By AJLA Project
A senior professional staff member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate visited the Access to Justice and Legal Awareness (AJLA) Project on April 09, 2015.
The purpose of Heather D. Flynn’s visit was to observe the activities of USAID-funded projects in Ethiopia. One such project was the Free Legal Service program, which is under AJLA project, which is administered under Haramaya University College of Law. Heather D. Flynn visited the Free Legal Service centers in Harar.
Apart from visiting the centers, the guest conducted a brief meeting with staff members of Haramaya University College of Law and AJLA project as well as other stakeholders. During the occasion, a representative from East Hararghe Higher Court said that a significant progress has been observed since the introduction of the project especially with regards to support given to the poor and vulnerable section of the community.
Heather D. Flynn was also able to discuss with the beneficiaries of the Free Legal Service. They thanked the University, USAID and the legal support team to stand alongside them free of charge.
It was disclosed that in its 39 centers and two years service alone, AJLA project has offered free legal support for more than 100,000 poor, marginalized, and vulnerable people in east and west Hararghe zones of Oromia Regional State and the Harari Regional State.