Great day today!
Yesterday not so much.
Yesterday, my assistant, Nesredin came to me saying that he was just informed of a child-headed household that was about to be thrown into the streets. The landlord didn't want them living on the compound anymore as they didn't have any money for proper meals let alone rent.
I asked Nesredin if he could take me to visit the children to, if nothing else, provide them with a few days worth of food. We arrived at the compound with a bag full of groceries and a couple popotees (suckers) for the children. The first to greet us was the little 3 year old girl named Maryamwit. She was dressed in a beautiful but ragged green dress. Next was her 6 year old sister named Beamluk - she was much skinnier than her younger sister. Then we met their biological aunt, Yordanos, also an orphaned girl of 16 years who is their caretaker. We were asked to have a seat in small room where we were told their story.
Yordanos was orphaned at one year old. Her mother disappeared sometime around her first birthday and has not been heard or seen since. She doesn't know who her father is. She was offered a place to stay in the compound as her neighbors tried to care for her. Currently, she is attending a private school were she was granted a scholarship for study as she has no money to pay for school fees or materials. She is a great student.
Maryamwit and Beamluk were orphaned two years ago when they were 1 and 4 years old - their mother also disappeared. Fathers don't want anything to do with them and have never visited the children. There were no caretakers available in the compound for the children and so Yordanos, at 14 became a mother of 2. She shares her small room with them, feeds them, cares for them, washes them, and sleeps with them. Through all of this she has asked for nothing in return and has taken the children in, finding them food when possible and making sure they are safe every night in her room.
As they are about to be kicked out into the streets it was urgent that I find them a home if they were willing to move. We wouldn't separate them based on biological lines but keep them together as Yordanos wished to be with 'her children.' The search was on to find an organization willing to take 3 children in and it was destined to be difficult as it always seems to be that there is never enough space and too many children needing immediate assistance.
We were SO LUCKY AND I AM SO GRATEFUL! The first meeting we had this morning we were told that Salemta, an organization with a transition center for orphaned children and a foster care program in the works agreed to take them in. If you remember back in January I visited this organization for Timkat (Christmas) and it is an amazing organization run by a young man hired by its American creators. It is an organization that allows the children to attend a private school, have a soccer team, live with a permanent family, and keeps siblings together! It's so wonderful!
Tomorrow we will be picking up the children and bringing them to the transition center where they will stay until they have been provided with a foster family. I am so overcome with emotion that these children will now have a permanent and loving home and most importantly - one that is allowing them to stay together.
Yordanos will begin her 8th grade year on Monday at her new school and Beamluk will now attend her first year of Kingergarten, something which would not have been possible without this home!
Now, it is time to ask for sponsors. All the children at Selamta have permanent sponsors - all the children LOVE their sponsors and show their pictures and letters to everyone in the home continuously. If anyone is willing to sponsor 1 or even all 3 it would be great! The cost is $30 per month per child and please remember that includes everything, from clothes, private school, food, and medical care. It takes so little money to supply these children with a great future. Please if you are interested in sponsoring a child I will give you further information about the organization which is US-based and tax-deductible!
There are pictures of the girls on the photo page. Please please act!!!!
My email: bettinakeppers@hotmail.com
Friday, September 21, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Millenium Celebration!
A child’s smile. As I was thinking of writing this journal entry on the road from Harar I wondered if anyone has ever tried to describe what it is like to experience the smile of a child? Perhaps their laughter? I couldn’t come up with one example. I believe it is the impossibility of adequately describing such an experience not my lack of literary knowledge as to why I have never read of the experience in text. Many books refer to the “sound of a child’s laughter” or “the widest smile I’ve ever seen from my daughter,” but never have I read of the description of feelings and emotions they bring.
“Inay addis libs?” (Are these my new clothes?)
“Ow! Anche addis libs inay conjo!” (Yes, they’re your new clothes my beautiful girl)
“Inay, addis libs?” (Are these my new clothes?)
