Ethiopians’ have century long wisdom and practices that refer as “Hidar Sitaten” comes from the indigenous social values to clean their environs once in a year on November 21 of each year. The inception of this practice coincide with a catastrophic disease that claim hundreds of thousand lives of Ethiopians due to communicable disease which commonly known ‘’Ye Hidar Beshita’’. The wise Emperor comprehends the root cause of the disease comes from inappropriate disposal of litter from the society and declare all citizen to clean every household & itsurrounding by collecting dirt and burn. The legacy of this Imperial practice holds true to mitigate the contemporary challenges of environment coupled with population growth and technology. This practice still active and yet can be presented and easily be adapted into modern environmental protection through commemorating the day and convey message to mainstream the prevailing environmental challenges. This initiative took the opportunity and proposes “Hidar Sitaten” (Go Clean) practice transcend into social movement to create awareness and knowledge regarding necessity and implementation of environmentally sound practices mainly solid waste management to reduce environmental impact on day to day life. Hence, this proposal envisages ‘’HIdar Sitaten’’ and will be celebrated on national level and particularly in Addis Ababa through organizing an educational and entertaining artistic event on November 21/2011.
The ‘Hidar Sitaten’ Initiatives is created by Sertse Firesbhat Printing and Advertizing Enterprise (SFPAE) and Cheetah Print and Advertising plc. Who are passionate about offering environmentally sound solutions to support Ethiopia’s transition towards environmentally sustainable development by promoting the indigenous practice of solid waste disposal through art and media. Sertse Firesbhat Printing and Advertizing Enterprise (SFPAE) founded in 2009 with the objectives to provide art and entertainment services to the public. Among others, the founder of the company does have appropriate qualification and a wealth of working experience related to Printing and Advertising sector. Despite SFPA emerged as a company recently, the founder of the company has been serving the Art industry for more than six years.
Both SFPAE and the sister company Cheetah Print and advertising plc have served on a number of national occasions as part of the major art related initiatives which has left a notable role in creating detailed awareness to the Ethiopian art family. And they continued mediating the above described responsible engagements through a number of ways. Streaming weekly Radio sessions (yetaem Liket), by organizing events on New Year week long Art Discourse, Organized vote campaign for Ethiopian Idol Finalists, Columnist on Ethiopian music and more. Professional art society associations, namely Alatinos film makers, The Ethiopian Copy rights and related Rights management, Ethiopian Musicians Association, Ethiopian Audio Visual printers Association, Ethiopian visual arts association are partner of this initiative. In these art centered roles the patronage and supports of governmental ministry was evident.
Our Companies, as a corporate social responsibility embark on the initiative ‘’ HIDAR SITATEN” centenary practice to transform into social movement to address environmental challenge of our time ‘’solid waste’’. Since our organization has good reputation and practical experience on endeavoring national issues set forth an initiatives on environment. The goals of the proposed project are to promote sustainable living and environmentally friendly alternatives to dispose solid waste.
Currently, Cheetah Print and advertising plc comprises a group of 10 professionals with appropriate qualification and extensive experience in the sector. For this particular initiative, an expert group that provides technical support has been established where artists, advocacy, public relations and communication specialists and event organizers are members of the technical team. The executive unit is well structured with different line departments including, Artists, Environmental Advisors, Administration and Finance, advocacy and mobilization responsible professionals, Event demonstration performers and the like.
Background
Addis Ababa is located in the central highland of the country with an elevation of 2400mts above sea level; this makes Addis Ababa the highest capital. Due to the elevation the climate is comfortable; with an average temperature between 20 and 25 degree Celsius. Addis Ababa is a growing metropolitan and seat for many International, United Nation Agencies, African Union, Bilateral organization and diplomatic hub of Africa coupled with its significance on economic, social and political arena escalated from time to time. Therefore, Addis Ababa should be clean and conducive for its resident as well as international community to sustain its metropolitan status. However, the city has many problems with regard to its solid waste management even though the city administration works to its level best to curve the problem which huge amount of waste created from households, manufacturing industries, construction sites and the business community at large. The city administration has set forth its objective to make the city a naturally balanced, clean green and favorable environment through the prevention of environmental pollution. To this effect the city administration having a commitment to clean and green environment established Sanitation, Beautification and Park Development Agency in January 2003. It also endorsed comprehensive waste management (Solid and Liquid waste) and Solid waste management policy. In addition to government efforts participation of the society and various actors in the cleaning and beautifying Addis Ababa enormously required. Such public participation requires multifaceted effort by government and stakeholders through educating, training, devising polices and creating social movement. Despite all these endeavors of the city administration and private actors, the problem of solid waste management still persists. The environmental pollution and health problem to solid waste has continued to plague. Addis Ababa is getting polluted due to an increase of solid wastes; residents continued to dispose waste along the roads, in ditches, rivers and open spaces, avenues and etc. of the city. Burning of waste in the backyard and open spaces, spontaneous combustion and haphazard incineration without proper treatment for gas emissions are causing air pollution. The situation is exacerbated in slums where household cannot make use of garbage collection facilities. These gaps must be addressed with a coordinated effort of the government and other stakeholders to reduce the waste and its impact. One of the golden opportunity to maneuver such social movement is to customize century long practice of residents to clean it’s environ each year on November one( Hidar 12 in Ethiopian Calendar), which commonly known as ‘’HIDAR SITATEN’’ as a platform to communicate with residents and capitalize its value to combat the prevailing situation.
