On October 24, 2024, the German Embassy in Addis Ababa hosted a large reception to mark the recent Day of German Unity. This important national holiday commemorates the reunification of Germany in 1990 and was also honored in Ethiopia with a festive event. Numerous guests, including representatives of the Ethiopian government, members of the diplomatic community as well as friends and relatives of the German community, attended the celebration.The German Embassy School Addis Ababa (DBSAA) was represented with both an information stand and a musical contribution. At the school’s information stand, guests were able to find out about the DBSAA’s educational programs and purchase merchandise from the school. All proceeds from the sale went to the Bildung4Kids (B4K) project.Another highlight of the day was the performance by the German Embassy School choir, which provided musical entertainment for the celebrations. The choir, consisting of students from grades 5 and 6, presented a colorful mixture of German and international traditional songs. With their musical skills and enthusiasm, the children managed to inspire the audience and emphasize the festive atmosphere. The choir’s performance not only reflected the joy of music, but also the school’s commitment to cultivating German culture and language abroad while promoting intercultural dialog.

On 30.09.24, the past Meskel holiday was celebrated in the DBSAA kindergarten and elementary school. Meskel, also known as the “Feast of the Cross”, is an important holiday in Ethiopia, traditionally celebrated on September 27 and commemorates the discovery of the true cross by Empress Helena in the 4th century AD. At the heart of the Meskel celebrations is the symbolic lighting of a large bonfire to commemorate the original fire that, according to legend, Helena lit in search of the cross. For the kindergarten and primary school children, this custom was also performed with a traditional choir and priest. The parents of the kindergarten children were invited to celebrate this special day together with their children and enjoy a delicious buffet together. This year’s DBSAA Meskelfest was once again a wonderful event to develop an awareness of Ethiopia’s cultural diversity and to experience it at first hand.

‘Kinder an die Macht‘ (Children to power) – this song by Herbert Grönemeyer greeted our students at the DBSAA this morning – because we are celebrating the 70th World Children’s Day! Every child is a unique gift to our world and that is why we are celebrating all the children at DBSAA. All the primary school children wrote down their wishes in a large jigsaw puzzle: for the future, for Ethiopia, for friends, for family. It shows us again and again how much we adults can learn from our children. So let us all listen to what our children have to say and give the children’s ears what they need: 1. I love you! 2. I believe in you! 3. You are something very special! “Happy Children’s Day”

This year, two of our valued DBSAA employees are celebrating 25 years of employment. DBSAA would like to thank Birtukan Getaneh and Daniel Alemu for their many years of loyalty and constant commitment. Their tireless work and unwavering commitment are always an asset to the entire school community. We are proud to have them on our team and look forward to many more years of working together.

On 12.09.24, the “Ethiopia Day” took place once again at the DBSAA. The students were able to work creatively and intensively on various topics in different projects. The project day included some traditional elements, such as traditional Ethiopian dance and basket weaving, as well as projects with a more modern approach, such as skate training with Ethiopia Skate and modern art. After an intensive morning, the entire school community met up with the parents to enjoy an Ethiopian buffet together.After refreshments, the children were able to present their work and newly acquired skills to their classmates and parents in the DBSAA gymnasium. The celebrations were exuberant and the DBSAA once again demonstrated the special significance of an encounter school. The Ethiopian project day is not only an opportunity to appreciate the culture of Ethiopia, but also a valuable experience for our students to try out and develop intercultural skills.This year’s Ethiopia Day was once again a complete success and an interesting change to the school day for all students.