“Ow! Ante addis libs!” (Yes, they’re your new clothes!) to a boy
The Millennium Party at Kechene was set to begin at 6:00 pm, but the fun and laughter began hours earlier as I brought all the items needed for the night’s events – goats to slaughter, oranges for treats, donations from a bakery, toys from co-workers… all came through the gates causing the children to line up at the gate most of the day awaiting yet another arrival.
At about 4:30 pm I asked Tsegay (the head caretaker) if I could have the package I had delivered days earlier. As with every step I take I had 2 toddlers clinging to my pants, one in my arms, and 3 or 4 others fighting for sole access to one of my hands to hold. I escorted the youngest of the toddlers to their room so I could devote all my attention to those who would receive perhaps one of the most special gifts in their recent memory. New clothes. But not just any new clothes, traditional ceremonial Ethiopian dresses and suits. Clothes that while walking with the children on the streets of Addis they admire on others, not on themselves. That they’ve asked me if they could have but until now I couldn’t give them. They didn’t know what they would receive when Tsegay handed me a bundle, but they knew, as is always the case with any package I bring to Kechene that they would receive something.
Beamluk and Tsegarida were the first allowed into the room that we used as a changing room. They had showered and oiled their hair especially for the occasion – their only shower of the week. As I brought out the first outfit their eyes widened, glowed, sparkled, and soon they were bouncing up and down with the movement of their legs jumping with joy. Shortly after, Beamluk stood still and asked, “Inay addis libs?” I replied, “Ow, Anche addis libs inay conjo.” The jumping was repeated and their clothes began to fly everywhere as they tried to undress as fast as they could. Tsegarida soon piled onto the bundle of clothes and started searching for hers as Bamlie was delicately placing her new dress over her head.
By the time they were fully dressed they were running around in circles dancing and begging to be let out of the room to show everyone in the compound their new dresses. As they ran out the door, their first destination was to the others their age who they were told were going to get new clothes as well because no moment is special unless they all get to share it together. After telling the children to find me they ran off to show their caretakers and the older children.
Trying to describe what transpired seems so artificial. I wish I had had a professional photographer present to capture the moment for you – their faces, their eyes, their smiles, their reactions, everything. Unfortunately for you, my pathetic attempt will have to suffice
Perhaps the most precious of all was Dawit. I’ve written of him in the past as he was the one separated from his mother recently who is serving a life sentence for killing her abusive husband. He was sleeping during the chaos of the wardrobe change but the children aged 3-5 couldn’t wait to help him try out his new treads. So, we decided to disturb him and he awoke happily as he always does when I offer him my arms. The children surrounded him, described what awaited him and we were off to the changing room.
Like only Dawit can, he smiled with his entire heart when he saw the new shirt and matching pants. His little mouth that is always opened wide for bananas was now widened with happiness. He stared. He looked back at me, “Bettina-ay (my dear Bettina) are they for me?” “Yes, Dawit. For you. Absolutely.” He sprung out of my arms and to the floor, jumping and clapping while trying to pull his too small shirt over his big head.
To see the joy these children experienced even for just one day was an unforgettably, beautiful thing. They had so much fun showing themselves to the staff who then uncontrollably kissed and hugged them, to the older children who did the same; dancing their hearts into the ground; gobbling deserts and guzzling soda until their appetites were satisfied.
For children who I have to regularly deny milk, an extra orange or banana because their isn’t enough for seconds – they got to be special for an entire evening – experiencing every “extravagance” I could bring to them in the short time allowed for planning (5 days).
These children in the picture above mean the world to me – they are my heart and though someday they will make it to their forever families in a faraway land I hope that they will remember their Millennium if only for the love that was shared on that night. They had a blast and I am truly grateful to those of you who took the time and effort to donate or information others of the event.
The children told me to forward this message,
“Betam amusaygenallo, ewedeshallo, inxavier-yestalin”
(“Thank you very much. We love you. And God bless.”
“Inay addis libs?” (Are these my new clothes?)
“Ow! Anche addis libs inay conjo!” (Yes, they’re your new clothes my beautiful girl)
“Inay, addis libs?” (Are these my new clothes?)
