Poverty » Ethiopia

Ministry Highlight: Ethiopia

Web Team — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:18:52 +0000

In 1993 we began Compassion’s ministry in Ethiopia with the Child Sponsorship Program. In 2004, we started the Leadership Development Program and in 2006, the Child Survival Program.

Country Director

Tsehaywota Taddesse joined our ministry as a program facilitator in 1998 and was subsequently promoted to program supervisor, program manager and then program director. In 2007 he became the partnership specialist for the Africa Region, and in December 2008 he was appointed country director.

Before joining Compassion, Tsehaywota was asked by his church leaders to be a director for the child development center at his church. He served in that capacity for three years.

Tsehaywota was born and raised in rural Ethiopia and did not go to school until the age of 10. His father taught him to read and do simple mathematics, but he did not teach him to write. When the Ethiopian government started a literacy campaign all over the country, Tsehaywota had the opportunity to pursue modern education.

He holds a bachelor of science in geology from Addis Ababa University and a masters degree in child development from Daystar University in Nairobi.

Implementing Church Partners

Implementing Church Partners are local churches with whom we work to deliver our child development program and ministry in the field.

Spiritual Climate
Islamic fundamentalism is growing in Ethiopia, which is threatening the Christian Church. There have been incidences of violence toward Christians from Muslims. Also, some in the Muslim community threaten other Muslims who register their children at Compassion’s child development centers by hindering them from using funeral services and isolating them from certain social activities.

Coptic Christianity is the cause of some persecution of evangelical Christians in the northern part of the country. Some families have faced isolation from social activities and have even experienced physical abuse.
Unique Challenges
Our Implementing Church Partners face several challenges unique to Ethiopia, including:
- the existence of different languages within our country requiring translation of program implementation documents
- the need to go through denominational organizations to work with the local churches
- the constant rise in the number of highly vulnerable children
- limited financial capacity of the Implementing Church Partners
- limited availability and high demand for vocational schools
Contributions
Implementing Church Partners take care of the office construction for development center administration as well as Sunday school classes and on occasion, latrines.

Implementing Church Partners also assign volunteers for the child development center.

Church-to-Church
Our church-to-church partnerships in Ethiopia are in the relationship-building stage at this time. Sponsoring Church Partners have held special events to bring more sponsors into the ministry, which has enabled the Implementing Church Partners to register more children.
Partner Development Activities
We develop partners in Ethiopia by delivering training, conducting needs assessments, making funds available through Complementary Interventions, and organizing advocacy and sensitization workshops.

Child Survival Program

Caregiver Literacy
Caregivers study literacy individually and in classroom settings of no more than 15 mothers at a time. We use a basic adult program developed by the regional educational department.

This program has five components: alphabetical letters (in their local language), words, construction of sentences, simple mathematics and environmental science. The mothers attend class twice a week for four hours each day over six months.

Income-Generating Skills
Mothers can learn knitting, cotton spinning (for cultural dresses), basket making and petty trading. All income-generating activities are practiced both at home and at the Child Survival Program where the mothers are encouraged to work in groups.
Health Care
Caregivers have access to immunizations and voluntary counseling and testing – a free program provided by the Ethiopian government to meet the Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

We cover health counseling for mothers at the Child Survival Program on a regular basis, as well as pre-natal care, delivery expenses, medical treatment for children under age 5, transportation costs, and a higher level of medical care in the case of complications during labor and delivery.
Nutritional Support
All mothers are equipped with an income-generating skill and the necessary materials to be self-sufficient and provide for their families. The Child Survival Programs provide nutritional education and demonstrate how to prepare healthy, balanced meals.

In addition, each caregiver receives monthly food items such as grains, cooking oil, flour, and milk and cereal for their babies.
Involvement of Fathers
Fathers are the main source of income for families in Ethiopia, so they are generally very busy and cannot attend programs organized by the Child Survival Program.

However, when we are able to find an available time for the fathers, the Child Survival Program workers will meet with both parents to discuss various issues related to parenting. This happens once a month.

Transitioning Out of the Child Survival Program
We make every effort to prepare the caregivers, children and Implementing Church Partners for successful completion of the Child Survival Program and transition into Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program after the caregiver and child achieve specific physical, cognitive, social-emotional and spiritual outcomes.
Areas of Expansion for the Child Survival Program
Over the past three years our emphasis has been on rural towns; we plan to open child development centers in Addis Ababa next.

Child Development Through Sponsorship

Your sponsorship of a child in Ethiopia provides a variety of benefits.

The Implementing Church Partner’s facilities are used during the weekends for programs for adults, so sponsored children attend the Child Development Center during the week.

Meeting Times:
- 3 to 5 year olds: 2 hours a day, four days a week
- 6 to 8 year olds: 2 hours a day, three days a week
- 9 to 11 year olds: 2 hours a day, three days a week
- 12 to 14 year olds: 2 hours a day, two days a week
- 15 to 18 year olds: 2 hours a day, two days a week
- 19 +: 2 hours a day, two days a week
Nutritional Support
Implementing Church Partners do not provide food or nutritional support to the children at the child development centers because the government feels that doing so creates dependency.

In addition, because of the impoverished areas surrounding the Implementing Church Partners, they do not consider it fair to feed only the registered children while the rest of the children in the community do not have any food.
Vaccinations
Children receive vaccinations free of charge at the public health clinics provided by the government.
Extracurricular Activities or Community Service
Occasionally there are community service opportunities such as tree planting or environmental sanitation activities. Extracurricular activities such as sports are regularly available.

Vocational Activities
Most adolescents in Ethiopia do not have an opportunity to attend college because it is highly competitive. Vocational training enables the students to learn a practical skill and become economically self-supporting.

Adolescents participate in skills training and professional training depending on their area of interest and what is available. Students often become certified in the skill they are learning.
Job Placement for Adolescents
Implementing Church Partners make an effort to provide jobs to child sponsorship graduates, but there are a limited number of positions available at the child development programs. The government encourages micro-business by giving small shop spaces or small plots of land to those who organize themselves into a group and propose a specific business.

Some Implementing Church Partners try to facilitate these shop spaces or land plots for child sponsorship graduates who are trained in various vocational skills.
Parent Involvement
We have a monthly meeting for parents at the child development center. We discuss parenting as well as various issues raised by parents.

Parents also get involved in the planning and purchasing of items such as clothing and food grains for the children.

