U.S. Gov't Donates $500,000 to Ethiopian Historic Preservation

Ethiopia: U.S.-funded Preservation of Bete Golgotha Mikael Church in Lalibela Launched - CNBC Africa

"U.S. Ambassador Michael Raynor and Minister for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Hirut Woldemariam, jointly launched a new project for the preservation of Bete Golgotha Mikael Church in Lalibela, on Saturday, February 3, 2018. The preservation work is funded with a grant from the U.S. Embassy through the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). The project will invest a total of $500,000 dollars"

"Ambassador Raynor hailed the living culture represented by Lalibela’s historic churches saying, 'These churches are as vibrant and relevant today as they have ever been, and taking steps to preserve them now will help them remain vibrant and relevant in perpetuity. We’re working to restore structures that are not only integral to Ethiopia’s past, but that represent a religion and culture that are very much alive and active today.' He added, 'Ethiopian culture is remarkable for many reasons, including its diversity – and its tolerance of diversity.'"