“Ow! Ante addis libs!” (Yes, they’re your new clothes!) to a boy
The Millennium Party at Kechene was set to begin at 6:00 pm, but the fun and laughter began hours earlier as I brought all the items needed for the night’s events – goats to slaughter, oranges for treats, donations from a bakery, toys from co-workers… all came through the gates causing the children to line up at the gate most of the day awaiting yet another arrival.
At about 4:30 pm I asked Tsegay (the head caretaker) if I could have the package I had delivered days earlier. As with every step I take I had 2 toddlers clinging to my pants, one in my arms, and 3 or 4 others fighting for sole access to one of my hands to hold. I escorted the youngest of the toddlers to their room so I could devote all my attention to those who would receive perhaps one of the most special gifts in their recent memory. New clothes. But not just any new clothes, traditional ceremonial Ethiopian dresses and suits. Clothes that while walking with the children on the streets of Addis they admire on others, not on themselves. That they’ve asked me if they could have but until now I couldn’t give them. They didn’t know what they would receive when Tsegay handed me a bundle, but they knew, as is always the case with any package I bring to Kechene that they would receive something.
Beamluk and Tsegarida were the first allowed into the room that we used as a changing room. They had showered and oiled their hair especially for the occasion – their only shower of the week. As I brought out the first outfit their eyes widened, glowed, sparkled, and soon they were bouncing up and down with the movement of their legs jumping with joy. Shortly after, Beamluk stood still and asked, “Inay addis libs?” I replied, “Ow, Anche addis libs inay conjo.” The jumping was repeated and their clothes began to fly everywhere as they tried to undress as fast as they could. Tsegarida soon piled onto the bundle of clothes and started searching for hers as Bamlie was delicately placing her new dress over her head.
By the time they were fully dressed they were running around in circles dancing and begging to be let out of the room to show everyone in the compound their new dresses. As they ran out the door, their first destination was to the others their age who they were told were going to get new clothes as well because no moment is special unless they all get to share it together. After telling the children to find me they ran off to show their caretakers and the older children.
Trying to describe what transpired seems so artificial. I wish I had had a professional photographer present to capture the moment for you – their faces, their eyes, their smiles, their reactions, everything. Unfortunately for you, my pathetic attempt will have to suffice
Perhaps the most precious of all was Dawit. I’ve written of him in the past as he was the one separated from his mother recently who is serving a life sentence for killing her abusive husband. He was sleeping during the chaos of the wardrobe change but the children aged 3-5 couldn’t wait to help him try out his new treads. So, we decided to disturb him and he awoke happily as he always does when I offer him my arms. The children surrounded him, described what awaited him and we were off to the changing room.
Like only Dawit can, he smiled with his entire heart when he saw the new shirt and matching pants. His little mouth that is always opened wide for bananas was now widened with happiness. He stared. He looked back at me, “Bettina-ay (my dear Bettina) are they for me?” “Yes, Dawit. For you. Absolutely.” He sprung out of my arms and to the floor, jumping and clapping while trying to pull his too small shirt over his big head.
To see the joy these children experienced even for just one day was an unforgettably, beautiful thing. They had so much fun showing themselves to the staff who then uncontrollably kissed and hugged them, to the older children who did the same; dancing their hearts into the ground; gobbling deserts and guzzling soda until their appetites were satisfied.
For children who I have to regularly deny milk, an extra orange or banana because their isn’t enough for seconds – they got to be special for an entire evening – experiencing every “extravagance” I could bring to them in the short time allowed for planning (5 days).
These children in the picture above mean the world to me – they are my heart and though someday they will make it to their forever families in a faraway land I hope that they will remember their Millennium if only for the love that was shared on that night. They had a blast and I am truly grateful to those of you who took the time and effort to donate or information others of the event.
The children told me to forward this message,
“Betam amusaygenallo, ewedeshallo, inxavier-yestalin”
(“Thank you very much. We love you. And God bless.”
Monday, September 10, 2007
Here are the lyrics of Steven Curtis Chapman's song 'When Love Takes You In.' It is an extremely moving song and has a beautiful video as well. You can watch the music video for free at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=demRHgul2Zk
Thanks Michele for the link, I finally was able to download it!