Areas of Expansion for the Child Sponsorship Program
We would like to expand into the northern part of Ethiopia. This is an impoverished region with a high number of evangelical churches and committed church leaders.

Leadership Development Program

All of Compassion’s Leadership Development Program students attend government universities throughout the country. Students presently attend 23 of the 26 government universities in the country. Some schools are located in the capital while others are up to 700 kilometers away from the capital. Because of the help from the Leadership Development Program, none of the students have to work while attending university.

Service Opportunities
Students participate in service opportunities mainly during their breaks from school. They assist at work camps, teach children at the child development centers, encourage parents in child rearing, speak to church elders and pastors about ministry, clean church compounds, assist the child development centers in whatever work needs to be done, evangelize adolescents, and paint church rooms.

Leadership Development Program students are required to serve their local church and community for a minimum of 15 hours every two months. Their pastor sends a signed letter to the Leadership Development Program specialist explaining the type of service in which the student participates.

Leadership Development Program Meetings
The larger Leadership Development Program group meets at least twice a year, between semesters or during long vacation breaks. They cover the Leadership Development Program curriculum topics, participate in service opportunities, and meet individually with the Leadership Development Program specialist.
Specialty Curriculum Topics or Resources
In addition to the 24 curriculum topics set by our ministry, Leadership Development Program students in Ethiopia take eight electives offered by college theology teachers. These electives include Old and New Testament survey and life skills courses. We feel it is important for the students to have a basic knowledge of biblical doctrine and to have an ample amount of Bible study time.
Mentors
We identify students who are not involved in a mentoring relationship and introduce them to the child development center staff in their area. Sometimes the center staff become mentors, and at other times they help the students find a mentor.

We also network with the Evangelical Student Union of Ethiopia, which works with Christian university students. The regional coordinators assist new Leadership Development Program students in finding a mentor and many are mentors themselves.
Leadership Development Program Alumni Group
There is a Leadership Development Program Alumni Association but it is not extremely active because the graduates are scattered throughout the country. Meetings and activities generally take place in the capital city where a few graduates live.

However, students who are active are invited to different parts of the country to preach and teach at the child development centers. They also advise current Leadership Development Program students, and some graduates serve as mentors.

Complementary Interventions

Our core Child Sponsorship Program, while comprehensive, does not address all obstacles to a child’s healthy development.

Compassion’s Complementary Interventions program was created to provide additional services as needed, such as our AIDS Initiative, disaster relief, water projects, special medical intervention, and provision of Bibles to all Compassion-assisted children.

Complementary Interventions in Ethiopia include:

equipping guardians with child care, business and income-generating skills and enhanced parental capacity
providing pit latrines, playgrounds and classroom construction
building and provision of educational resource centers such as libraries and computer rooms

Highly Vulnerable Children

The needs of highly vulnerable children in Ethiopia include:

Caregiver incapacitation: About 60 to 70 percent of registered Highly Vulnerable Children are living with sick, elderly or child guardians. They have serious physical, economic, nutritional and household needs. They need community-based care to cope with their living challenges and to attend programmatic activities. Highly Vulnerable Children funds allow children to remain in the Child Sponsorship Program and finish successfully.
Caregiver deprivation: About 25 percent of registered Highly Vulnerable Children are without adult care and follow-up, resulting in a chronic need for foster families. We are working to find volunteer families who can accept these children into their homes and protect and provide for them in a sustainable way.
Child abuse: About 5 to 10 percent of registered Highly Vulnerable Children encounter various forms of child abuse, resulting in emergency situations requiring immediate intervention.
Disabilities and special needs: As we identify registered children who have physical disabilities, we take necessary action to help them remain in the program and finish well. We will also make efforts to mobilize the church and surrounding community to give support.
Cottages: There are 35 children in six ministry cottages who are provided with proper family care and follow-up. We are working toward the sustainability of these cottages.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Are You Ignoring Their Prayer Requests?

Gail Taylor — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:00:45 +0000

Frustration mounts as I open my car door and step into a large puddle that covers my shoes. The wind blows my umbrella inside out and I grit my teeth to keep my tongue from sin.

I can’t believe how much rain has fallen! The freezing wind bites, the cold rain soaks my clothes, and I am so over it! Weathermen may rejoice in breaking precipitation records, but I do not!

I turn the key in the security door, hit one button for light and another for warmth, change into slippers, and sort through the mail. I’m excited to see I have a letter from one of my sponsored kids.

I open it and see the familiar white and green paper that indicates it’s from Ethiopia, and I can almost quote what is written without reading a word. There’s the standard greeting, he’s fine, am I well, he’s being going to church, please pray for his studies, and please pray for rain for the crops.

I toss the letter on the couch and move on with my day. I’ve read it all before, and as a city girl the request for rain means little to me. I figure that maybe it’s just a sentence the teacher wrote on the blackboard and once again it’s been copied. A generic, meaningless, space filler.

I pray for this boy but forget about the rain for the crops, because surely the requests I can think of are more important than rain.

Sunday comes and the rain still falls. At church a sponsor targets me to ask what the ministry is doing about the drought and famine in Ethiopia and Kenya. I shrug and say I’m not in Marketing, but I’m sure we are there helping already.

Try as I might the Holy Spirit doesn’t allow me to shrug this off. So I Google Ethiopia and famine and read news article after news article about the years of drought and current famine invading Africa with its friends starvation and death.

I go to work to hear from the CEO that we are there helping, and I’m proud that we are in the middle of this crisis — but I’m ashamed of myself.

I may be a city girl and I may never grow a vegetable in my life, but this does not excuse me of pride that ignores my sponsored son’s request for prayer support for something so important in his life, in his country, in his family’s survival. May God forgive me of my arrogance.

Learn from my lesson. Always pray for the requests your sponsored children and students send you. Especially when they don’t make sense. Especially when you think you know better. Especially because they ask.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Drought in Africa: Where is Compassion?

Brianne McKoy — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:15:05 +0000

It’s all over the news, the Web and social media. The images are showing up everywhere. The statistics are unbelievable, but they’re real and that’s why we keep hearing about it.

I’m talking about the drought in East Africa.

East Africa is currently facing its worst drought in 60 years; high food prices and failed crops have left millions of people at risk.

Dozens of relief organizations have rushed to the scene. They’re hard at work calculating the need, raising funds and bringing in lifesaving aid.

You’ve watched as this crisis has unfolded, you’ve been praying and now you’re ready to respond.

But wait — we have some questions from the audience:

“Where is Compassion?”

