Addis Ababa University (AAU’s), Institute of Technology (AAiT) has completed the renewal of two houses in Arada Sub-city, District Six, which were destroyed in fire caused accident some months ago in 2022, and handed them over to the owners on January 17, 2023.

Bikila Teklu (PhD), Chief Executive Director of AAiT, Engineer Wubayehu Mamo, Adviser to the President of AAU, Chief Administrators of District Six and various volunteers attended the inaugural and handing over ceremony.

According to Dr. Bikila, working with various institutions and communities, AAiT has been thriving to accomplish its responsibilities in helping of the community in anyways possible, and renovating of dilapidated houses for needy residents has been its main focus for the last 4 years.

 “Today, a remarkable change has been seen in the renewed houses, and we are grateful as the staff of the Institute and thanks to the colleagues of District Six who have supported us both with money technical aids,” Dr. Bikila said.

Dr. Bikila finally stated that the work will not be ended here and similar activities will continue by working in coordination with the District and other volunteer partners every year.

Tariku Mengistu, Head for the Office of Prosperity and Democracy System Building of District Six on his part said that the District is doing several community-oriented works and has been able to complete today’s house restoration program in collaboration with AAU.

“Lakech Hailu’s and Mihret Measho’s houses were destroyed due to fire caused accident some months ago, and today we are here to handover the renovated houses to the owners expressing our grateful appreciation to AAiT of Addis Ababa University,” Mr. Tariku finally stated.

Solomon Kiros (PhD), Director of University-Industry Linkage and Technology Transfer at AAiT said that being the pioneer, AAiT planned and started working on community services since 2010, and it has rehabilitated several houses since then.

According to Dr. Kiros, in order to repair 3-5 houses every year, it needs to work in coordination with engineering students besides to budget capacity building. As the cost of renovating of the houses is high this time, various volunteer organizations and professionals should help us in accomplishing this activity, he added.

Mrs. Mihret Measho, who benefited from the house renovation program, thanked Addis Ababa University, the District officials and the volunteer committees.

“After my house fired, I was afraid that I would be left alone since I had no anyone to help, but I was very happy when AAU initiated to reinstate it and now everything is fixed; all my problems have almost gone to begin my work soon,” Mihret said.

Reporter: Tsion Aysheshim

Photo: Andualem Aseffa

Editor: Abraham Girmay