I know you’ve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You’ve heard about a place called home
But there doesn’t seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream
Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in
And somewhere while you’re sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be
When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever cause this love to lose its hold
When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=demRHgul2Zk
Thanks Michele for the link, I finally was able to download it!
I know you’ve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You’ve heard about a place called home
But there doesn’t seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream
Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in
And somewhere while you’re sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be
When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever cause this love to lose its hold
When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in
Friday, September 7, 2007
A PLEA FOR FUNDS FOR FUN!!
I know I have asked for money in the past and everything that I receive goes directly to the children - all of which is extremely important either to their health, development, or for just being kids. The money I am about to ask for is for fun. Please let me explain.
The streets of Addis are brightly decorated in yellow, red and green - the colors of the Ethiopia flag. It is a beautiful site and a great change from the otherwise rolling landscape of big, plain buildings and slums. It makes the environment more playful for children and their eyes upon passing Bole Road, where most of the decorations are concentrated, light up.
The lights are for the Millennium celebration to be held Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. In addition to the lights there are festivities, plays, the grand opening of the first public playground, football (soccer) matches, concerts, and joyous celebrations in the houses of every Ethiopian no matter how poor. It is a holiday marking a change, of which all are hoping for is for the better of Ethiopians after they have suffered so much pain, much of which has been at the hands of its government for decades and decades on end.
All these celebrations, parties, and playground playtime is inaccessible to the 200 children at Kechene Children's Home. ALL OF IT. A few lucky ones will be able to visit living relatives while the others will be celebrating the Millennium just like any other day at the Children's Home as they simply don't have the funds for a celebration.
So… I will be providing the funds for their Millennium Party, and your help would be much appreciated. The agenda is full of fun for all children of all ages and will surely be a memory that they will cherish forever. Donations of all sizes from $5-$50 are more than welcome and will assist me in providing a fun-filled atmosphere for the children of Kechene. Please consider donating, it takes so little time and what may seem like a small amount of money to you will provide an enormous amount of laughs, playing, and fun for children who honestly don’t experience enough of it. Please…
The agenda is as follows:
Dinner celebration (complete with goat meat for which I will be purchasing 4 goats for the children. They cost about $35 dollars each. Soda and cakes for the children to cost about $75).
Circus (the Children’s circus will be performing. All child performers are vulnerable children –including orphans, street children, and children from extremely impoverished households).
Dance (all children will be taking part in the traditional Ethiopian dancing. There will be a special guest who has traveled Europe to perform. He is my Ethiopian dance instructor, a former refugee and street boy who now provides for his family at the most famous traditional dance club, Fandika. He provides free lessons to orphaned children and I greatly appreciate him for donating his time at Kechene even though he’ll be performing later at the Sheraton, the largest Millennium celebration in the city).
In addition, if I can receive enough donations, I’ll be providing little gifts for the children, including some already donated jump ropes from Rachel, my friend who will be visiting at the end of month!
Thanks for reading this and I hope you’ll be inspired to make a small contribution.
(There will be video of the celebration and I can send it home for your viewing…. Come on now… ACT!)
I know I have asked for money in the past and everything that I receive goes directly to the children - all of which is extremely important either to their health, development, or for just being kids. The money I am about to ask for is for fun. Please let me explain.
The streets of Addis are brightly decorated in yellow, red and green - the colors of the Ethiopia flag. It is a beautiful site and a great change from the otherwise rolling landscape of big, plain buildings and slums. It makes the environment more playful for children and their eyes upon passing Bole Road, where most of the decorations are concentrated, light up.
The lights are for the Millennium celebration to be held Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. In addition to the lights there are festivities, plays, the grand opening of the first public playground, football (soccer) matches, concerts, and joyous celebrations in the houses of every Ethiopian no matter how poor. It is a holiday marking a change, of which all are hoping for is for the better of Ethiopians after they have suffered so much pain, much of which has been at the hands of its government for decades and decades on end.
All these celebrations, parties, and playground playtime is inaccessible to the 200 children at Kechene Children's Home. ALL OF IT. A few lucky ones will be able to visit living relatives while the others will be celebrating the Millennium just like any other day at the Children's Home as they simply don't have the funds for a celebration.