“What is Compassion doing amid this crisis?”

“How can I give to Compassion concerning the drought in East Africa?”

Inserting a donation link to our disaster relief fund and asking you to give, right now, is a timely thing to do. But before you click on the link, let me explain how this crisis is affecting our programs.

Our child development centers operate in five countries near the areas affected by the drought:

Kenya
Ethiopia
Rwanda
Tanzania
Uganda

We do not work in Somalia, the hardest-hit country. But where we do work, our local church partners are seeing higher food prices due to poor crop yields caused by the drought. And our church partners are experiencing an influx of refugees into the areas they serve.

Because we are a holistic child development organization working through the local church our program model often protects our beneficiaries against the potentially crippling impact of famine and drought.

Our Child Survival, Child Sponsorship, and Leadership Development Programs are each designed to help meet the ongoing needs of the families, children and students we serve. The programs help our beneficiaries become self-sufficient and better able to weather disasters, such as droughts.

However, when a crisis does arise, the local churches where our child development centers are located identify the immediate and specific needs of the children, families and students we serve.

The churches have access, through our programs, to critical assistance, such as disaster relief, clean water, medical assistance, etc.

Our ministry focus is on long-term development of children from their time in the womb until an age where they’re self-sufficient. While we focus on prevention and responding to the needs of our program beneficiaries, we applaud other organizations that do widespread disaster relief.

One of these organizations is the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), one of our partners in 58:.
In addition to its major drought-response projects already underway in Kenya and Ethiopia, CRWRC is expanding its aid to Somalia.

You can learn more about CRWRC, how they are responding to the drought, and ways you can help at crcna.org.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

A Safe Haven for Children

Tigist Gizachew — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:57:56 +0000

Life was harsh for Rediet and her twin sister, Belene, until the day the child development center came to their Ethiopian village. With a fully paralyzed, terminally ill father and a mother who was busy trying to support the family, there was really no one at home who could give the 8-year-old girls the love and nurture they craved.

Rediet and Belene would often be told to feed their father and keep him company, which generally ended with them calling for help when he experienced seizures. Rediet shares,

“I really didn’t know my father. The only memory I have of him is either in a wheelchair or in bed.

“There was a lot of suffering in our house and there was really no one to take care of him, or us, when my mother went to work. All I wanted at that time was for something or someone to get me and my sister out of the house.”

Shortly after joining the sponsorship program, Rediet and her sister realized that the child development center was their safe haven where they could enjoy their childhood and forget the misery they witnessed at home.

They started spending most of their time at the center as the center staff and the people at the church showed them love and paid attention to their development.

For the first time in their lives, Rediet and Belene learned how to pray for their family’s situation — especially for their father. For the first time in their lives, they saw hope in Jesus.

“What impressed me the most was the way the staff treated us when we went to the development center. You see, I was not used to being given attention and being treated special. My mother was so occupied with taking care of our dad, she couldn’t do more than check whether we had eaten.

“The center staff showed us the love they always teach us from the Bible. What made my stay at the center all the more special was the fact that I learned how to pray, which excited me because I knew I could pray for the recovery of my father.”

Even though her father died after years of pain and suffering, Rediet continued to excel in all areas of her life.

“I accepted my father’s passing as the will of God. It was tough for both my sister and me to lose our father without really knowing him, but I knew God wanted it to be that way.

“The prayer and encouragement of the people at the church as well as the center staff gave me the motivation I needed to do well in school. But what was more encouraging for me was my mother’s concern toward my education.”

The presence of the child development center in Rediet’s life not only gave her the opportunity to experience a normal childhood, but it also brought significant change in her family as Rediet, Belene and their mother all accepted Jesus as their Savior.

“Even though we had nothing money-wise, our home was blessed the moment we gave our lives to Jesus. Jesus has been our strength ever since. A lot of people used to come to my mother to ask for advice and even sometimes for loans. We became role models in every way in a village where the community expects less of girls.”

As the family was enjoying their new lifestyle, Rediet’s mother’s health started to deteriorate, which threatened Rediet’s dream of finishing her education and attending university through Compassion’s Leadership Development Program. Rediet and her sister were spending more and more time at the hospital rather than preparing for the university entrance exam.

“My mother’s illness was something that threatened to darken my world. She was all we had. I thought about dropping out of school to take care of her. It just seemed impossible to pursue a dream when she was no more able to support me.”

The consistent support and prayer of the development center staff and church were the only things that kept the girls going. The staff made sure that the girls studied and stayed focused on the entrance exam that would make or break their dreams. However, tragedy occurred the day before Rediet and her sister were scheduled to take the pivotal exam.

“The day my mother died was a huge turning point for me. I had all the reasons to bail out on the exam and on life. But the child development center workers insisted that we go take the exam no matter what. We buried our mother and the next day we went to take the entrance exam.

“My mom had prayed for us, fed us and sent us away with many blessings the day we took our 10th grade exam, but that day [of the university entrance exam] there was no one to do that for us. What I didn’t realize at the time was that God was there and He gave us the whole congregation to pray for us.”

Despite the trauma Rediet and Belene were going through because of their mother’s death, and to the amazement of many who knew the family, the sisters passed the entrance exam with flying colors.

“The God who knew me before I was born didn’t leave me at the greatest junctures of my life. I clearly saw his helping hand and felt His presence in my life. And it made me cautious to seek His purpose for my life.”

With a renewed determination and clear vision for her life, Rediet pursued her dream of joining the Leadership Development Program. But the dream was not just for her. She desperately wanted her sister to be part of it, too.

In addition to helping the girls apply for the Leadership Development Program, the center staff joined hands and prayed for the girls during the interview session.

“The day I heard about the Leadership Development Program, I immediately knew that I could join the program if I worked hard enough. What impressed me the most was the Leadership Development students’ fellowship and their clarity of vision.

“I wanted nothing but to be part of that. When I secured my entrance grades, I prayed to God to make my journey into the Leadership Development Program a smooth one for me as well as my sister.”

After going through the intensive selection process, both Rediet and Belene joined the program they had dreamed about for years. The child development center as well as the whole church congregation rejoiced with the girls.

“I just couldn’t believe how close God was to me and my sister. When it seemed like we had nothing left, He provided a way — through the Leadership Development Program. I consider this program another safe haven where I found my family.

“I treasure the fellowship I have with my fellow students. That I get to be part of a vision this great is something priceless.”

