We had a very busy yet rewarding week in Addis as we
implemented Project Prepare at two orphanages, AHOPE and Children’s Heaven.
Both are very different from one another, however, after just two classes, we
have already seen the immense need and progress of Project Prepare. AHOPE cares
exclusively for HIV positive children, and we are working with a group of
eleven teenagers in their transitions home who will soon leave care and enter
into adulthood. Alternatively, Children’s Heaven supports orphaned girls
through an innovative community based placement program, and we are working
with a group of twenty teenaged girls who will soon age out of care.
The youth really seemed to enjoy all of the lessons and
activities in Project Prepare, the first focusing on identifying the qualities
and characteristics of their hero. Our
second class focused on building a portfolio, creating a resume and locating
important personal documents. For many of these youth, it was the first time
they had ever heard of a resume. Moreover, many of them were unaware of the
process to obtain their birth certificate or identification card. While these
tasks may seem simple and obvious to an outsider, this only reinforced the need
for a life-based skills curriculum here. As one youth ally noted, the girls at
Children’s Heaven have not yet thought about these skills, as they are still in
school and will not yet be applying for a job. However, once they age out of
care, they will no longer have the support and assistance of a care facility,
and therefore, it is imperative that they learn these skills beginning at a
young age.
As we observed and monitored the different classes, I
constantly found myself inspired and amazed by the strength and perseverance of
these children. For our first class at Children’s Heaven, we sat in a cold dim
room as a roof was being built overhead. Despite the loud hammering and chilly
breeze, the girls were all attentive, participating, and appreciative of the
class. This was yet another reminder of the hardships these girls have
experienced and face on a daily basis, and their individual and collective
resilience. Both at Children’s Heaven and AHOPE, I have been extremely
impressed by the community formed by these children and the staff. Not only are
they friends, but they are family, and the support and encouragement they have
for one another is truly something we can all learn from.
We are looking forward to beginning Project Prepare at our
third orphanage, Worldwide Orphans Foundation, and continuing to help and work
with such impressive and inspiring youth!
Amharic Word of the Week:
Betasab - Family
Amy Gilbert
IOFA Program Development Intern
Wonderful work!
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