The group called “ChangeForEthiopia: You and I Can Change The World” returned from their assessment trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (this was our second time) and is focusing on three areas in which we feel our fundraising makes the biggest impact. All three areas have a United States 501c3 not-for-profit status. All three areas concentrate on sustainability: education and training of impoverished children/orphans/street children. We found through this trip that the most important thing we can do as Americans is to not recreate the wheel but to support Ethiopians helping to build up Ethiopia. There are incredible things happening all over Africa, amazing ministries taking place right before our eyes! We do not want to create “Dependence Syndrome” by offering free handouts and charity so it is our choice to encourage and support what is already good that is occurring in Ethiopia.
#1: Bright Hope Project:
The Bright Hope (“Birhu Tesfa”) Primary School is located in the leprosy colony of Korah on the edge of Addis Ababa which we visited. Most of the 1200+ children are desperately poor with one or both parents living with leprosy, HIV or AIDS (if there is a parent at all). ChangeForEthiopia was asked to partner with this school, the Ethiopian Government and Children’s Hope International (St. Louis) on a $250K project to build a sustainable garden with chickens where the children can learn a trade and grow much needed food with potential to sell the excess for profit. We purchased two of three chicken houses (the laying house for hens, $6000) and the rooster house ($6000) and the supplies to go with it. Other donors have sponsored a new well ($20,000) and the hatching house ($6000). The children finally have water at school; it’s been two years! We’re SO excited to help! But there’s so much more to be done.
Funds are still needed for: restoration of 1.5 acre garden ($21,000), masonry wall ($20,000 to protect the entire project from looting and destruction~there are more donors needed at this time for this portion of what was originally $180,000).
HOW TO GIVE: If you are interested in sponsoring this project, you can go to http://chi.convio.net/goto/ChangeForEthiopia and donate online. Or you can write checks to “Children’s Hope Foundation” and put in memo “Bright Hope Project” and send them c/o Mackenzies, 2024 Prairie Avenue, Quincy, IL 62301.
#2. Compassion Family International: Schools for Impoverished Children:
We met Peter Aberas and fell in love with this strong, quiet leader. Peter was a World Vision International-sponsored child when he was younger and later became the director for YoungLife in northern Ethiopia. Now, on his own, he has put together his first successful school for street children in Kechene (“Kai-sjawn-ee”), an extremely impoverished area on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. Local officials so far have referred 85 children to Peter for KG1, KG2 and first grade. He’s hoping to add more grade levels soon.
In 2008, Peter began another school for 25 children in the Lafto region. Again, he continues work with local officials to identify the desperately needy and to provide a meal and schooling for them. He says, “The children cannot learn if they have hungry stomachs.” But with his YoungLife experience and training, he has also identified another need: young single mothers. To this end, he has brought young mothers under his wing at the Lafto compound to teach them skills and a trade so they can feed and support their children without turning to prostitution.
ChangeForEthiopia purchased many supplies, kitchen items, desks, tables and chairs for the Lafto school. Our team felt very strongly about the work that Peter is doing for the destitute and the forgotten. There are so many needs here right now! If you are interested in volunteering here to teach, cook, or just love on children, please contact us.
HOW TO GIVE: If you are interested in sponsoring this project, you can go to http://www.hopeheritage.org/SupportIHH.html and donate online under the project designation “Compassion Family International.” Or you can write checks to “International Hope Heritage” and put in memo “Compassion Family International” and send them c/o Mackenzies, 2024 Prairie Avenue, Quincy, IL 62301.
#3. Soccer Ephrem’s Street Soccer Ministry:
Growing up living on the streets of Addis Ababa was a tough life for Ephrem Hagos. He lived as a street child for five years, so he understands what 10 million children are going through right now in Ethiopia: the desperation, the starvation, the victimization. Ephrem is one of the success stories, though, and he has a heart to serve those whose circumstances once mirrored his own.
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