Sponsor a Child in Ethiopia

 

History of Drought

Ethiopia is the oldest independent nations in Africa and the second most populated. Adequate food and water supplies are continually threatened by natural disasters and drought, which contribute to malnutrition and disease of many children. The national infant and under-5 mortality rates remain high. About 472,000 Ethiopian children die each year before their fifth birthday.

Since 1972, ChildFund has assisted more than one million people in this landlocked country where agriculture is the chief source of its economy. We work to protect children and their families against disease and malnutrition. We provide access to safe water and sanitation, basic education and early childhood development opportunities. We focus on child rights advocacy, food security and income generation empowerment.

“ChildFund was beside me by supporting all the necessary materials for my education.”

“I will never forget the day I joined the project,” a young mother relates. “I have received nutritional support for my children and training that helped me and my family to survive. Right now my twins, who turned 7 years old, are healthy and are learning in grade one. I am happy with all my family and our dark life has been changed to bright future with the help of ChildFund Ethiopia.”

Community Safety Nets

HIV/AIDS is a serious health issue in Ethiopia with about 1.32 million people living with HIV/AIDS. ChildFund trains community volunteers to go into homes and ensure that the daily needs of these individuals, including cooking, cleaning, bathing and taking medications, are met. Because of the home-based care workers individuals with AIDS face a chronic treatable illness rather than a death sentence.

Treatment is only one piece of the puzzle. We also work with children, youth, parents and community leaders to provide HIV/AIDS prevention and testing interventions as well as make available social networks to counter stigma and discrimination. Through our Strengthening Community Safety Nets program in Addis Ababa and Oromia areas, 50,000 orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS have received family-centered care and support. The program builds on existing partnerships with community groups and local volunteers to build the resilience of families and community structures to support children affected by HIV, especially those under 11.

Education for a Bright Future

The central statistical agency survey (2004) report shows that the primary school level dropout rate of the country is 12 percent. The dropout rate for most of the zones ranges between 10 percent and 20 percent.

ChildFund has made improvements to existing schools and built new facilities throughout areas of Ethiopia, as well as provided teaching training and student materials. As a result of our work, the primary school enrollment rate is up to 86 percent in the areas in which we work. Financial and tutoring services are provided to those in need.

More than 39,000 students have learned in 23 early childhood development centers, 31 preschools and kindergartens, 37 primary schools, two high school and 26 libraries and 61 additional classrooms built by ChildFund.

A former student shares her story: “My name is Seble Dejene. I am 22 years old. I was beneficiary in ChildFund since my childhood. Starting from grade one until I complete my college, ChildFund was beside me by supporting all the necessary materials for my education, including my cloth[es] and shoes. ChildFund helped me very much to do many things…. Now I am able to stand by myself though I departed from the organization. However, ChildFund’s support and good work would stay painted in my heart.”

Early Childhood Development (ECD)

Annually, ChildFund Ethiopia enables more than 14,000 children to have access to early childhood care and support. We focus on community and home-based approaches so that parents and caretakers are trained in ECD.

The smallest steps lead to the most stunning successes in Ethiopia.
Sponsor a child in Ethiopia and make a difference in a child’s life.
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Food Security & Income Generation

Many areas in Ethiopia face drought year after year. Droughts contribute to malnutrition because when the crops fail there is little to eat. To reverse this cycle – and combat malnutrition – ChildFund works with farmers by providing them with small-scale irrigation. Drought prone areas are revitalized with cisterns, retention dams, ponds and irrigation systems. We also provide training on modern agricultural production, including bee keeping and sheep and goat breeding. More than 13,500 farmers have been trained in agricultural techniques to improve production. More than 9,000 farmers have received seeds, oxen, cattle, goats, sheep and tools. Crop productivity has increased by 35 percent making it easier for families to provide proper and consistent nutrition to their children.

So that the people are not as dependent on agriculture, we help the people develop other income-generating activities to promote resilience within the community. In rural Ethiopia, we have helped establish nine multipurpose cooperatives and 45 Savings and Credit Associations to serve nearly 13,000 members. Now, community members have the power to start and manage their own livelihoods for long-term success. In urban areas, women and youth benefit from similar credit associations as well as vocational training. About 2,500 youth and parents have been trained in high-demand income-generating skills such as sewing, carpentry, masonry, catering and horticulture.