PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

• To educate the train individuals in skills required for the job market in the region.
• To reduce dependency on aid by fostering the spirit of self-reliance.
• To provide small credit to individuals or groups to enable them to engage in incoming generating activities.
• To alleviate the current situation of high unemployment in the town.
• To provide on outlet where youths can engage in social and recreational activities, to develop good behaviour and positive mental attitude.
• To provide a venue where farming familities and others can enhance their skills.
• To promote a healthier lifestyle and opportunities for cultural and artistic development.

                                  IMPLEMENTATION

The project will be conducted at the available site of the Shashemene Community Education and Training Center in collaboration with partner and supportive agencies.  The resource requires 25 acres of land for the project which includes: a building to deploy the activities, machinery, tools, raw materials, soccer fields, Horticulture and agricultural lands, trainers/ instructors, curriculum development and transportation.  Implementation will undergo the following process:

                                       SHASHAMENE 

 Shashemene is a commercial town located in the Ethiopian Rift Valley Shoa province. It is a central city and inland port and lies 250kms to the south of Addis Ababa at the southern tip of Shoa administrative region and bordering Sidamo. The region has a good climate, abundant rainfall with an annual coverage of 800 mm and fertile soil favorable for agriculture.  Shashamene a small district village town gained international attention in the African Diaspora when 500 acres of its fertile land was granted as a gift to the Black people of the West in 1948 by His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I, the then reigning Ethiopian Emperor. The Italian invasion of Ethiopia did more to ignite Pan-African sentiment than any other event in modern times. In the folklore of Africans in and outside of Africa, Ethiopia was the bastion and symbol of African freedom and independence. In the Bible, Blacks read that Ethiopia was the land of Queen of Sheba and its Monarch represented a direct genealogical link to the Solomonic Throne.  To Blacks, Ethiopia was the sacred land that Homer the Greek historian wrote about as the land where the gods loved to be.'

Now Italy's threat to the Motherland's sovereignty, consequent invasion and occupation of international demonstration and support from Blacks for Ethiopia and its Emperor in the war of resistance. Rallies and fundraising events were carried out by Blacks throughout the United States and the Caribbean to help Ethiopia to regain her independence. On the request of Black church leaders and organizations in the U.S.A, the Emperor sent his personal Emissary Dr. Malaku E. Bayen to organize the support of Africans in the Americas. This was done officially under the banner of the Ethiopian World Federation Inc(E.W.F) registered in New York, U.S.A.  Exactly 7 years after the Liberation of Ethiopia and the return of the Emperor in 1941, the triumphant Emperor Haile Selassie I, gave a gift to the Black peoples of the West of 500 acres of land in Shashemene, Shoa Province.

                         SETTLERS FROM JAMAICA

  Between 1952 and 1974 approximately 22 families migrated to Shashemene to take up the offer of the Shashemene Land Grant. The vast majority of these early settlers came from Jamaica, as the Rastafarian groups in Jamaica were most appreciative of the Emperor's gift and stretched forth her hands to receive it. In 1975, the Provisional Government of Ethiopia issued the land reform proclamation, nationalising all lands in Ethiopia, turning them over to the peasant association. This included the seizure of the Shashemene Land Grant. In 1975, the remaining Jamaican settlers made a petition throughout the Embassy of Jamaica for the return of the land grant.  Only 100 acres was returned and divided among the settlers. Today, the population of the settlement has grown to over 200 of which 65% are children born on the land grant, Shashemene Ethiopia.

J.R.D.C    

---

The Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community is encouraging Rastafari people to unify, & help build up the land in Shashemane, Ethiopia(Biblical Kuwsh). I feel that the JRDC is the organization that will also bring Rastafarians into solidarity which it is presently doing in Ethiopia, through the vision of Brother Gad(who founded and named this organization) and the inspiration of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. It is a Rastafarian group that involves not only TTI, but all Rastafarians regardless what ever house they function with. Whether Nyabinghi, Bobo Shanti, Twelve Tribes, E.W.F, Orthodox, etc; forward & do the works! Thanks to the Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community. (Ras Rootka Zebulun's words)

                                    CONTACTS

Sis. Shirley Benjamin at shirlinehall@hotmail.com  

Bro. Karl Naphtali at kings12@bellatlantic.net Shashamane

Sis. Leah Issachar at leahissachar@hotmail.com 

Bro. Rootka Zebulun at  lionof12@gmail.com