Wars destroy families and communities, result in destruction of cities, and disrupt the social and economic fabric of nations. It takes decades to build a community but takes a few hours/days to destroy it. In Ethiopia in the last four months alone, millions have been displaced; thousands of schools, healthcare facilities, and social centers, have been destroyed; and the meagere infrastructure the country had has been severely affected. The Diaspora from all corners of the world has come forward to mobilize resources to support displaced communities. The Ethiopian government has also asked the Diaspora community to help support displaced people, re-build infrastructure and be the voice for 100+ million Ethiopians on world stages. This call to service is designed to engage diaspora community members traveling to Ethiopia for the upcoming Ethiopian Christmas to participate in the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, social facilities, and related activities.

The plenary session will include opening remarks from keynote speakers, first-hand information on the extent of the damage caused by the war from the regional leadership of the war-affected areas and the leadership of federal government ministries responsible for the major sectors (education, health, social services, tourism, and infrastructure). Brief outlines of the follow-up breakout sessions will also be provided. During the breakout sessions, discussions will be held to understand the specific extent of the damage in the different sectors and share ideas on how to organize and prepare for the post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. Registration is required to attend these sessions