So… I will be providing the funds for their Millennium Party, and your help would be much appreciated. The agenda is full of fun for all children of all ages and will surely be a memory that they will cherish forever. Donations of all sizes from $5-$50 are more than welcome and will assist me in providing a fun-filled atmosphere for the children of Kechene. Please consider donating, it takes so little time and what may seem like a small amount of money to you will provide an enormous amount of laughs, playing, and fun for children who honestly don’t experience enough of it. Please…
The agenda is as follows:
Dinner celebration (complete with goat meat for which I will be purchasing 4 goats for the children. They cost about $35 dollars each. Soda and cakes for the children to cost about $75).
Circus (the Children’s circus will be performing. All child performers are vulnerable children –including orphans, street children, and children from extremely impoverished households).
Dance (all children will be taking part in the traditional Ethiopian dancing. There will be a special guest who has traveled Europe to perform. He is my Ethiopian dance instructor, a former refugee and street boy who now provides for his family at the most famous traditional dance club, Fandika. He provides free lessons to orphaned children and I greatly appreciate him for donating his time at Kechene even though he’ll be performing later at the Sheraton, the largest Millennium celebration in the city).
In addition, if I can receive enough donations, I’ll be providing little gifts for the children, including some already donated jump ropes from Rachel, my friend who will be visiting at the end of month!
Thanks for reading this and I hope you’ll be inspired to make a small contribution.
(There will be video of the celebration and I can send it home for your viewing…. Come on now… ACT!)
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Why Ethiopia's Millenium is Seven Years Late
check out the following link to learn a little bit of why we are celebrating the Millenium next week!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6978629.stm
However, I'll be traveling to Harar in eastern Ethiopia for the celebration! Harar is considered to be the fourth most sacred Muslim pilgrimage in the world. I'm looking forward to the trip!!!
check out the following link to learn a little bit of why we are celebrating the Millenium next week!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6978629.stm
However, I'll be traveling to Harar in eastern Ethiopia for the celebration! Harar is considered to be the fourth most sacred Muslim pilgrimage in the world. I'm looking forward to the trip!!!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Hello all,
Sorry, my update is a bit late but hey it's been a rough few weeks so I know you'll all understand.
I'd like to answer some of the questions you all have about the length of time I will be here and how you can make donations if you would like.
I will be in Ethiopia until October 5th or so, give or take a few days. My visa expires on October 10th, so I must be out of the country by that time. I will have to add additional pages to my passport so I can be admitted into the U.S. upon arrival as my passport is now at its stamp and visa limit. :)
I will be returning home to stay, though I hope to visit the country as often as I can as it truly is beautiful as are its children. Upon my arrival home, I'm hoping that life isn't too difficult to acclimate to, though I know I will have my frustrations about the fast pace, the distance from home to work preventing me from walking to work every morning, everyday living, and most importantly I will be a bit distraught about not being able to visit the children at Kechene. So if anyone needs a babysitter, please just let me know because I'll probably be more than happy to oblige the chaos :)
Regarding donations. Right now you are more than welcome to send donations to my dad, yes dad, I've volunteered you :) He can place the money in my bank account and it can be used to help projects at Kechene Children's Home. I wish there were a better way than putting it into my personal bank account, but I don't have another option, I apologize. However, if anyone wants receipts for their donations I can accommodate the request, no problem.
Kechene is disparate for money for:
*diapers (never have enough)
*fruit for the children (it is only brought by me)
*milk (only infants and toddlers have access)
*meat (only received twice per year and the children are in need for it as they do not have fat in their diets)
*walkers (to get the infants out of their cribs)
*mobiles (so the infants have something to look at since they are in their cribs all day except when I'm there)
*shoes for toddlers-10 years of age
and much much much much much much more.
If you would like to know my dad's address, please take the time to just e-mail me at bettinakeppers@hotmail.com and I will forward it to you.
Regarding making donations after my departure, I am working on an option with an agency that works with Kechene to see if they would accept the donations and forward them onto the Home as it is the safest way to secure that the money will get to where it needs to go.
