|
|
|
Brief histories of the
first clubs of each geographic regions or countries
Rotary Club of Addis Ababa, the First
Club of Ethiopia
Rotary International
District (locate)
Part of our section on
Africa
|
|
|
History of Rotary in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, it was during the reign of
Emperor Haile Sellassie, in the “unforgettable” 50’s, that the
Rotary Club of Addis Ababa was chartered by “Royal Decree” as it
was the fashion at that time. To be specific, in 1955, making it
the second oldest Rotary club in District 9200, after Rotary
Club of Nairobi.
With membership up to 120 belonging to
at least 12 different nationalities, its meeting place was in
the polo club restaurant at the Jan Meda. After few years The
Rotary Club of Addis Ababa moved to the then Ghion Imperial
Hotel. By 1975 it has established it’s regular meeting place at
the Addis Ababa Hilton.
As the Emperor was the patron of
the club, each Rotary meeting began a toast to “His Imperial
Majesty”. This has to be changed to a toast “To Ethiopia” in
1975, at the coming of the Derg’s Regime.
Because of
being labeled as “capitalist bourgeoisie” and an USA oriented
Club by the Derg Regime, the membership dwindled down to 35.
Permit from the Ministry of Security had to be obtained for the
weekly meetings, including a detailed profile of some of the
Directors.
After the collapse of the Derg Regime, The
Rotary club of Addis Ababa West was formedin 1991. The Rotary
Club of Addis Ababa Bole was formed in September 1992. The only
Rotary Club in the world whose working language is Amharic,
which is the official language of Ethiopia, is the Rotary Club
of Addis Ababa East. The Rotary Club of Entoto is a French
speaking Rotary club which was formed in 2003.
The
Rotary Club of Bahir Dar was chartered in 2006 in the Northern
part of Ethiopia in the city of Bahir Dar. The makes if the
first club in the Northern part of Ethiopia to be chartered.
2007 marked the chartering of a new Rotary Club, the Rotary
Club Finot in Addis Ababa.
Three Rotary Clubs were
chartered in 2008. The Rotary Club Addis Ababa Central-Mella,
the Rotary Club of Gondar and the Rotary Club Jimma Central.
The Rotary Club of Addis Ababa Central-Mella is a club which
was formed entirely by former Rotaractors. All the 25 chartered
members of the Club were members of the Rotaract Club of Mella.
The Rotary Club of Gondar makes the number of Clubs in
Northern part of Ethiopia to two, located in the city of Gondar.
South West of Ethiopia has a new club, the Rotary Club of Jimma
Central which is based in the city of Jimma, which is 380 km
South West of Addis Ababa.
This brings the number of
Rotary Clubs in Ethiopia to 10.
Note:
Received
from PP Semson Tesfaye of RC of Addis Ababa Central Mella, on
request by Rtn Dinesh Pandya, RGHF Board Member zone 04A
|
|
|
| |
| Provided by RGHF member and zone board member
Dinesh Pandya RGHF zone 04a, posted 16 April 2012, by Jack
Selway |
| |
| First
Club of each Rotary Region or Country |
|
