Addis Ababa Branch

The Addis Ababa Branch Office is the most active branch. This is because, before regional branches were opened, it has been working for all the deaf in the country. It has many highly experienced members. However, it is not the oldest branch. That was because, the activities that are now being carried out by the Addis Ababa Branch Office were being under taken by the ENAD head office. However, that arrangement was causing some friction. So, the deaf in Addis Ababa demanded to have a branch office and that was how the branch came into being.

International HIV/AIDs Day 1 November 2015
(Hidar 22, 2007 E.C.).
Some of the participants during the observance at the ENAD
Addis Ababa Branch (Photo credit: ENAD)

International HIV/AIDs Day 1 November 2015
(Hidar 22, 2007 E.C.).
Mr. Tofik Hamdinur, the Addis Ababa Branch president
making an an opening statement during the observance at the ENAD
(Photo credit: ENAD)

The Addis Ababa Branch Office has a seven member committee that guides the activities of the office. With the over all guidance from the ENAD, it carries out many different activities in Addis Ababa. It carries out its work with the assistance of various committees such as the sports committee, the Addis Ababa branch women's section, the deaf seniors section, the International Week of the Deaf celebration committee and other ad-hoc committees that it establishes for special purposes from time to time. The office is staffed by one full time worker.

In collaboration with the ENAD head office or on its own initiative, the branch holds training sessions for the members in Addis Ababa. It has also been celebrating various international events such as the International HIV/AIDs Day, the International Women's day, the International Week of the Deaf and other national events.

In Addis Ababa, the women's section has a committee of five women members. The committee holds a coffee/tea ceremony at the ENAD Hall every two weeks at which peer to peer counseling and exchange of information takes place. From time to time, the committee invites expert speakers to the ceremony. The coffee/tea ceremony is attended by members of the ENAD Addis Ababa Branch of both sexes.

During the Coffee/Tea Ceremony, different topics of interest are raised and discussed in much details. It is not only on HIV/AIDs that members discuss about but also on other sexually transmitted diseases, reproductive health, the Ebola Virus, some topics from the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) such us education, employment, the right to life, etc.

Training in hair dressing was provided
to some members with the financial support
of the Addis Ababa Administration Women's
and Children's Bureau in 2014 (2006 E.C.)
(Photo credit: ENAD)

The ENAD Women's Section has been participating at the annual celebration of the International Women's Day at the invitation of the Addis Ababa Women and Children's Bureau. The ENAD members who attend the International Women's Day celebrations are selected by ENAD Women's section committee from the women members who attend the Coffee/Tea Ceremony.

The Women's Section has also provided vocational training to some women in cooperation with the Addis Ababa Administration Women's and Children's Bureau.