Opening Speech from Dr. Günter Baron
Dr. Günter Baron, 12.11.2016
Ethiopian Evening
On the occasion of Kinderhaus Addis e.V. 15th anniversary
Opening Speech
Dear honoured Kinderhaus Addis,
Dear Friends, Sponsors, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentleman,
In 2008 I travelled through Ethiopia with open eyes and a passion in my heart; ever since then I have felt a deep connection with this country. This special connection became more tangible when I had the chance to sponsor a child in Addis Ababa through the Kinderhaus Addis’ sponsorship program.
That is why I am so delighted to deliver these welcoming words on the 15th anniversary of Kinderhaus Addis.
“15” is normally not an anniversary that you would celebrate: for, say, a library, bakery or in a company that would be ridiculous. However, when 9 women get together and build a charitable organization - aiming to provide education and a daily warm meal in a far and sometimes not exactly easy country, in the subcity of Kirkos in Addis Ababa – and when these inspiring women have succeeded to run this organization professionally, successfully and so courageously for one and a half decades, then they truly deserve to be celebrated.
I have just said “honoured” Kinderhaus ADDIS and that was not just an empty phrase:
People, who do good throughout and beyond their own lives, who invest time and capital over many years, who act with passion, creativity and skill in order to sustain such a challenging project and, on top of all that, inspire other people to do the same - do deserve the phrase “honoured”. They keep this world together and help make it a little bit more humane.
So let us celebrate this extraordinary organization and its people, lets congratulate them and let us wish them the necessary courage and fruitful spirit to further harness their positive impact. I would like to join one of the Ethiopian graduates in saying in his letter to Kinderhaus ADDIS: “May God give you the strength to continue your charitable work and to maintain your generosity”
I wish us all an inspiring evening with interesting conversation, and of course we are all looking forward to Injera with Wot!
Dr. Gunter Baron, long-time supporter of Kinderhaus ADDIS e.V.