Ethiopia Elderly Sponsorship - ROPE NEWS

Ethiopia - Elderly sponsorship through ROPE

No longer destitute
In ETHIOPIA, ROPE runs a sponsorship programme for elderly folk who have no family to take care of them. Eshetu is one of the beneficiaries. We are able to provide him with medical treatment as required, cleaning materials, and with new clothing once a year. Eshetu is house-bound so he also has one meal a day delivered through the “Food on Foot” scheme. Counselling services and home-to home visits are also arranged. As a result of this support Eshetu and others like him are in better health and physical condition. They always extend their heartfelt thanks to their ROPE sponsors. If you would like to sponsor an elderly person please click HERE.

Washington D.C. Urban League offers Senior Citizen Services

Oasis Senior Center For The Homeless Aged

The Aging Division's Oasis Center for the Homeless Aged is located at 1226 Vermont Avenue, NW. Services provided daily include meal services, case medical screening, recreation and socialization, art therapy, housing placements, one-site medical screening and consultation, personal hygiene and grooming, and mental health counseling. Transportation services are also provided as needed. The Center for Homeless Aged services approximately 200 persons annually; the average daily number of clients who are seen by the service is estimated to be 55.

The program is funded by the DC Office on Aging. For more information, call (202) 265-2017 or (202) 529-8701.

Brenda Turner, Director2900 Newton Street, NEWashington, DC 20018(202) 529-8701

For more information, please visit their website by clicking HERE.

Haile - 2:04:26 World Record in Berlin!

Berlin, Germany - Haile Gebrselassie finally fulfilled the first one of his two big marathon dreams: The 34-year-old Ethiopian broke the World record at the real,- Berlin-Marathon, clocking 2:04:26. It was Paul Tergat (Kenya) who had run 2:04:55 in 2003 in Berlin.
“It was something very special today, because this is the marathon world record!” said Gebrselassie after improving the World Marathon record by 29 seconds. “That is something different in comparison to the 5,000 or 10,000m, because the Marathon is the king of the distance races.” The two-time Olympic 10,000m champion has now broken 24 World records or world bests.
Gebrselassie produced the absolute highlight at Germany’s biggest and most spectacular Marathon for which 40,215 runners from 115 nations had entered. About one million spectators cheered on the Ethiopian.
“The spectators gave me more support than last year. I have to say thank you Germany! Today the weather was perfect, it was not as windy as last year,” said Gebrselassie, who will target his next big Marathon goal next year, when he will run the Olympic race in Beijing.
Not only Gebrselassie but Gete Wami also defended her title in Berlin in ideal weather conditions. The Ethiopian clocked 2:23:17 to complete yet another double win in Berlin after 2006. But the real surprise came in second place, which featured a great debut by Irina Mikitenko. She clocked 2:24:51, which is the best ever Marathon debut by a German woman. She is now the third fastest on the German all-time list behind Uta Pippig (2:21:45) and Katrin Dörre-Heinig (2:24:35).
Gebrselassie on WR pace from the gun
Led by pacemakers, Gebrselassie was on course for the World record throughout. He went through halfway in 62:29. His rivals couldn’t match that kind of pace from the very start leaving Gebrselassie in a race of his own through the streets of Berlin. Up to the 30 kilometre point two of the original five pacemakers were able to stay with him. But then both Eshetu Wondimu (Ethiopia) and Rodgers Rop (Kenya), the latter winner of this year’s Hamburg marathon in 2:07:32 and a former champion in New York and Boston, dropped out.
Tergat calls to offer congratulations, Gebrselassie apologises
Shortly after Gebrselassie crossed the finish line, race director Mark Milde’s phone rang. Tergat was on the line, and he wanted to congratulate Haile. “Paul is a good friend and I apologized to him for taking his World record,” Gebrselassie explained. His total winnings from Berlin were 130,000 Euros. “But I don’t run for money. If I did, I could race somewhere every week,” said Gebrselassie.
The Kenyan Abel Kirui was second in an outstanding personal best of 2:06:51. Third place went to his compatriot Salim Kipsang in 2:07:29. The best German finisher was Falk Cierpinski (SG Spergau) who crossed the line in 23rd place. The son of the double Olympic champion Waldemar Cierpinski ran a personal best in 2:19:06.
Wami aggressive from the start as well
In the women’s race Gete Wami, like Gebrselassie, went clear of her rivals from the start. The Ethiopian, who ran a national record of 2:21:34 a year ago in Berlin but lost it in the meantime to Berhane Adere, also had an escort of pacemakers. After reaching halfway in 70:25 she did just enough to be assured the victory. Five weeks from now Wami will be on the start line for the marathon in New York.
Wami is shooting for the jackpot in the World Marathon Majors series for 2006-07. Following her win in Berlin she has taken the lead from Latvian Jelena Prokupcuka. If she finishes ahead of the Latvian in New York, she’ll win 500,000 dollars.
“I was very confident before the race that I was in good shape. I’ll take it easy for a week and then start training for New York – I think I’ve a real chance of winning the WMM jackpot,” Wami said.
The outcome of the race for second place was more dramatic. Well behind Wami after the second half were Helena Kiprop of Kenya and the Japanese Naoko Sakamoto (both at 72:31). A further 26 seconds behind was a trio including Mikitenko. On her Marathon debut she ran an outstanding second half to move up to second. She ran the second half in 1:11:54, covering the second half faster than the first on her debut attempt at the distance. That shows she could run faster still in the Marathon, an event for which she now has an Olympic qualifying time.(IAAF)

