Sabaha Silk Shop, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
In the garden of Sabaha Silk Shop, Addis Ababa
On one of the days we had in Addis Ababa we went shopping with colleagues of our daughter. They drove us around to various places of interest around the city. One of those places was to the Sabaha Silk Shop in the suburbs. The shop was interesting enough and my wife and daughter found it great to pick up a few nice items. I was more interested in the gardens in which the shop was set.
The silk shop was a small building set near a private home with extensive private gardens surrounding both buildings. The gardens were quite beautiful and provided visitors with a quiet retreat from the hustle of this frenetic African city. I also enjoyed the birdlife in gardens and managed a few good photos (see me other site for details: Trevor’s Birding).
Sabaha Silk Shop, Addis Ababa
In the garden of Sabaha Silk Shop, Addis Ababa
Scenes of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Street scene, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, along with most places in Ethiopia, is a bustling, crowded place with constant movement of people, animals and vehicles wherever you go. Sure, we did spend a little time in rural Ethiopia where the pace of life is far more sedate, but in the larger towns and certainly in the capital city, life is hectic and in your face most of the time.
Today I feature a few photos of street scenes taken while travelling around Addis Ababa. We hired a car with some friends to go shopping in various parts of the city. It is very challenging getting around and the constant movement of traffic is amazing, especially for one like myself who is used to a quiet rural environment in South Australia.
Street scene, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Street scene, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaStreet scene, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Children in the ALERT medical facility, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
One of the children at the ALERT medical facility, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
When we visited the shop at the ALERT medical facility (for leprosy sufferers) in Addis Ababa there were quite a few children hanging around and playing near the shop. The boy in the photo above approached and showed me the small bow and arrow he had made. He demonstrated how it worked and then asked me to take his photo.
This prompted several other children to come up to me for a photo too, so I obliged. Meanwhile my wife and daughter were busy chatting to the ladies making various items for sale in the craft shop.
Some of the children at the ALERT medical facility, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ALERT medical facility, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Patients doing craft work at ALERT medical facility, Ethiopia
During our visit to the ALERT medical facility in Addis Ababa late last year my wife and daughter we fascinated and very impressed with the craft work being done by inmates of the facility. Many of the patients in this medical work are sufferers of leprosy, now called Hansen’s disease. It’s something we don’t think about much here in Australia as the condition is almost non-existent with only about 60 known current cases Australia wide, mostly in Aboriginal communities.
The ALERT facility in Addis Ababa is more than a place of refuge and treatment. It also helps in rehabilitation, training and financial support. All the craft work – which is absolutely beautiful – is sold through their little shop on-site with all proceeds going back to the patients. We bought so much we even sent home some of their work as unaccompanied luggage.
In each of the photos today you can see my wife and daughter admiring their craft as they worked at it.
Patients doing craft work at ALERT medical facility, Ethiopia
Patients doing craft work at ALERT medical facility, Ethiopia
ALERT Medical facility, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Leprosy patient at the ALERT Medical Facility, Addis Ababa
During our stay in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last December, colleagues of our daughter took us to the ALERT Medical facility. The acronym stands for African Leprosy Rehabilitation Training Medical Centre. Most of the patients are involved in craft and art work as a part of their rehabilitation. This art work is then sold through their shop on site, the proceeds returning to the artists.
It was our intention of just to visit the shop and to purchase some of the items, which we did because they were so good. We actually went back again a few days later because we didn’t have enough cash the first time. And we would have bought more items but for the fact that this was the first week of a seven week holiday in Ethiopia, Morocco and Spain. Our luggage allowance on the plane was going to be a challenge. [Postscript: we managed to keep within limits, but only because we sent quite a few items in our daughter’s unaccompanied luggage.]
One of the fascinating workers at ALERT was the man shown above. It amazed me how he could deftly weave the mat shown in front of him – despite having only a few stubs left where his fingers once were. He did this with a wonderful smile. A lesson to me in attitude, I think.
Leprosy patient at the ALERT Medical Facility, Addis Ababa