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Blue Nile Children's Organization is run by a small staff and volunteers, both in Seattle and in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Many of our projects can be benefited by additional volunteers or interns. If you are interested in working for BNCO or would like to comment or ask questions please contact us!

 

Amharic is the national language of Ethiopia and therefore is most widely used although Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya are also prevalent. Amharic is the first language of the Amhara and a second language for other ethnic groups. Some Amharic language-learning materials you might benefit from include a CD-ROM from EuroTalk, an audio CD series from Amazon, and downloadable lessons from the Foreign Service Institute. Share your recommendations with us!

 

Religion is a very important part of Ethiopian culture, with Orthodox Christians outnumbering Muslims (45% to 35%). Christians are more prevalent in the highlands and Muslims predominate the eastern, southern and western lowlands. Orthodox Christianity stems from Judaism as is evidenced by food restrictions and the traditional round church layout. Fundamental Islamic practice is rare in Ethiopia, and women rarely wear the full hijab (veil) although will wear headscarves. A small percentage of Ethiopians are said to prescribe to traditional or animistic beliefs (11%), but even some Christians may believe in magic or utilize talismans and charms for occasions such as baptism.

 

Social customs include a nod or head bow to show respect, thanks or appreciation during greetings. Ethiopians try to shake hands with everyone when they enter a room and will kiss cheeks (actually, touch cheek to cheek in a right, left, right fashion while making kissing noises) with friends or relatives. To address someone formally, preface one’s first name with Ato for men, Weizero for married women and Weizerit for unmarried women. When receiving a gift, extend both hands and extending only one can be viewed as a sign of ingratitude. In general, Ethiopians are conservative in dress and women traditionally never expose their shoulders, knees, cleavage or waist in public.

 

Unit of currency: Birr
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 12.55 Birr (at front desk of Ras Hotel in November 2009)
GDP per capita: $800 (2008). Ranked 74 of 180 countries (World Bank, 2007)

 

According to the Lonely Planet,i it’s best to carry US dollars in both cash and check. Lonely Planet also reported that there are no ATMs that accept foreign cards and credit cards are only accepted at a few hotels and airline offices with a hefty commission. In November 2009, however, some BNCO Mission Participants were able to use their ATM cards in Ethiopian ATM machines. Also, budget carefully and exchange only what you need, as converting birr back to US dollars is difficult. Lonely Planet reports that it can only be done for people holding exchange receipts and onward air tickets from Ethiopia. Some Mission Participants arrange to exchange their leftover birr for dollars with volunteers in the U.S. planning to go to Ethiopia at a later time.

 

The U.S. State Department maintains safety information for U.S. travelers to Ethiopia. There are currently no travel warnings in effect for Ethiopia. BNCO will register Mission participants' travel itineraries with the U.S. State Department. Mission participants traveling from other countries are encouraged to register their itinerary with their home country's equivalent.

 

Americans can obtain a one-month visa for $20 at Bole International Airport, which can be extended at the Department of Immigration (0111 553899) in Addis Ababa for a maximum of three months. This takes 24 hours and costs an additional $20.

 

BNCO prefers to obtain visas in advance from the Ethiopian embassy in the U.S. The Embassy issues both tourist and business visas, and BNCO will make a group application to obtain multi-entry, two-year visas for all U.S. Mission Participants. Details about visa applications are described in the Mission Registration form.

 

Mission Participants from other countries are advised to contact the Ethiopian embassy in their home country. Please contact the BNCO office staff if you require assistance.

 

The following vaccinations are currently recommended by the CDC:

 

1. Routine: Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots such as, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc.
2. Yellow Fever: Recommended for all travelers >9 months of age. Vaccination should be given 10 days before travel and at 10 year intervals if there is on-going risk. Certification of yellow fever vaccination is required for visa.
3. Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
4. Hepatitis B
5. Typhoid
6. Meningococcal (meningitis): Recommended if you plan to visit during December through June.
7. Rabies: Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or hiking. Also recommended for travelers with significant occupational risks (such as veterinarians), for long-term travelers and expatriates living in areas with a significant risk of exposure, and for travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals. We are currently inquiring about the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies in Addis Ababa.
8. Polio: Recommended for adult travelers who have received a primary series with either inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) or oral polio vaccine (OPV). They should receive another dose of IPV before departure. For adults, available data do not indicate the need for more than a single lifetime booster dose with IPV.

 

NOTE: If you travel outside of Addis Ababa, to malaria-endemic regions, you will also need malaria prophylaxis. (See below.)

 

Recommended First Aid Kit for pre/post Mission Travel

 

A good drying antiseptic (e.g., iodine). Do not take a cream.
A few small Band-Aids
Sunscreen
Insect repellant
Anti-malarial tablets (if traveling to lowlands)
Impregnated bed-net (check to see if provided by your arranged accommodations)
Aspirin
Antifungal cream
Ciprofloxacin
Alcohol-based hand wipes
Digital thermometer
Oral rehydration salts
Feminine hygiene products, yeast infection cream
Extra glasses or contacts and saline

 

The two main newspapers in Ethiopia are the Addis Zemen and the Ethiopian Herald both of which are state controlled. Other state censored news sources include Ethiopian TV and Radio. Prior to traveling, you can catch up on Ethiopian national news at the Ethiopian Press Agency website www.allafrica.com.

 

Some books about Ethiopia as recommended by the Lonely Planet and anecdotal reports are listed below. Please let us know of any additional books you’ve found useful:
The Sign and the Seal by Graham Hancock: a mystery about the Ark of the Covenant
Remote People and Waugh in Abyssinia by Evelyn Waugh: based on this correspondent’s experiences in Ethiopia in the 1930’s
A Cure for Serpents by the Duke of Pirajno: the narrative of a doctor in the Horn of Africa
Off the Beaten Trail by John Graham: based on the travels of an aid worker
In Search of King Solomon’s Mines by Tahir Shah: a quest for the mines of Solomon
The Mountains of Rasselas by Thomas Pakenham: a historical account of the country
There is No Me Without You by Melissa Green: a true story about a unique orphanage
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese: a new novel based on the life of this Ethiopian-born Stanford physician

 

World Resources Institute
World Health Organization
U.S. Census International Data Base Country Summaries
i. Phillips M. and Carillet JB. The Lonely Planet Guide to Ethiopia and Eritrea. 3rd edition, 2006.