"Happy to work and earn." How African boys toil on a farm in the Lida region. 

Without a doubt , these six young men, who have been working at the Lida District Agricultural Unitary Enterprise (LDAU) "Mozheikovo" since the end of last year, will remember this winter for the rest of their lives. For them , it has been a time of true discoveries, dreams come true, and challenges overcome. Just recently, they were basking in the sun in the hot African country of Ethiopia, where they were born and raised. Now, for a month, they have been living in a Belarusian agro-town, coming every morning to the dairy farm where they have found jobs. And despite the fact that these African men's introduction to our country began with freezing temperatures, which even we ourselves have become unaccustomed to, they smile a lot, are happy, and almost unanimously say, "We are happy." BELTA correspondents learned how young Africans work at the dairy farm in "Mozheikovo." 

New settlers from Ethiopia 

: "We were lucky to have them," says Olga Shkorkina, Leading HR Specialist at the Mozheikovo LRSUP. "It just so happened that these young people were already in Belarus when we submitted our application. So the matter was resolved quickly. After completing all the necessary paperwork, we hired them in full compliance with the law." 
At Mozheikovo, the Ethiopian migrants were offered livestock farming jobs, and they happily accepted. According to Olga Shkorkina, their main motivation was the desire to earn money. They say they earned low wages in their home countries, but in our country they will earn many times more.
 "In the agrotown, we housed the new workers in a well-appointed dormitory, just steps from the farm office. The rooms are cozy and warm, with all the amenities, including a kitchen with a stove and refrigerator. The guys liked it and say they're happy with the accommodations. We gave them a tour of the agrotown, showing them the locations of offices and stores," shared Olga Shkorkina. 

Getting Acquainted and Adapted  
   
However, neither the farm nor the workers, who had traveled thousands of kilometers, had much time to warm up: the agricultural enterprise was keen to integrate the new team members into the workforce quickly, while they, for their part, were eager to start earning money as quickly as possible. Therefore, adaptation and familiarization with the new place of residence proceeded (and continues) in parallel with work. 
We were convinced of this when we visited the farm, where both the guys themselves and their Belarusian colleagues eagerly shared their impressions. 

"I came to Belarus with the desire to work and earn money; this is a great opportunity for us," Zerbiruk Negash told Mingist. "You have a stable economy. ""We have a good standard of living, very open and friendly people, it's pleasant to communicate and work with them. The only thing that has been a challenge is the cold. We were born in a hot country, so this (the Belarusian winter – BELTA note) is new to us, and we're trying to adapt, although it's not easy," he said. He added that a month was enough for him to fall in love with Belarus and decide: Mingistu's dream is to obtain a qualification in animal husbandry, establish himself in the Lida region, and even marry a local girl. 

Other African young men echo his fellow countryman. "They treat us with respect and kindness," shared Duquemo Amanuel Abera. "They help us settle into work and have housed us in a comfortable dormitory. I love your products: meat , milk , fish , eggs —everything is delicious and high-quality." 
"Four Ethiopian guys work at the Novy Vek farm: two livestock breeders (they care for the cows) and two help with milking. We trained them, and they're doing well. It was a bit challenging at first, especially because of the language barrier. But now they've adapted: a telephone translator helps, and the guys are learning Russian online , so they've begun to understand and even speak a little bit of what we're saying. "There are no complaints about their work; they try hard and do everything they're assigned to," said Alla Ozevich, the team leader at the dairy farm, describing her new subordinates. 

They became friends with their Belarusian colleagues 

. Their Belarusian colleagues welcomed the workers from Ethiopia with great warmth, the team leader shared. Work clothes were purchased for them at the farm's expense, and villagers supplemented the Africans' winter wardrobes. Some gave wool socks, others a warm hat and mittens. The locals eagerly ask the Africans about life in their homeland and introduce them to Belarusian traditions. The newcomers even go to lunch with the female operators. You could say they've become friends.
 "Everyone understands that coming from the heat to the cold for people who've never seen snow is quite a challenge, so we try to ease the adaptation process as best we can," says Alla Ozevich. "You should have seen their reaction to the Belarusian New Year." We had a district competition for the best decoration of the complex. We decorated everything. And Father Frost came with Snegurochka to congratulate us. The kids were so excited! They asked questions, admired us, took pictures—for them, these are new characters and a completely new experience. And they're thrilled with the snow; they just take care of their hands, but they still love it. 

Migrants under the protection of the union 

. The new workers not only integrated into the team, but even joined the union. For them, this provides both opportunities and protection. 

"As union members, for example, in addition to their wages, they will be able to receive financial assistance for professional and other holidays," explained Alexander Marsov, chairman of the district branch of the Agricultural Workers' Union, who had just arrived at the dairy farm to inspect the working conditions. "We've become accustomed to these payments, but in reality, it's union members who receive many of the benefits." 
"The dormitory is warm and cozy."  
                                                         
After introducing us to the farm workers, Olga Shkorkina invited us into the dormitory: "Today is the day off for one of the guys who helps with milking, so you'll see for yourself how they live." 

Kidane Temesgen Assefa greeted the guests warmly, invited them into their room, and showed them the kitchen. 

"We're very happy to have the opportunity to work in Belarus. The earnings are good here, and I have a large family at home. There are eight of us: my parents , four brothers, and two sisters. So I plan to work for a year, then visit my family, help them, and then come back here again," Kidane explained. 
According to the young man, the guys mostly prepare their own food. They buy Belarusian products at the store and "work their magic" in the kitchen. They prepare both their traditional dishes and regular fare. This way, he says, they're more economical. They even bake bread using their own recipes and Lida flour. 

Their first experience has been positive; they're expecting four more 

. "Overall, the farm is happy with the work of the Ethiopian migrant workers," concludes Olga Shkorkina. "When word spread in the region about our first experience, many farms called us, inquiring. They're also considering this option for replenishing their labor force. And I think the fact that our experience is positive is confirmed by the fact that we're already working to invite four more workers from Ethiopia to the farm." 
Photo by Leonid Shcheglov,
BelTA.