About Us
Where we work
Labata Fantalle works in Fantalle woreda, which is located in East Shoa, Oromia Region, Ethiopia a distance of about 200 km east from Addis Ababa, the Capital City. Fantalle woreda is situated within the Great Rift Valley.
Traditionally, the livelihood of the Karrayu is characterized as 'transhumance Pastoralism' which involves seasonal movement following a regular migratory pattern between dry and wet season grazing areas, with permanent settlements in each area. This way of life is considered particularly suitable for such arid areas and enables community members to be highly adaptive to fluctuating conditions.
Herding and a high degree of mobility, according to the season, enables the effective use of resources. The Karrayyu keep mixed herds, cattle, camels, goats, sheep and donkeys, which utilise a wide variety of fodder types. Their animals are essential to their survival and provide them with food, traction power and income. Traditionally products derived from their herds constituted a major source of their diet, mainly milk, butter and meat. This meant that they were highly self-sufficient. Income generated from sales of live animals and their products is used to purchase food grains, clothing and other necessary items from local markets in the area.
In recent times their traditional system has been curtailed and can no longer function adequately due to lack of access to traditional grazing grounds and water points. This is mainly as a result of the construction of commercial irrigated agriculture along the banks of the Awash River and the establishment of the Awash National Park. The area within which they can now move has become very limited, a healthy herd could cross their territory in any one direction in just one or two days.
The loss of land also means they can no longer access their main water sources and pastoralist community membershave been pushed onto the driest parts of the territory. The land they have left it severely degraded due to overgrazing, loss of vegetative cover leading to bush encroachment and soil erosion. The impact of land alientation and the resulting curtailment of mobility has dramatic consequences in loss of livestock and increasing vulnerability to food insecurity and famine. The majority of Karrayyu households now face food insecurity throughout the year, relying on food aid to survive.
Changes in the local climate have also impacted on them. The area is sem-arid with an estimated average annual rainfall of 543 mm. The rainfall in the area usually occurs during two distinct, short and long, rainy seasons. However, the rainfall pattern has changed in recent times with recurrent drought becoming a dominant factor. The community used to experience drought every seven years, known as 'Bona Safti' in the Oromo language (Afaan Oromo), but now they experience drought every two to three. The community are also observing rising temperatures.
The Karrayyuu share their border with a number of different groups: the Arsi Oromo, Tulama Oromo, Itu Oromo, the Argoba and the Afar. Due to loss of land, environmental degradation and changes in climate the area is under increasing pressure and basic resources are now a source of conflict. Karrayyu relations with the Afar and Argoba are tense. Conflict over grazing, watering resources and boundary claims has intensified and many people die every year as a result. In some areas rangelands have been abandoned in fear of conflict, resulting in under utilization of available resources.
The rural areas inhabited by these pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities are among the least developed parts of the country. Infrastructure is poorly developed and there are limited basic facilities such as road network, marketing facilities, schools, health care facilities and other social amenities. In particular there are serious problems in terms of access to water, the majority of water sources available to community members pose health risks. In addition, there are a range of health problems, and livestock diseases, which result in the loss of both animal and human life.
Despite the difficulties of the area pastoralism and agro-pastoralism are still the main livelihood systems of the localcommunity. Karrayyu community members are shifting towards crop cultivation but, due to low rainfall and lack of knowledge and resources, farming is largely unsuccessful. There are 18 Kebeles in the district, 8 of which practise exclusively pastoralist livelihoods, the rest are semi-pastoralists who depend on mixed farming. Pastoralists constitute an estimated 60% of the total population in the district.
The Karrayyu are understandably concerned about their future. The rapid rate of changes make it difficult for community members to adapt. Labata Fantalle therefore, plays a vital role in assisting the Karrayyu community.
Founding Members
Roba Fantalle
obtained his degree in Veterinary Medicine from Jimma University and has since worked for local development organizations. He led a project aimed at developing community resilience against livestock health problems which involved training members of the Karrayyu community to work as Animal Health Workers. He has experience of working with other pastoralist groups in Ethiopia and has an interest in combining traditional and modern knowledge to development approaches. Since graduating Roba has been dedicated to serving his community and improving opportunities for future generations. Roba has undergone an internationally recognised 72hr Permaculture Design Course at Strawberry Fields, Konso.
