Why Ethiopia?
In the mid-1980s Ethiopia’s droughts and consequent famine brought its desperate needs to everyone’s attention. Following a visit at that time, we established a community link between Exeter and a village in Ethiopia. Our aim is to encourage and support small but sustainable development projects – enabling communities and individuals to help themselves. We also want people in Exeter to understand the reality of life in Ethiopia – its ups and downs. We are a voluntary organisation with members mostly in Exeter and the Southwest, with a common interest in Africa and its development.

Where is Nekemte?
Our community link is now mainly with Nekemte, a large town in the district of Wellega in western Ethiopia, about 200 miles west of the capital Addis Ababa. We include the rural areas around Nekemte and a large village 60 miles away called Hareto where we began our link. We have made many visits to the area in the last 18 years and established contacts in schools, clinics, the hospital, library, teacher training college and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Mekane Yesus. The development arm of this last organisation is our local partner in Nekemte for project management.

See the location on Google Maps here