Additionally, there are many many great programs assisting orphaned children in the country that need sponsors for specific children or projects. They are very well respected programs, most of which were created during the 1984 famine. I would be more than happy to meet with anyone who is interested in supporting any program in Ethiopia upon my return. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BOMBARD ME! I'll take in kind donations, give presentations to organizations or companies for structured funding, and I'll be more than happy to raise awareness in schools and higher learning institutes.
So that's it for now! I would really really appreciate your help in securing a better future for these children. Any help is sincerely appreciated not just by me, but by the director, the 'moms' and of course the children.
Thanks!!!
Sorry, my update is a bit late but hey it's been a rough few weeks so I know you'll all understand.
I'd like to answer some of the questions you all have about the length of time I will be here and how you can make donations if you would like.
I will be in Ethiopia until October 5th or so, give or take a few days. My visa expires on October 10th, so I must be out of the country by that time. I will have to add additional pages to my passport so I can be admitted into the U.S. upon arrival as my passport is now at its stamp and visa limit. :)
I will be returning home to stay, though I hope to visit the country as often as I can as it truly is beautiful as are its children. Upon my arrival home, I'm hoping that life isn't too difficult to acclimate to, though I know I will have my frustrations about the fast pace, the distance from home to work preventing me from walking to work every morning, everyday living, and most importantly I will be a bit distraught about not being able to visit the children at Kechene. So if anyone needs a babysitter, please just let me know because I'll probably be more than happy to oblige the chaos :)
Regarding donations. Right now you are more than welcome to send donations to my dad, yes dad, I've volunteered you :) He can place the money in my bank account and it can be used to help projects at Kechene Children's Home. I wish there were a better way than putting it into my personal bank account, but I don't have another option, I apologize. However, if anyone wants receipts for their donations I can accommodate the request, no problem.
Kechene is disparate for money for:
*diapers (never have enough)
*fruit for the children (it is only brought by me)
*milk (only infants and toddlers have access)
*meat (only received twice per year and the children are in need for it as they do not have fat in their diets)
*walkers (to get the infants out of their cribs)
*mobiles (so the infants have something to look at since they are in their cribs all day except when I'm there)
*shoes for toddlers-10 years of age
and much much much much much much more.
If you would like to know my dad's address, please take the time to just e-mail me at bettinakeppers@hotmail.com and I will forward it to you.
Regarding making donations after my departure, I am working on an option with an agency that works with Kechene to see if they would accept the donations and forward them onto the Home as it is the safest way to secure that the money will get to where it needs to go.
Additionally, there are many many great programs assisting orphaned children in the country that need sponsors for specific children or projects. They are very well respected programs, most of which were created during the 1984 famine. I would be more than happy to meet with anyone who is interested in supporting any program in Ethiopia upon my return. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BOMBARD ME! I'll take in kind donations, give presentations to organizations or companies for structured funding, and I'll be more than happy to raise awareness in schools and higher learning institutes.
So that's it for now! I would really really appreciate your help in securing a better future for these children. Any help is sincerely appreciated not just by me, but by the director, the 'moms' and of course the children.
Thanks!!!
Thursday, August 2, 2007
July 28
The Tree of Life can be found in Ethiopia. On my way to Arba Minch, in the south of the country, they grace the landscape as lakes do in Minnesota. Many have handmade barrels hanging from their branches filled with the local honey wine, Tej. Others are home to several small monkeys eating and playing.
I was told that the landscape would be flat, even boring perhaps but it was far from it. I was silent the entire ride unless asked if I was okay. That’s just how I am, when I’m exploring or learning I’m quiet and I didn’t want to say a word. I was taking everything in. The hilly, mountainous, fertile, sometimes flood and green landscape was amazing. Hills in Wolita resemble those of Chianti, Italy except the olive tress, they’ve been replaced by banana trees, sorghum, maze, and teff. One forgets that millions are starving in this country when seeing the plush forests, but it never escapes my mind that tomorrow the floods could continue and continue for another month of rainy season with the potential to destroy the crops millions have ploughed, planted and harvested by hand. Tomorrow is another day, today it is beautiful.