Beth Cullen
is the only non-indigenous member of Labata Fantalle. Beth has been living and working periodically in Ethiopia since 2005 conducting research on indigenous knowledge and participatory techniques for research and development. She has been working with the Karrayyu community since 2008. Her PhD research project involved training members of the community in Participatory Video, and prompted her to help establish Labata Fantalle. Along with Roba, Beth has undergone an internationally recognised 72hr Permaculture Design Course at Strawberry Fields, Konso.
Roba Bulga
obtained his degree in Foreign Languages and Literature from Addis Ababa University and has worked as an Assistant Project Coordinator for Slow Food International. Roba has represented the Karrayyu community at various international conferences, including a network building conference with Organic food producers from different African countries, held in Italy and organized by Slow Food. Roba has also been involved in producing a documentary film, 'Jeans and Marto', that follows his story and highlights the many challenges facing the Karrayyu in their struggle to maintain the pastoralist way of life.
Fantalle Gile
is studying for a BA in Leadership and Development Studies at Mekanesus Management and Leadership College in Addis Ababa. He has experience working as a Participatory Video trainer and has worked on a Participatory Video project in collaboration with Beth since 2008. He gave Labata Fantalle its name: 'Labata' means generation or regeneration, and 'Fantalle' comes from the name of the area. Fantalle is passionate about the Karrayyu way of life and culture and is committed to developing the life of his community.
Boru Bosat
graduated with a degree in Co-operative Accounting and Auditing and currently works for Fantalle woreda as auditor and inspector of Cooperative promotion in Fantalle district. He previously worked for GOAL Ireland, an international NGO working on health provision in Fantalle area. As well as his day-to-day work for the woreda he is a dedicated member of Labata Fantalle.
Aliyi Kasaru
has a BA in International Trade and Investment Management at Adama University. He is an active founding member of Labata Fantalle, and is responsible for managing finances as well as overseeing the running of project activities.
Labata Fantalle Cymru
Support for Labata Fantalle Ethiopia is provided by Labata Fantalle Cymru, a non profit organization based in the south Wales Valleys.
Labata Fantalle Cymru works to promote Permaculture, environmental sustainability, and awareness of global issues through links with, and support for, pastoralist groups in Ethiopia.
Our Welsh branch is responsible for fund raising; technical support and capacity building; and aims to build links between communities in Ethiopia and Wales for mutual benefit in terms of education and skills sharing.
Although there are vast gaps in terms of culture, geography and lifestyle we believe that communities in both countries have valuable knowledge and experience to share with each other. The issues being faced by communities like the Karrayyu are global ones.
Address
Postal Address: Labata Fantalle Cymru, PO Box 16, Pontypridd, CF37 1XN, Wales (UK)
Telephone: (00) 44- 1443485559
e-mail: labatafantalle@gmail.com
Labata Fantalle is a non-profit grassroots organization that aims to facilitate participatory, community-led development.
Our mission is to support Karrayyu pastoralists during a time of rapid change, using sustainable approaches that are friendly for both people and environment.
Our work enables Karrayyu pastoralists to develop sustainable livelihoods, protect their environments, generate food security and empower themselves.
The Karrayyu are one of the last remaining Oromo groups maintaining the pastoralist way of life and traditional Oromo culture, but they are under threat. They have lost large amounts of land to a National Park and agribusiness, which has resulted in loss of traditional grazing lands, water points and religious sites. The remaining land is severely degraded.
The Karrayyu experience frequent droughts. Conflict over grazing and water with neighbouring groups has intensified and many people die every year in the fighting. The majority of Karrayyu households face food insecurity and rely on food aid to survive. In addition the community remain marginalised which is the root cause of many of their problems. The rural areas of Fantalle district are among the least developed parts of Ethiopia. These are just some of the challenges facing the community.
Due to marginalisation and lack of access to education, community members have been unable to assist themselves until recently. The recent emergence of the first Karrayyu university graduates has enabled members of the community to come together and establish an organization for the first time which is not reliant on outside support. As the members of Labata Fantalle are Karrayyu they have a unique insight into the issues facing the community.
Labata Fantalle was registered on 19th April 2010 with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Justice Charities and Societies Agency, in accordance with Proclamation No. 621/2009, under certificate number 1771.
We are supported by Labata Fantalle Cymru based in South Wales.
