Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, we reget to say that the planned trip to Ethiopia has been cancelled. We know many people were looking forward to getting to explore Ethiopia, their people and their culture.  We will be looking to schedule a trip in the future so please keep posted.  Meanwhile, Aurora Sister Cities is looking to do our part to help our sister city Adama, Ethiopia. We have created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to help our sister city through the COVID crisis. If you can help us to spread the word and/or donate, every dollar helps.

Fundamental to our mission is our awareness and acknowledgement of global inter-connectedness, as well as these five core values: education, exchange, innovation, leadership and service.  In other words, communities that engage globally, thrive locally.

True to our core mission and values, and in conjunction with Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopians in Colorado and beyond, we are working to respond to the COVID-19 crisis that is ravaging communities in one of our sister cities, the city of Adama, Ethiopia.  Adama is home to nearly 1 million people.  With an area of roughly 77 square miles, the population density is about 13,000 people per square mile, roughly 6 times that of its sister city of Aurora.

While identified cases in Ethiopia are still low, this is largely due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and testing.  The most likely scenario is that cases are under-reported, not that they do not exist- and that individuals are enduring acute symptoms at home rather than in hospitals or clinics.  In addition to the healthcare crisis, people are suffering from severe shortages of food due to the stay-at-home order by the city.  About 60% of the population are engaged in the informal sector of the economy, barely making ends meet on a daily basis.

While we know and understand that our local community is enormously impacted, this is a global crisis that requires more than just local responses.  Any contribution you make is highly appreciated.  All proceeds go to the Ethiopian community in the city of Adama. For further information,

Please contact Karlyn K. Shorb, Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Sister Cities International at kshorb@auroragov.org or 720-309-9415.  Thank you for your consideration and support.  We are all neighbors.

Help Spread the Word!