An organization dedicated to housing, feeding, educating, providing health care and AIDS Education to children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

Aiding Children | Fighting AIDS
Aiding Children | Fighting AIDS

 

Aiding Children | Fighting AIDS  

HOPE ABOUNDS IN AWASSA, ETHIOPIA!
Awassa Children's Project
Winter 2008-2009 Newsletter
 

A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT
by
Fasika Alem, President

Dear Supporters,
2008 has been both an exciting and challenging year for the Awassa Children’s Project and the projects it supports in Ethiopia; the Awassa Children's Center (ACC) and the Awassa Youth Campus (AYC). This newsletter gives you a glimpse into all the happenings. We have welcomed eight more children under the age of six into ACC, raising the number of children cared for at the Center to 75. Despite having been orphaned by HIV/AIDS and coming to the Center weak and malnourished, in the coming months these children will not only get adequate nourishment to strengthen their bodies, but also education, counseling and companionship that will strengthen their psyche. The children are excelling in many ways. For example, about half of the children rank among the top five in their respective grades and maintained this ranking for the entire year!  MORE > >

 

 

New Home for the Chilrden
by Girma Melesse
Awassa Children's Center Director

The start of the school year brings with it some exciting new developments for the ACC. First and foremost, we celebrated the grand opening of a beautiful new home for the children. The new dormitory houses 18 kids and one housemother comfortably. She takes care of their daily needs as well as provides a mother’s warmth, caring and love. The dorm has five bedrooms and a large living/ dining room space with inviting couches and chairs. As one might imagine, the children are very excited about their new home. Everyone pitched in to get ACC ready for the dormitory’s ribbon-cutting ceremony and ready it was! The grand opening of the dormitory coincided with another important new development for ACC, and Awassa at large. The morning of the opening, ACC was happy to host a gathering of 42 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from the community.   MORE > >

 

Graduation Day

On Saturday, November 16th, the ACC presented certificates to 48 students of the Vocational Training Center. The graduation was held on ACC campus, and was attended by the mayor of Awassa, as well as the graduates’ family and friends. Since June 2006, ACC trained 128 men and women in metalwork, woodwork, electricity and basic computer skills. Many of the participants of ACC’s 10-month program come to the Center from City Women’s Affairs and Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization. They’re looking to gain the skills necessary to secure employment opportunities, help their families, and make better lives for themselves.  MORE > >

 

AWASSA YOUTH CENTER 2008 DIRECTOR’S REPORT
A Landmark Year Brings a Recording Studio, Hit Songs, Basketball Courts & One Love on Tour!
BY JOHN MCKAY

It was just three years ago this month we opened the doors of the Awassa Youth Campus (AYC). We had a basic plan, to provide space for youth from all walks of life to learn, create and grow together. It was hard to imagine then that this vision would blossom into a movement.

Our Philosophy stands out among philanthropic ventures. We focus resources on the strengths of Ethiopia’s youth, as opposed to their perceived weakness and helplessness. Their strengths are twofold. First, Ethiopian children are natural born survivors, second, they are far less inundated with the staggering amount of media and technologies thrust upon their peers in the West and, consequently, are more responsive to creativity, participation and not dulled by media. They are ready to play. A crayon, a guitar or a book can still make a difference in Ethiopia. At AYC, we believe this is an advantage, and we aim to use this to unleash the creative energy of youth across Ethiopia and one day throughout Africa.

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Aiding Children | Fighting AIDS