Rediet also talks about how the Leadership Development Program changed her view toward having a family. The lack of attention and love she had experienced while growing up had convinced her that she would be unable to succeed in having a family of her own.

However, after attending training on cherishing families, she is determined to change from the way she had been raised when she has her own family in the future.

“All the training I’m getting has impacted me, but what shaped my life the most is the training I took on cherishing family. I am now confident about writing my own story [with] the family I’ll have one day.”

Currently, Rediet is a second-year veterinary student and her sister is studying animal science.

“The most important treasure I got through the program is that I now have a clear vision as to what God wants me to do in the future. I want to work with children who lacked their parents’ love and attention while growing up, and with children who are orphans.

“I want to make a difference in their lives as Compassion did in mine. I want to show them that there is hope in Jesus. I want to avenge the children of our nation who are crippled by poverty by touching every aspect of their lives with the love of Jesus.”

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Where Are They Now?

Tigist Gizachew — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:09:42 +0000

The residents of the Arat Kilo area in Ethiopia depended on the minimum wages they earned working as daily laborers, housemaids and petty traders to support their large families. So the news of an organization registering children to support them was miraculous.

Mothers rushed to the compound of the church with their curious-eyed little children. People who passed by the church took a moment to learn about the large crowd in the compound. Some ran back home to get their children while the others went on with their business.

Though the degree of poverty varied and each family’s story was different, these people had one thing in common that day — they had hope. Hope that God heard their plea for help; hope that this would be the beginning of a brighter future for their children; and hope that the children they held in their arms would be sponsored.

How It Began

Hailemariam

Hailemariam’s mother was going through a divorce when she took her son to the church where registration was taking place. In addition to the pain of the divorce, the responsibility of providing for six children was a nightmare for her.

“I clearly remember the day my mother took me for registration. We were living in poverty at that time. My mother struggled to feed us. She was only able to buy bread for us and most of the time we only had one meal a day. Therefore, my mother considered the opportunity as an answer to her prayers.”

Fekadu

Fekadu, an 8-year-old boy, was passing by the church when he saw a crowd of people with children. He went inside and asked why they were there.

“Most of my friends in the village were being supported by an organization near our village. Therefore, when I heard about the registration at the church I just wanted to be part of it so that I can also be supported like my friends.”

Unfortunately, the woman who was doing the screening called Fekadu aside and told him to go home because there were children who lived in conditions worse than his.

However, Fekadu went to another person and was registered. After some time, the child development center asked Fekadu to bring his parents to the center to finish some paperwork – but that was impossible for Fekadu, who hadn’t told his parents what he had done.

“My father was a very conservative Orthodox Christian. I knew better than to tell him I went to the church compound and got myself registered to be supported by Protestants. That would have been the end of me, so I brought a neighbor to finish the paperwork.”

Hannan

Hannan was raised by her mother, who supported her and four of her siblings by selling second-hand clothing.

“Our daily life was so unpredictable. Our having food for the day entirely depended on my mother selling clothes. If she was lucky enough to sell a lot of clothing, then we would have food that evening. If not, there would be no food at all. Our life was very stressful and it was especially difficult for my mother.”

Hannan used to go to the church to attend Sunday school with her friends who were registered in the child sponsorship program. She loved the Bible studies and spending time with her friends at the church.

When Hannan’s mother heard about the church registering 20 additional children, she brought her little girl to the compound.

“Everybody at the church knew me, and when an opportunity came for registering additional children, my mother and I were the first to arrive at the church. But there were more than 300 people for the 20 openings. After a long process, God made it possible for me to join the program.”

Nebeyu

Nebeyu grew up with his grandfather and his uncle. His parents separated before he was born and he lost his mother when he was 5 years old.

With no regular income, the family was living in poverty. When people from the local administration came to their village, Nebeyu became one of the first children to be registered.

Henock

Henock went to the county a few days before the official registration day with his stepmother. At that time, they were among the many village residents who were living in desperate conditions.

His father worked in a government office and his salary was barely enough to cover basic expenses like food and clothing.

Unfortunately, Henock’s grandparents’ former status became an obstacle and they were told he didn’t qualify for the registration.

“We went back home heartbroken. My stepmother was especially sad because she believed that my joining the program was my only hope to live a better life. It was a miracle when we were called after a few hours to go to the county to get registered because they couldn’t fill the quota for registered children.

“We got there as fast as we could and that is how I joined Compassion.”

Where Are They Now?

Even though different circumstances brought them to the child development center, all five children talk about the significant role that Compassion has played in their lives. The love and commitment of both the development center staff and the Sunday school teachers made each child feel wanted.

The staff’s encouragement, motivation and follow-up played a huge part in helping the children believe in themselves.

Hailemariam

Hailemariam was in second grade when he joined the program. His first day at the center, when people hugged him and showed him that they care, was what made him consider the center a second home.

“I started loving going to the development center because my teachers treated me with love. I remember I was dirty and not dressed very well, but in spite of that they used to hug me whenever I went to the center. Their love and care was what made me go every week.”

Hailemariam grew up learning the Bible and getting involved in church activities.

“My foundation was laid during my early years in the program. I believe the Lord used the Sunday school classes to guide me in His way.”

Apart from the spiritual nurturing, the program’s support helped him pursue his education without having to worry about the next tuition fee. Hailemariam has graduated from a well-known college with a degree in surveying and now works as a data collector for various nongovernment organizations.

“I grew up seeing their [the development center staff and Sunday school teachers'] commitment which has taught me to do the same wherever God puts me to work. In fact, I’m planning to study community development next year so that I will be able to serve others and show the same level of commitment and passion I saw in my center’s staff.”

Fekadu

Fekadu was from a conservative Orthodox family who never wanted anything to do with Protestants. The community’s general perception that the program came to make children Protestant also put pressure on him and made him doubt the intention of the program.

However, the way the Sunday school teachers treated and taught him motivated Fekadu to come every week and gradually changed his perception.

“They were very committed to each of us and they taught us with such passion that I just enjoyed my time there. I remember I was one of the first children who was baptized. Even though I don’t remember the exact day I gave my life to Jesus, I can say that it was a process.”

Fekadu now serves the Lord as a church elder. He coordinates children’s ministry and also serves in the choir.

Hannan

Hannan, a humble and soft-spoken young girl, talks about our ministry’s importance in her life.

“Everything changed in me and in our house after I joined Compassion. What I like most about Compassion is that it’s holistic. I grew up in a balanced way. I grew up learning the Bible. I grew up being motivated to pursue my education. I grew up going to places during school breaks.

