Angelina Jolie Is Spending NYE With Her Kids in Daughter Zahara's 'Beautiful Birth Country'
What an exciting way to usher in 2020! Angelina Jolie will be spending New Year’s Eve in Ethiopia, the “beautiful birth country” of her daughter Zahara. The Maleficent actress and four of her children are currently on a working holiday in the nation and reportedly plan to see the end of the year out there. And they’re making the last hours of 2019 count — Jolie took Zahara and the rest of the brood to meet Ethiopia’s first female president, Sahle-Work Zewde.
Per People, Jolie is traveling with kids Zahara, 14, Shiloh, 13, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 11 (whom Jolie shares with ex Brad Pitt). Not only does this trip bear special meaning for Zahara because she was born in the region, but also because the teen turns 15 on Jan. 8. So, it must have been a treat for Zahara and Shiloh, who tagged along as well, to accompany their mother in meeting President Zewde.
The visit likely fell under the purview of Jolie’s philanthropy — part of the conversation the women had centered on Jolie’s Zahara Program and its ongoing efforts to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis in the area. They reportedly also discussed education and sanitary pad solutions for girls who might otherwise miss class due to menstruation.
Of the visit, a source told HollywoodLife, “Angelina Jolie has taken the kids on a trip to Ethiopia; they left a couple of days ago. It’s where Zahara was born, so it’s important to Angelina that they keep the connection strong.” That includes, says the source, “sightseeing and getting to know more about her beautiful birth country.”
Jolie and her kids certainly seem to be sending out 2019 (and ushering in 2020) with what looks to be a lot of quality family time. Before leaving the U.S., Jolie was spotted shopping with Zahara and Shiloh one day and hitting stores with Knox and Vivienne the next. The family will be staying put to ring in the new year in Ethiopia, but it remains to be seen if they’ll stay all the while through Zahara’s birthday.