What is Dir and Mag?
In the making of the traditional dress DIR is the WRAP and MAG is WOOF.
The wrap and the woof make up the fabric of the cloth.
Who are we helping?
About 2 hours drive from the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Abeba, there is a town called Debre Birhan on the highland of the Amhara region. After a three-hour hike across the rugged landscape, you will find a farming community of Gedenbo and Woinye, a rural farming community. This is where my grandfather’s family came from. My grandfather, Kegne Azmach Blete Wold Tensye, left his home about 120 years ago, at an early age looking for a better life and education.
Since my grandfather left, the community nothing has not changed, the people still farm their small plots of land using oxen and basic farming implements. Due to land overuse and degradation from erosion and climate change, the community has a serious challenge in educating the children.
At this time, due to climate change and overpopulation, there is significant pressure on the community to educate and feed the children. They have a school, but it is in need of significant repair or rebuilding.
The first project is to put the school in working order, rehabilitate the existing buildings, furnish the school with educational materials, and coordinate with the community to work and contribute labor. After the school is properly functional, we will try to reduce malnutrition and hunger among the students. This will include the introduction of new technology to produce food and water.
Our Nonprofit Status
Dir and Mag is a fully accredited nonprofit registered by the IRS and the State of Missouri. It is a 501C3 nonprofit.