Historical background of Hidar Sitaten
Ethiopians way of life and the coexistence with our environment are generally based on ordinary ways. So, it’s difficult to rate this livelihood founded on responsible manner, so that the growing demographic settlements would remain in a favorable coexistence with our environment. On the bases of the “Go Clean” initiatives preassessments that we carried out, we have learned that without big investments and expenditure there is a huge potential traditions which can be cultivated to attain the goals towards protecting and cleaning the environments.
“Go Clean” project initiative was designed with this optimistic know how to stress on waste handling and environmental cleaning heritages that once we had and adding value on the already existing practice and create responsible generation. Lack of proper waste management has caused evident damage on our capital and across Ethiopia’s cleanliness and beauty. This had left its own impact on the travelers came to the country. Furthermore, the consequences on the society’s health are a well known fact.
The ancestral heritage that we inherited and known as “ Hidar Sitaten” is a reminder to cause it was started as a result of past health problems thought to be happened from unhygienic environment. But, to live in clean and beautiful Addis Ababa is in the best interest of all citizens although such initiatives aren’t witnessed in a big scale. Looking at the general complexion of the tasks magnitude it’s impossible to reach everyone’s ultimate dream “cleanest Addis” with single organizational movement. It’s the responsibility of all inhabitants as an issue that matters a lot to all Ethiopians. There needs to be a practical know how on traditions of waste management and environment protection. These days the practices which almost became a social norms like not just wanting to see one’s compound dirty and not caring for the surrounding environment is one example. This is what the “Go Clean” initiative works towards eradicating.
Project Objectives
The overall objective of the project is twofold. It aims to raise the greater population’s participation, awareness and knowledge regarding necessity and implementation of environmentally sound practices of sustainable solid waste management. At the same time it aims at recognizing century long indigenous practice of waste disposals commonly known as ‘’ Hidar Sitaten” to advocate environment by celebrating the day. The specific objectives of the project comprise Serve as a perfect platform to draw the attention of the public to their role in environmental aspects. Provide opportunities for networking and collaboration among and between stakeholders. Provide organizations that work in the area of environmental protection and the promotion of sustainable living. Carry out significant step to refresh the historical foundations and facts of “Hidar Sitaten” to the future generation, youth and willingly accept the initiatives cleaning environment motive and handover the vitality of this tradition to generations ahead. To motivate the society on the environmental protection and cleaning. To acquaint all inhabitants about the nature of different wastes and to create awareness on the proper way of waste avoiding. To exploit the influential role of music to mold and create environmentally conscious and responsible citizens. Founded on the great historical tradition to regard the changed practices of the youth’s exemplary role known to the rest of the world. To create supportive society mindset using this venue of environmental coordination to different producers, industries and trading agencies and strengthen relationships based on these values
Project activities
The Hidar Sitaten project will be lunched and implemented in Addis Ababa city administration and will benefit its resident. This “HIDAR SITATEN” project is expected to be launched at NATIONAL THEATHER in Addis Ababa, on November 19, 2012 G.C. for the Second time with different Art events and continue the years to come. It will be held with participants from different societal representatives.
- Project launching
- Stakeholders meeting Training for school Environmental clubs
- Organize a walk for the project “Go Clean”
- Organize a Panel discussion with the name of the project “Go Clean”
- Organize art exhibitions in the theme of the project “Go Clean”
- Organize “Cleanest School Competition” in collaboration with governmental and nongovernmental organizations
- Conduct big art show which include fine art, music and documentary films.
- The events included environmental related practices and Musical performances by Famous singers, different music bands and the like;
- Arrange experience sharing sessions with the selected schools by inviting knowledgeable celebrities among the art society.
- Disseminating the “Go Clean” initiative objectives through art, electronic and printed Medias.
- Release a song two weeks earlier to the celebration using all Medias; that was recorded by young singer (Chelina Yeshiwondm)to let all citizens grab the very idea of the initiative.
- The song will have a high class music video is going to be released equally.
- Conduct music show on the eve of the “Go Clean” celebration with popular singers to the public
- Identify celebrities and honor ambassadorship of the initiative that will visit the schools and convey initiatives message to the youth.
- Project Review meeting
- Project documentation
- Project Monitoring and evaluation
Project outputs
One big event to launch Hidar Sitaten project and commemorate the day and celebrate throughout the month with different art shows to convey the message. Stakeholders network towards the objectives of Hidar Sitaten established Disseminate environmental messages through Art, print and electronic media Research document on the cultural values of Hidar sitaten and its legacy to mitigate the current environmental challenges produced.
Anticipated Results
The project will bring together community groups, businesses, nonprofit organization, government agencies and citizens to share knowledge about new environmentally friendly living and ideas that can immediately change people’s attitude and help bring about a more sustainable future. Its success will depend on educating and mobilizing the public across Ethiopia, and turning the environmental challenge into an ‘action multiplier’ that catalyzes social movements.
Project Strategy
Formations of strategic partnership with stakeholders (GO, NGO, INGO, CBOs and school and form task force to lead the project, propose policies and advocate the implementation of the existing policies. Initiate research and document the existing practices Initiate and manage fund raising to ensure the project sustainability Information dissemination through schools environment club to initiate social movement among school community Address the general public through art and media to instigate to the social movement in collaboration of City Administration, Sub cities and Woredas. Celebrities from Art, business communities and general public will be recruited to convey message Deploy appropriate professionals, consultants to diligent implementation of the project. Draw best practice from neighboring countries or around the world and synchronize the experience with the project objectives
Project Outcomes
City resident knowledge on environmental issues and solid waste management increased Reduced solid waste from household, business and industries Proper dispositions of solid waste Appropriate policies developed Attitude change of the general public
Project Impact
- Addis Ababa City Go Clean and conducive for healthy living
- Sustain the true city of Africa
- Attributes to development of the country
alazar kidane 