The third phase of our project is set to start next year. In this third phase, this type of management will also be introduced in the surrounding regions, as the people living there see the successes of their neighbors and want to participate in the project as well. To expand the project to the surrounding Kebeles (the smallest administrative units in Ethiopia), the administrations of the Kebeles must first be convinced. They will then consult with the district administrations, which must grant permission for the project. Project leader Debeko has been traveling in the highlands over the past weeks to speak with the Kebele administrations. Now we are eagerly awaiting the results of the consultations with the district administrations and the hopefully granted permissions that will follow. New for us in this phase is the administrative management of the project by the cooperatives that were established in the second project phase. Their work in the project is monitored by the district administrations. For us, this means that new processes for collaboration with our association need to be established. Additionally, an independent organization in Ethiopia must be found to oversee the project alongside the district administrations. Communication with project leader Denbeshu is particularly important at the moment. Many details need to be discussed. Currently, this is somewhat challenging. Denbeshu is using the Wi-Fi connection of a hotel to Skype with us. This only works for an hour at a time. We want to improve the situation and have asked Denbeshu to obtain quotes for an internet connection in his house. This would greatly facilitate communication.