District 9212 marked the end of January 2026 with a key anniversary- the 70th anniversary of Rotarians serving diligently in Ethiopia. The highlight of this important milestone was the Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo’s three-day visit to Ethiopia that included being hosted by the nation’s Head of State, President Taye Atske Selassie.
District 9212 marked the end of January 2026 with a key anniversary- the 70th anniversary of Rotarians serving diligently in Ethiopia.
The highlight of this important milestone was the Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo’s three-day visit to Ethiopia that included being hosted by the nation’s Head of State, President Taye Atske Selassie.
Congratulating Rotary Ethiopia on its 70 years of service, President Taye highlighted the organization’s significant contributions across the country, including support in providing medical services such as treatment and prevention of congenital heart defects, supporting vulnerable children and their families, and the fight to eradicate polio in Ethiopia and across the world.
Since its inception in 1956 in Ethiopia, Rotary has sustained long-term partnerships in health, education, and peace-building, layering initiatives so that outcomes compound over time. In moments of national crisis, including the recent Marburg virus outbreak, Rotary’s network mobilized rapidly to complement the work of the Federal Government and partners like the WHO and UNICEF.
The 70th anniversary celebrations also featured the District Governor Wairimu Njage, RI Director Daniel Tanase, and Sweden’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Magnus Lennartsson, himself a former Rotary Scholar, among many other Rotarians and dignitaries.
As he concluded his visit, RI President Arezzo emphasized the need for collaboration and unified effort, to progressively scale up health projects, especially in rural and underserved areas, deepen partnerships with the public agencies such as the Ministry of Health, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, and international agencies.
He also directed Rotarians in Ethiopia to expand their scope of impact to education and youth employment, and to strengthen Rotarians’ role in peace-building and conflict transformation.