Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) officially handed over model villages in the Halaba and Kambata zones, marking a significant milestone for the government's Rural Corridor Development initiative. The villages were constructed as part of the annual Summer Volunteer Program (also known as the "Summer Service").

During the handover, the prime minister highlighted the new settlements as a "promising start" to the government's commitment to significantly improving the lives of farmers and pastoralists. The homes are designed for modern, sustainable living: They are equipped with solar power generators, utilize biogas derived from animal waste for cooking, and each unit is complete with a separate living room, toilet, and service rooms. Crucially, separate animal pens were built to ensure hygiene and elevate the overall standard of living for the residents. Prime Minister Abiy affirmed that the expansion of these rural corridor development villages is central to the government's long-term vision for enhancing rural lifestyles.

The prime minister noted a strategic shift in the Summer Volunteer Program's focus. He stated that for the past seven years, the program primarily provided housing for vulnerable communities in urban areas. With the handover of these villages, the effort has now strategically expanded to rural areas, symbolizing a new phase in the development work. He issued a call to action, urging individuals, organizations, and the diaspora community to lend their support and actively participate in the ongoing development projects.

Dr. Abiy extended his gratitude to the regional leaders who rapidly executed a previous directive, specifically commending them for doubling the expansion of the Hambericho mountain steps using local capacity in a short period. Looking ahead, he challenged local area leaders to collaborate with various stakeholders to increase the number of model homes to approximately 100 in each zone in the coming year, further accelerating the spread of this rural development model.