HUD has Housing Options for Senior Citizens

Looking for housing options for yourself, an aging parent, relative, or friend? Do some research first to determine what kind of assistance or living arrangement you need; what your health insurance might cover; and what you can afford. Then check here for financial assistance resources and guides for making the right choice. Talk to a HUD-approved housing counselor if you have questions about your situation.

For more information on the HUD programs, click HERE!

United Nations International Day of Older Persons

United Nations International Day of Older Persons

United Nations International Day of Older Persons
October 2, 2007
Washington, DC, USA
Online Registration
Click here to register for this event.

Event Info
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Forum - Harman Center for the Performing Arts
610 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Contact AARP International at: intlaffairs@aarp.org

With generous support from the BBC, the UNA-USA Council of Organizations, and the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA); AARP is sponsoring My Generation: Connecting, Giving, Enjoying on Tuesday, October 2, 2007, in celebration of the 2007 International Day of Older Persons.

The program will feature an exclusive screening of the American debut of the BBC acclaimed Documentary "Power to the People: the Great Granny Chart Invasion" documenting the formation of the UK senior rock group “The Zimmers”. The film will be followed by an interactive dialogue with Peter Oakley of "The Zimmers" and Neil Reed, Music Producer of the group's debut hit single My Generation.


The program will also present the YouTube contest "AARP’s U@50+" submissions and film clips from directors age 50+.

Commentary will be given by the Pulitzer-Prize winning author Dr. Robert Butler, President & CEO of the International Longevity Center-USA. Line Vreven, Director of AARP International, will host the event as master of ceremonies.

Please join us for a special reception following the program. Doors open starting at 4:30 PM.

For directions to the Shakespeare Theatre, visit: www.shakespearetheatre.org/visit/index.aspx.

Visit the AARP website for registration information: www.aarp.org

About Zethiopia

Zethiopia is a diversified news and information Independent newspaper that represents America's local and national Ethiopian community.

Zethiopia is published bi-monthly by the Ze Ethiopia Corporation. The newspaper's motto is, "Not just both sides, all sides!" The newspaper is free and bilingual with production based in Washington, D.C.

Zethiopia just celebrated it's third year anniversary and at this time is distributed in major metropolitan areas. 10,000 copies are circulated per printing and each week our subscription and advertising base continues to grow.

A large well educated and rapidly growing base of Ethiopian-American citizens and residents are indicative of the importance and necessity of a media source to channel information throughout the community.

The Ethiopian population is estimated at approximately 1 million people, concentrated in major geographic regions to include Washington D.C, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Houston and Atlanta. The goal of Zethiopia is to create a sense of community and respect of Ethiopian culture through our publication - linking each of these geographic areas through news and an exchange of ideas, thoughts, and interest.

For more information about Zethiopia, please visit our website: http://www.zethiopia.com/.