BEAUTC

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Bethel Environmental and Agricultural University and Training Center (BEAUTC)

BEAUTC is a project jointly supported by two organizations or partners. One partner is Bethel Agricultural Association (BAA), a tax-exempt non-profit under 501(c)3 of the IRS Code of the United States. BAA is qualified to receive gifts. All qualified donations are tax deductible. The EIN Number for BAA is 82-1862159.

The other partner is Bethel Environmental and Agricultural Association (BEAA) located in Ethiopia. BEAA has been officially recognized by the Ethiopian government as a charity organization.

THE NEED

The rapid increase in Ethiopia’s population, along with land scarcity and a changing climate, has led to growing pressure on the land, particularly in the highlands, which have 95% of the country’s cultivated land. Many social and physical factors, including poor education and resource management, deforestation, drought and desertification, and land degradation from overgrazing and soil erosion, interact to threaten Ethiopia’s agricultural productivity, and thus its food security.

 

OUR ANSWER

Our contribution towards solving this problem is to establish an educational institution and training center that focuses on training and equipping farmers, community leaders, and agricultural specialists at all levels in practices that will (1) help lead to food security and (2) revitalize, protect, and preserve the country’s valuable land and water resources.

 

ETHIOPIAN HISTORY/BACKGROUND

Ethiopia is a country with a long history and rich diversity of peoples, cultures, landscapes, and natural resources. Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa and is a rugged, landlocked country split by the Great Rift Valley. In the late 1800s, more than half the country was still covered with dense natural forests, and Ethiopia was known as the “water tower of Africa.” The dense forests are mostly gone, and water is increasingly scarce. The current population is 108 million people, and projections are for 145 million by 2050. It has been very difficult to keep up with demands for food, water, security, education, etc. Ethiopia is a member of The African Union, and The African Union headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

GOALS

  1. Establish a university and training center that focuses primarily on the environment and agriculture.
  2. Educate and train farmers, middle managers, and leaders in the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture and resource management.
  3. Establish a botanical garden to preserve plants and serve as a biological library for teaching and relaxation.
  4. Promote agribusinesses and diversify the economy.
  5. Empower women in agricultural and community development.
  6. Foster international links in teaching and research.
  7. Promote noticeable positive change in the environment and agriculture of the region.
  8. Create a model institution to be emulated and multiplied elsewhere in Ethiopia and Africa.
  9. Attract other qualified individuals among the Ethiopian diaspora into this collaborative project.