“The most important thing I got through the program is that I knew Jesus and believed in Him.”

Hannan was a top student and after passing the 10th grade national exam, she studied accounting in evening classes. She now works as an accountant at Mekanisa Addis Kidan Church Student Center. A courageous and visionary woman, Hannan plans to continue her education in management and tourism and have her own business.

When asked where she would be had it not been for this ministry, she says,

“I think I would be able to reach some place that would enable me to support myself but I think the way God led me thus far is much better because I have Him in my life. Had it not been for Compassion, I am sure I would never have the satisfaction I have now. I’m where I am because of Jesus.”

Nebeyu

Nebeyu was one of the oldest boys at the child development center. Hence, the community’s negative perception toward the program highly influenced him.

Nebeyu came to the center to attend Sunday school because he had to. No matter how doubtful he was of the Bible teaching, he soon learned of the Truth.

“I had a friend who was a deacon in the Orthodox Church and one day I asked him to give me a Bible. I started comparing what I learned at the center with the Bible he gave me. I also started studying the Bible the center gave us.

“The more I studied, the more I began to see the truth. My life’s transformation was a process, and I found myself with Jesus.”

One of the brightest students in the center, Nebeyu pursued his education because he believed it was the only way out of his family’s poverty. Though he studied hard, he was unable to score a good grade on the national exam.

Seeing Nebeyu’s potential, the child development center paid for his college education and he earned a diploma in accounting.

After working in the center as an accountant Nebeyu received yet another opportunity: to study urban missions abroad. He now supports his grandfather as well as his own family, working as a manager in a local nongovernment organization.

Nebeyu recently became a father to a beautiful baby boy.

“I believe that Compassion and the church have played the greatest role in who I am today. They built my confidence and guided me all my life. Had it not been for the program, I would have ended up like my friend in the village — dropping out of school and doing odd jobs.”

Henock

A few years after registration, Henock found himself being influenced by the bad habits of his school friends. He started smoking and drinking alcohol, which affected his education. However, during the seven years he was struggling with these addictions the development center staff, as well as the Sunday school teachers, never gave up on him.

“In all of this, the center staff and people from the church still came to visit me. They would tell me about the Lord and counsel me.

“At first, their commitment used to irritate me. But after a while I started to get amazed because even my own father had lost hope concerning me — yet people who don’t know me that much persistently came to my house to see how I was doing.”

The moment Henock accepted Jesus as his Savior, he was freed from his addictions. He serves the Lord by singing in the choir, playing keyboard and acting in spiritual dramas. He thanks the staff for seeing the good in him during all those years.

The development center arranged for Henock to study photography and video editing. Currently he works as a part-time photographer for Compassion; he’s a freelance videographer and also edits videos.

“Were it not for Compassion, I know I wouldn’t be here today. I know I wouldn’t know Jesus. I always thank the Lord for the day I joined the program.”

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How Important Is a Father’s Role in a Child’s Life?

Katy Causey — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:29:34 +0000

I stepped into my favorite coffee shop for my morning cup of java. Behind me a man carried a toddler on his shoulders, bundled to brave the chilly Colorado morning.

“There’s chocolate, powdered sugar, and even sprinkled! You can chose whichever you’d like, buddy.”

The father gave his young son a donut education as they waited in line. He spoke to his son with such adoration!

With so many absent fathers in the world, it’s encouraging to see dads invest in their children. As I watched this dad and his son enjoying their morning outing, I couldn’t help but say,

“You’ve got yourself a real cute son there!”

With a huge smile and welling pride, he responded,

“Thanks! He’s also my best friend.”

What a pleasure for the young boy! What love he will have! Imagine the difference this dad will make, even going as far as to say his little toddler was his best friend. This child will grow up cherished.

On the other side of the world, in many East African cultures, men are responsible for providing for the family and women are responsible for domestic work within the home and, in particular, looking after children. But our staff knows the role of the father in a child’s life is indispensable.

As a result, Child Survival Program (CSP) fathers in Ethiopia are more involved in caregiving and emotional support. Fathers are beginning to help wash their babies, take them to activities at the church, and participate in program activities.

They contribute to their children’s well-being through their own loving presence. They maintain a healthy relationship with the child, providing emotional and financial support.

Whether walking into a coffee shop or walking down a dirt road to a child development center, fathers can use their powerful influence to change the life of a child. These men and babies will change the face of their country.

I left the shop that morning with more than a great cup of coffee. I left with a reminder to pray for fathers and their crucial role in the lives of their children. The next time you grab a powdered-sugar donut, say a prayer for fathers and their continued presence in our African CSP programs.

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Inspired to Lead

Tigist Gizachew — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 08:23:00 +0000

For a young boy who had just moved to Addis Ababa, the lifestyle of the youth in the big city was very confusing yet tempting.

Sheleme was brought to the city by his eldest stepbrother for a better chance of education but was quickly lured into a life of gambling. Sheleme became one of the youth in the community who got what they wanted by fighting and threatening whomever got in their way.

His stepbrother got him enrolled in one of the best schools in the neighborhood, thinking that he would be influenced by the students there and realize that the lifestyle he was slowly being pulled into was not a good one.

However, concentrating on his education became very difficult as Sheleme’s name was constantly on top of the school’s black list. He got into daily conflicts with teachers and students because of his rebellious attitude, and this further aggravated his lack of interest in his education.

“I needed acceptance from my teachers and my friends at school. The way I interacted with them and my behavior at that time made it impossible for anyone to accept me. Deep down I felt like nobody wanted me there. So I was very angry and rebellious, which put pressure on the way I feel about my education.”

It was during the time when Sheleme was confused and the bad habits were taking control of his life that Mrs. Zewde, his stepbrother’s landlord (who later became the director for Nefase Silk Mekane Yesus Church Student Center), took him to the nearby church to get him registered in Compassion. She knew the program would provide for the young boy and be a good influence on him.

For 9-year-old Sheleme, the church environment was a totally new experience that he slowly came to enjoy as the center staff paid attention to him and encouraged him.

“Even when I joined Compassion, I never let my guard down and fought with every one whom I thought was against anything I said or did. But gradually, I was won by the concern of the center staff. Of course, there were many times I was given a warning for not attending and for fighting, but they still cared about me and that was all I wanted.”

Even though the change in his behavior was gradual, Sheleme started to mix well with others. The faith the staff and his sponsor had in him concerning his academic performance triggered a desire to do well in school.

