The year long Ethiopian millennium celebrations, first induced by the millennium hall extravaganza, seem not able to make the nation forget the price hike [significantly on grains] it had to endure in the last year. When Capital polled Addis Ababa city residents, to assess their expectations and wishes of the coming year [exactly one year ago] they had expressed aspirations of a much bigger dream they wish their country to take, which is totally different from the one they tell now. Toady over 96% of the residents Capital polled have the price hike in their list, of challenges they struggled with for the past twelve months and the one they wish to see solved in order to enjoy the relative calm the market went through, only to notice that it has holidays as excuse to get tougher this week. Here are few new years' messages from those who are most hurt by the price hike, to show their wishes for the first year of the third Ethiopian millennium.

Taxi liner around Addis Ababa University Arat Kilo campus
Challenges of the past year: As the rest of the people I was troubled with the high cost of living. In some cases people had to sleep in an empty stomach. The price hike on products we use on a daily basis has been the biggest challenge but also to make it worse, this cheap job we have, was also endangered. I see reasons for hope now since we have spent few months working peacefully after the recognition we got from the local administrative organs and police [we were given I.D.] Since this job is the only option we have, we had gone through a series of conflicts with neighboring areas' youth, competing for the same job and space. But now it has become a peaceful working environment. Wishes for the coming year: As it can be seen in most of our peoples' condition, life has been hard and expensive, so I wish for the coming year to be year in which we enjoy an ease in this regard. Particularly for our areas, if the police become more cooperative, we won't only keep our jobs but also can help in preventing crimes in the area.
I wish a joyful new year to all Ethiopians home and abroad.
Esayas Tesfamariam

Contract worker at Berhan ena Selam Printing press (currently waiting for contract renewal)
Challenges of the past year: I should say living has been expensive not only for me but for most of the people I know. Unemployment is also a big problem. I see many people looking for jobs but they don't find any, we should be able to have jobs and sustain our self and help the nation. It has been very challenging for many to find jobs to live by, and I think this is a serious challenge.
Wishes for the coming year: I wish to see a country where all youth and others who are skilled, capable and in need, find jobs to help themselves. I believe if we have this we will be able to grow together as a nation.
And I wish a peaceful and joyful new year to all Berhan ena Selam employees. May the coming year be a productive and successful year to them and all Ethiopians.
Selam Abebe

Sales at Sally Beauty Supply Center
Challenges of the past year: Life has been difficult as all commoditie’s price increased. I live with my family, so I had their support to share the pressure with, but for my friends and other people I know, who have to live on their own income, it was easy to tell how difficult it has been, even transportation cost was almost unaffordable. I have not seen any other challenge that was pressing more than this one and one that needs urgent improvement.
Wishes for the coming year: I hope the coming year will bring a change in the conditions of our standard of living standard. I also hope for more jobs to be created to help the youth be part of the productive sector of the society.
I wish to my family, colleagues and all Ethiopians, a year of work, prosperity and love.

Fistum Negusse

Alemaya University Law graduate [looking for a job]
Challenges of the past year: I was outside Addis Ababa for most of the year and I had thought that things were better here. When I came to Addis it was similar [if not worse], the price hike is still something we see everyday getting worse and nobody seems to be able to do something about it. When you expect yourself to support your family whoh was elped you get where you are, at a great cost and sacrifice, it is very painful to be a burden once again especially with the current living conditions.
Wishes for the coming year: It has been only a couple of months I started looking for a job [shorter when compared to some stories I heard, about people spending years before they finally land a job] but I am very optimistic that I will find one in the coming year. It is not only a wish but something I believe I will realize. I have seen some cases in which the government takes the initiative to hire fresh graduates that are usually squashed on the first screening of vacancy assessments. So I wish to see this kind of bold moves that benefit our young professionals in the coming year. I wish all Ethiopians a productive new year.
Israel Tadesse

An employee of a small shoe making industry
Challenges of the past year: God is great. Everything has passed peacefully, but our living conditions have been unbearable. Everything is expensive. What hurt us most, especially in the last months of the year, was power shortage. We only take two tothree days of vacations from work but because of the power cut, there were times when we only worked for eight or ten days in a month. We are paid on a daily basis, so you can imagine how our income was degraded significantly. And to make matters worse, it was summer, during which the shoe market is slow. It has really been the most challenging time of my life.
Wishes for the coming year: As the new year approaches, the demand is rising so we are doing fine. I hope to see a good working environment and a calm market where we can afford to shop as we used to. I wish the power shortage we faced won't be repeated in the coming year. And I wish a very joyful new year to Alem Awel, Zuefa Nassir, all muslims and the rest of Ethiopians.
Hayder Nassir