After starting my day at 7 am we finally arrive in Arba Minch (literally translated as forty-sources, as there is an area of the forest that has 40 springs in just 50 yards) at about 9 pm. Though one could assume it was a day of laziness I had a great 5 hour ab workout. The SUV twisted and turned and hit pot hole after pot hole on the last length of “road” which was more or less created by the Italians 100 years before when they tried to colonize the country. Nonetheless, I had arrived at my destination Tsehay Assefa’s Orphanage, home to 53 children who Tsehay has provided a home for along with tens of others who have been internationally adopted. She has managed to create a home for children for over 15 years, created when she was just 30 and after having been reunified with her two sons who were raised in a military orphanage for 9 years. Children travel from as far as 5 or more hours, some being brought by what is left of their birth relatives – begging Tsehay to take them in as they have no other place to go.
Tsehay provides the only home for orphaned and abandoned children in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, Peoples Region – home to more than 15 million impoverished people, early child marriage and female genital mutilation resulting in the death of young mothers, AIDS, and the number one killer, malaria – 99 percent preventable and almost always treatable.
I had arrived. I arrived anxious to see the children with the women who has managed to safe 100s of children’s lives. They bombarded the vehicle and opened its doors and climbed in to hug me and I was even presented with homemade bouquets of flowers. Kisses, kisses, and more kisses and handshakes awaited me outside the vehicle. The little hands coming from near my feet wiggled as they tried to get closer, there were 16 in all, 8 little toddlers. It felt like I had just reached heaven but I knew the reality was that these children had seen the death of their family – much closer to despair and aggravation of the situation in which they were powerless.
The Tree of Life can be found in Ethiopia. On my way to Arba Minch, in the south of the country, they grace the landscape as lakes do in Minnesota. Many have handmade barrels hanging from their branches filled with the local honey wine, Tej. Others are home to several small monkeys eating and playing.
I was told that the landscape would be flat, even boring perhaps but it was far from it. I was silent the entire ride unless asked if I was okay. That’s just how I am, when I’m exploring or learning I’m quiet and I didn’t want to say a word. I was taking everything in. The hilly, mountainous, fertile, sometimes flood and green landscape was amazing. Hills in Wolita resemble those of Chianti, Italy except the olive tress, they’ve been replaced by banana trees, sorghum, maze, and teff. One forgets that millions are starving in this country when seeing the plush forests, but it never escapes my mind that tomorrow the floods could continue and continue for another month of rainy season with the potential to destroy the crops millions have ploughed, planted and harvested by hand. Tomorrow is another day, today it is beautiful.
After starting my day at 7 am we finally arrive in Arba Minch (literally translated as forty-sources, as there is an area of the forest that has 40 springs in just 50 yards) at about 9 pm. Though one could assume it was a day of laziness I had a great 5 hour ab workout. The SUV twisted and turned and hit pot hole after pot hole on the last length of “road” which was more or less created by the Italians 100 years before when they tried to colonize the country. Nonetheless, I had arrived at my destination Tsehay Assefa’s Orphanage, home to 53 children who Tsehay has provided a home for along with tens of others who have been internationally adopted. She has managed to create a home for children for over 15 years, created when she was just 30 and after having been reunified with her two sons who were raised in a military orphanage for 9 years. Children travel from as far as 5 or more hours, some being brought by what is left of their birth relatives – begging Tsehay to take them in as they have no other place to go.
Tsehay provides the only home for orphaned and abandoned children in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, Peoples Region – home to more than 15 million impoverished people, early child marriage and female genital mutilation resulting in the death of young mothers, AIDS, and the number one killer, malaria – 99 percent preventable and almost always treatable.
I had arrived. I arrived anxious to see the children with the women who has managed to safe 100s of children’s lives. They bombarded the vehicle and opened its doors and climbed in to hug me and I was even presented with homemade bouquets of flowers. Kisses, kisses, and more kisses and handshakes awaited me outside the vehicle. The little hands coming from near my feet wiggled as they tried to get closer, there were 16 in all, 8 little toddlers. It felt like I had just reached heaven but I knew the reality was that these children had seen the death of their family – much closer to despair and aggravation of the situation in which they were powerless.
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