“I always got the lowest grade from my class, but still wanted to get the reward the center prepared for outstanding students. Even when I ranked 74th, my sponsor used to write me that it was good. When I passed to grade 8, I made a decision to prove that I can indeed do well in school.”

He scored well on his 8th grade national exam and became one of the top-ranking students in his class. However, even though he was making progress academically, Sheleme was finding it hard to separate himself from his neighborhood friends and from the habits he had practiced for a long time. As a result, his attendance at the center lessened day by day.

To entice students like Sheleme to spend more time at the center, the staff provided table tennis so that children would want to spend more time there playing with their peers. Sheleme started to spend a considerable amount of time at the center.

“Initially, I came to the center to learn how to play table tennis so that I can make some money out of it. But later, as I’d spend almost the whole day at the center, the singing and the word of God I heard at the church made me want to attend the programs.”

Yet as he was straightening out his life, a conflict arose at home that led him to move out of the house and start living on his own. With the support of Mrs. Zewde, Sheleme easily adapted to his new lifestyle and continued to progress academically and spiritually.

“The counsel I got from Zewde, who is like a mother to me, is what helped me be who I am today. She helped me see that if I work hard today I would be a great person tomorrow and achieve my dreams. She used every opportunity to keep me away from my friends who were bad influences on me and give me advice on life. She instilled in me the desire to pursue my education and told me to never lose sight of my purpose.”

Supported by the center staff and energized by the encouraging words of his sponsor, Sheleme became a model student both academically and spiritually at the center. Although Sheleme was not able to score the passing grade for preparatory education, he graduated with honor from Selam Technical College in General Mechanics and continued studying for his first degree in Mechanical Engineering.

“Of course, I was a little disappointed for not scoring a good grade at the 10th grade national exam, but God planned something else for me. After graduating with honor in General Mechanics, I was truly surprised to be accepted at the university to do my first degree in Mechanical Engineering. It was all God.”

Sheleme received a scholarship from the university when he was a second year student. While studying at university, he continued to be active at his church, leading the youth choir and participating in different activities at the center until the time when he decided to leave.

Sheleme is currently employed in an organization that specializes in importing spare parts for heavy machinery.

Sheleme finished his first degree in 2000, but he didn’t stop there. With many visions for the future, Sheleme continues to study for another degree that he believes will help him accomplish the desire God put in his heart to be a Christian leader who will bring change to his church, community and nation.

“I was happy to graduate but I still didn’t feel content. The lack of good governance and shortage of Christian leaders in the country always prompts me to do something about it. Therefore, I decided to first equip myself and study Leadership and Development. I believe that if my country finds a great Christian leader, we would become a great nation.”

In addition to striving to be a great leader, Sheleme is involved in organizing other Compassion program graduates from all over the country who have a vision to give back to children in need.

“My vision is to help children get an education and give them a chance to change their life and achieve their dreams. There are currently 12 of us and we have started providing for one child whose parents were unable to send him to school. We provide school materials and pay his school fees. For next year, we plan to help more children get education.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today had it not been for the persistent follow-up of the center staff, especially Zewde. My sponsor has also played a great role in building my confidence to try harder academically. Compassion has been a means for me to realize the purpose God ordained for me. I feel like I am just beginning to live and there is a lot I have to do and contribute.

“God willing, my ultimate goal is to be a Christian leader that will influence so many for the betterment of my country. Until that time comes, I will continue giving back and helping the children that are facing the same challenges I faced years ago.”

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The Life of an Abducted Bride

Tigist Gizachew — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:06:26 +0000

Despite the Ethiopian government’s efforts to eradicate bridal abduction, it’s still frequently practiced in some rural areas. Bridal abduction has been illegal since 2005, but outside of the capital, the law is interpreted very loosely by the police and judges. Hence, girls as young as 11 years old are abducted and are given in marriage to men much older than them.

According to a study by UNICEF, marriage by abduction has many adverse effects on the girls and their communities, including perpetuating poverty, violating the human rights of the girls, causing permanent damage to their developing bodies, encouraging the transmission of HIV, and forcing girls to drop out of school.

Mulu, a 25-year-old mother of one, was abducted by her husband as she was going to visit her parents in the rural village. He had just lost his first wife and his child, and he decided to marry again.

Once Mulu was abducted, her family had no choice but to agree to the marriage, thinking that it would be a disgrace for the family if they didn’t. The majority of the girls are raped when they are abducted. Once the girl is abducted, the parents of the man send elders to the girl’s parents to ask for their daughter’s hand in marriage.

Many of the parents agree to the marriage because they fear that their daughter won’t be able find a husband after the incident is heard in the community, and that the abductor won’t return their daughter if they refuse him.

Cursing her luck, Mulu complied with the wishes of her parents to stay with her abductor and she started life as his wife. As is the custom, she asked no questions about her husband’s past life and accepted only the bits of information he provided.

“Even though it took me a long time to accept my fate, I tried to make the best out of the situation I was in. I started working as a daily laborer and took care of the house to the best of my ability. I just wanted to make my parents proud of me.”

Shortly after they started living as husband and wife, Mulu started to notice her husband’s unstable mental condition, deteriorating health and uncontrollable addiction to alcohol and chat — an herb with a narcotic effect. She became the sole provider of the household as her husband’s condition worsened.

While she was struggling to support her husband, she was also expecting her first-born. As with most of the women in her village, she was unaware of antenatal care or the importance of health checkup.s Mulu gave birth to a baby boy at home assisted by her neighbors. The baby passed away within a week.

“My whole world went dark with the death of my baby. Some said he had pneumonia and some said it was an evil spirit. I never knew the exact reason because I wasn’t able to take him to the health center.”

Soon after the death of her baby, Mulu became pregnant again. Even though the unanswered question of why she lost her first-born lingered at the back of her mind, she hoped for the best.

This time, not wanting to take a chance, she went to deliver her baby at the hospital. She was happy to return home with her baby girl.

“I counted the days, and when she became 1 week old I celebrated. Then the second week passed and I was sure everything would be OK. But the third week she started to get ill, and I lost my baby when she was 1 month old.”

Heartbroken with the loss of her children, Mulu decided to never try to have children again. She went back to her old life — working hard to support her sick husband.

“The day I knew I was pregnant again, I wanted to end my life. I didn’t want to go through another pain of burying my baby. I cursed my husband and most of all my fate.”

Even though she wanted to terminate the pregnancy, the little hope she felt inside wouldn’t let her do it.

One morning as Mulu was having coffee with her neighbors, she heard them talk about an organization that was registering babies and their mothers. What one of the ladies said caught her attention: They were registering pregnant mothers.

Mulu went to the church compound. Soon after that, she joined Compassion’s Child Survival Program. She was six months pregnant.

“I was startled to hear Mulu’s story while I was taking her history. I immediately arranged for her to go to the health center the next day and start her antenatal care. I also wanted her to get a full medical checkup because I wanted to find out why she lost her two babies.

“The next day I met her, I tried to assess what she knew about HIV/AIDS and counseled her before we went to the health center. The result was as I suspected. Mulu was found to be HIV-positive,” says Zenebech, the Child Survival Program Coordinator at the center.

For a woman who didn’t know much about the virus, the result came as a shock.

“What I heard drained the little hope I had. I couldn’t understand why my life was in such disarray.

“I hung on to every single word Zene was saying about how I can get through this. But when she told me that I can give birth to a healthy baby, I jumped up with joy. All my grief disappeared on that moment.”

Mulu was immediately started on antiretroviral therapy, and frequent antenatal care at the hospital was arranged for her. Both the physical and emotional support she received through the Child Survival Program gave her a sense of security.

Three months after she joined the program, Mulu gave birth at the hospital assisted by medical doctors who took the necessary precautions to prevent the transmission of the virus to the infant.

“I cried tears of joy when they handed me my baby girl. She tested negative for the virus, and I praised God for His gift. Had it not been for the care of the program staff, my baby would have been dead like the first two.”

The program’s intervention for Mulu didn’t stop at saving her baby’s life, but also gave her a fresh beginning filled with hope. The training she received through the program on health, hygiene and parenting has helped her change her lifestyle and care for her baby in a better way.

She was also soon given an opportunity to get involved in an income-generating activity. She was given some money, which she used to buy a bed, mattress, kitchen utensils, and to start a business.

She attended intensive training on starting a small business. She chose to sell corn and has been making a good profit. During the rainy season, she buys corn for about $3 and makes a $3 profit at the end of the day. From the $3, she saves 25 cents and uses the rest for her family.

During the dry season, she sells sweet potatoes and makes about $2.50 per day.

“More than the support I get, I value the Bible lessons and the fellowship I have at the center. My old confidence has come back and I am very content with the life I am leading now. Even though my husband still bothers me and is unhealthy, I have put my hope on the Lord, who has sustained me so far.

“The joy I feel when I see my girl is indescribable. I have stopped complaining about the turn of events in my life and have started appreciating the little blessings that come my way each day.

“The Child Survival Program has played the greatest of roles in my life. I am here today because of it and my baby is alive because of it. I have so much hope for the future and I rest assured that the program is there for me as well as my baby no matter what.”

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Preparing Children for the Leadership Development Program

Tigist Gizachew — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:17:50 +0000

Ever since the Leadership Development Program was launched in Ethiopia in 2004, students from Compassion-assisted child development centers around the country submit their applications each year and pass through an intensive selection process to be one of the few chosen to participate in the program.

A student’s acceptance into the program is considered a big accomplishment for a child development center, the family, and most of all the student.

Development centers invest a lot to make one child eligible for the program; the outcome is the aggregated input of many years of work and one that involves the unrelenting effort of the center staff, Sunday school teachers and caregivers.

In any community, if there is an understanding of the value of education, there will be a gradual change in the development of that community as students succeed and pursue higher education. The more the society believes in education, the more they invest in their children.

According to Mr. Azale, who has worked as Director for DebreZeit Meserete Kirstos Child Development Center for 14 years, the community’s view toward education has been the decisive factor in the academic success of the majority of the children at his center.

There are parents who sacrifice a lot in order to buy their children books. There are also those who pay close attention to their children’s academic progress. This isn’t always the case elsewhere.

Many children living in poverty are forced to drop out of school and support their family. It takes extra effort to motivate these children and to show them other options. Even if the family believes in education, it is often considered a luxury.

To tackle this and other related problems encountered during the process of developing academically competent children, the center staff’s commitment to constantly counsel and guide them plays a pivotal role.

According to Mr. Azale, who is also among center directors who won last year’s award for bringing the highest number of students to the Leadership Development Program, the center starts working with children when they are 7 or 8 years old.

Children are encouraged to make a habit of reading. The center developed a system where the children are asked to list the books they need for the coming year. Those books are made available when possible in the resource center for all children to access. The resource center has a professional librarian, and Mr. Azale visit frequently.

In order to recognize the hard work of the students each academic year, the center arranges recreation time at the end of the year. During this time, the center staff encourages and awards those who did well academically, while motivating the others to do well in the coming year.

This event works wonders every year to create the kind of competitive spirit the center wants to instill in the children.

“We don’t only work on the improvement of the children’s academic performance; we want our children to have a balanced growth. Therefore, we also devote our time in developing their spiritual life as well as their social life,” says Mr. Azale.

Even though the children come from various religious backgrounds, the Bible studies they learn gradually bring change in their lives, and many have accepted Jesus as their Savior.

To strengthen their spiritual life, the center encourages children to participate in various church activities. In addition to the spiritual activities, the center staff makes sure children are involved in various clubs, which helps develop their social skills, too.

According to Mr. Azale, the center focuses not only on making students eligible for the Leadership Development Program, but also works hard to ensure children qualify to pursue higher education.

“Preparing students for the Leadership Development Program is a longtime process and one that requires long-term planning. We believe that if we work on the foundation, our children will be competent in any setting. Therefore, we invest in them starting from their childhood.

“What we emphasize most is that children should work hard on their education, on their social as well as spiritual life to get accepted to the Leadership Development Program. But even if they don’t get the chance, their being accepted at the university is success by itself.”

Within the past six years 20 applicants from the center went through the selection process and nine were accepted into the program.

The students who compete for the program but aren’t selected often have no one to financially support their education, making it hard for them to concentrate on their studies.

Mr. Azale mentions the challenge he faces in reassuring students who are not selected. He wants to raise the quota to accept more children in the future.

“It is very difficult for us to convince students who don’t get the chance to be sponsored through the Leadership Development Program. I personally don’t blame them because these children will have no financial support whatsoever after they join the university.

“Our center staff currently supports two students in university because the students’ parents have no means of giving them financial support. It would be good if more children could participate in the program. If not I think we should think about supporting the children who don’t get the chance.

“The Leadership Development Program is a sacrificial service for everyone involved. We pay a price to bring the children to that level; the specialists pay a price to cultivate the children they accept and people who find sponsors pay a price to make sure that each child has a support.

“I would like to encourage those that are engaged in the work of finding these fine students sponsors to work hard because the more sponsors they find, the more children will be accepted in the program.

“Each child’s success in the program is the fruit of their hard work, so I say ‘God bless you’ and I encourage you again to make it possible for more children to get into the program.”

Sponsor a Leadership Student today.

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Who Are the Highly Vulnerable Children We Serve?

Tigist Gizachew — Tue, 18 May 2010 07:02:19 +0000

It was broad daylight when the silence of a village in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, was broken by the screaming of women, crying for help to save a mother’s life. The woman was attacked by her own neighbor with a piece of iron, over a dispute about a man.

For these women, whose livelihood depends on the income they make as prostitutes, this kind of conflict is nothing new. But that day it ended with one women dying and the other going to jail for life.

In the middle of it all, a 6-year-old girl along with her three siblings lost her mother. Yordanos was left with no one to care for her; orphaned, as she knew nothing about her father.

Immediately after her mother’s death, when her sisters went to the streets, Yordanos was taken in by an old lady in the neighborhood. For the young mind of Yordanos, it was difficult to grasp why her life suddenly turned upside down. It was something she never fully understood.

However, when the old lady whom she started calling grandmother began to care for her as one on her own children, Yordanos gradually came out of her shell.

A few years passed with Yordanos pursuing her elementary education and grew into a beautiful teenager. Life was good under the care of her new grandmother, until her grandmother’s son, who ran their motel business, died suddenly. One day, when Yordanos came back from school, her grandmother gave her an order to run the motel after school.

Yordanos’s new task involved collecting money from customers who rent a room for the night, staying up until midnight to lock up, and calculating the day’s earning. Yordanos, at an age where she should be spending more time with her friends studying and playing, became exposed to a life which no child should ever be exposed to. Most of the customers were the local prostitutes and their clients.

“I used to rent rooms for all kinds of people: people who were drunk, people who were drugged and old people who came to cheat on their wives. I used to see my friends play, and I envied them.

“Forget my schooling; it was hopeless as I had no time to study. Moreover, my grandmother started mistreating me. She would beat me if I refused to wait on customers for one night.

“Because I used to work without eating, I started to steal from my grandmother.”

Destu was born from a father who spent most of his life in and out of prison and from a mother whose livelihood depended on prostitution. Destu and her little brother grew up witnessing violence between their parents when their father was out of prison.

In addition, the daily misery of poverty was unbearable. Their mother’s meager income was mostly spent on “Chat” — a local herb with a drugging effect.

“I know little about my father because he spent most of his life in prison. The few times I have seen him I remember him not as a good father who is interested in his children but as a person who abused our mother. You know, my mother, even though she has her own shortcomings, cared so much for us. She loved us and protected us from so many things.”

The dreadful life Destu and her brother led became more painful when their mother was diagnosed with AIDS.

“I never expected that to happen. I guess I was too young to expect it. My mother was a good person and didn’t deserve this, but it happened. Shortly after my mother was diagnosed with AIDS, our father also went and checked his status. He was also found HIV-positive.”

Destu and her brother lost their parents and were left under the care of their aunt, who was also a prostitute. Destu assumed the responsibility of raising her brother and managing the house since their aunt was never at home to care for them. Destu was burdened by too many responsibilities that were putting pressure on her education.

“I was unable to study with an empty stomach. I had to care for my little brother, which involved finding ways to feed him. It was all too much for me.”

Four years ago, Compassion began a pilot program called Highly Vulnerable Children (HVC) in Ethiopia in hopes of giving a loving home to children like Destu and Yordanos so that they could grow up and realize their dreams. About 35 children are now receiving family care and support in the six cottages established through the program.

These children are given love and care from their foster parents, and traumatized children receive counseling as well. Their basic needs are fulfilled, and their foster parents also follow up with their education and spiritual life.

The Dire Dawa Vision Cottage is one of the cottages that support nine children who needed immediate intervention. Mr. Girma and his wife, Mrs. Etifwork, have two children of their own. They have lived most of their lives in Dire Dawa town. Their exemplary Christian life and their heart for orphaned children were the reasons the church approached them with the offer for the opportunity to be foster parents to these children.

“God has given me and my wife a calling which is to help the fatherless. When the church came to us with this offer, we didn’t hesitate to take these children in. Of course, we prayed about it but we knew that this was God’s calling for us.”

Yordanos and Destu are among the nine children taken in by Mr. Girma’s family who have shown significant change in their holistic development.

After Yordanos started living with her foster parents, she finally had the chance to grow like a child. She played with her peers and began to pay attention in school. The child who was always failing in her grades became a rank student within a year. She accepted Jesus and put her past, which influenced her behavior, behind her.

Today, Yordanos is a different person. She is a devoted Christian and a great student with a clear purpose for her life.

“God gave me this family because He loved me and wanted to use me for His glory. Had it not been for the HVC program, I would have ended up like my sisters — in the streets with illegitimate children. Now I can be whatever I want to be and I am determined to make my dream of becoming a medical doctor a reality with the help of God.”

As for Destu, life took a total turn for the better and her constant worry about taking care of her brother was put to rest when she joined the foster family along with her brother. She immediately began to excel in school with the close follow-up of her foster parents. Her grief was gradually replaced with happiness as their caregivers gave her the love and attention she lacked.

“I was emotionally scarred and was very afraid of my future as well as my brother’s future. I was sure that we would be thrown in the streets when my aunt who was also HIV-positive dies. No one really cared about us. It’s a miracle that I’m even in this kind of environment where people give me love and attention. I feel so emotional because I have been telling myself that I don’t mean anything to anyone. But that’s different now. Thanks to Compassion, I have found people who care about what I eat, what I wear, where I go, what I would be when I grow up, and they support me.”

Each child’s who lives at the cottage has a different story, but they all have something in common: They were neglected and abandoned with no one to care for them. But now, life is bright and full of hope for great opportunities that await them.

We acknowledge that all children in our programs are vulnerable and face a certain degree of risk, but some registered children face much greater risks than others.

Thus, the “highly vulnerable children” in our programs are the registered children who are at greatest risk of physical, psychological or social harm relative to the other registered children in the program.

Read more about how we help highly vulnerable children. Make a donation to help highly vulnerable children.

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