THE HISTORY AND ACTIVITIES OF AHOPE FOR CHILDREN

INTRODUCTION

      A recent United Nations report stated  that there are over 14 million children under age 16 worldwide who have been orphaned by AIDS, the vast majority of whom are in the underdeveloped nations of the world. There are an estimated one million orphans in Ethiopia.  Many of these orphans are themselves infected by HIV.   These figures are considered conservative by some international relief organizations.  And the numbers are expected to double in the next five years.

      AHOPE for Children is an organization that has been formed to help children orphaned by AIDS, with a special emphasis on those orphans who are infected with HIV.   AHOPE is an acronym for African HIV Orphans Project Embrace. 

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF AHOPE FOR CHILDREN

      In 1997, Adoption Advocates International (AAI), based in Port Angeles, Washington, began to provide adoption services for orphaned children in Ethiopia.  It was obvious from the first that there were huge numbers of orphans in that country and that there were not enough orphanages to care for them all.    In response to this need, Adoption Advocates established Layla House in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.  Layla House is a model of care for orphaned children, described by some visitors as an “oasis” in a desperately impoverished city.

     Every child referred to Layla House is tested for HIV/AIDS upon arrival at the children’s home.  ONE IN EVERY SIX HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR HIV. So Adoption Advocates established a second home in Addis Ababa, this time one that was exclusively for the care of children orphaned by AIDS who tested positive for HIV.  In 2002, Merrily Ripley, the director of AAI, asked me (Kathryn Olsen), to establish a non-profit corporation to assist in the funding the home for HIV positive children, a local NGO called ENAT HIV Children’s Center. The result was AHOPE for Children, now licensed by the State of Washington as a non-profit corporation and recognized as a tax-exempt charity by the United States Treasury Department.

     In July of 2004, ENAT HIV Children’s Center was replaced by a new NGO, AHOPE Ethiopia.  The former ENAT HIV Children’s Center children and facilities were turned over to AHOPE Ethiopia on July 12, 2004.

AHOPE ETHIOPIA:  THE FACILITY AND CHILDREN

     AHOPE Ethiopia has two children’s homes. A total of 60 HIV positive children are in care.  Future plans allow for expansion to a total of 100 children.   Both homes are clean and cheerful with areas for outdoor play within their walled compounds.  There is a high ratio of staff to children to ensure individualized attention.  Schooling is provided on the premises, as the children would be ostracized because of their known HIV status if they were sent to a public school. 

COOPERATIVE PROJECTS

     Although AHOPE for Children is primarily involved with funding for the AHOPE Ethiopia homes for HIV positive children, AHOPE for Children is also working closely with other carefully selected NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in Ethiopia.  We have provided funds to assist Blue Nile Children’s Organization through sponsorships  and some funding assistance for a building program that includes homes for healthy and HIV positive children and a vocational school. We have provided a substantial grant to assist the World Wide Orphans Foundation as they establish a clinic in Addis Ababa to provide medical care, including anti-retroviral medications, to the orphans in care at AHOPE Ethiopia.   AHOPE for Children is working with these and other charities in Ethiopia to establish mutually beneficial projects for the children in our care.     

SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

     The AHOPE for Children sponsorship program allows a donor to have a face and story for a recipient of his or her donation.  The sponsored child is chosen from a file of HIV positive orphans living at an AHOPE Ethiopia home, or may be an orphan that is identified by our associate charities.  The donation for sponsorship of one child is $30 per month.  A minimum of 6 months sponsorship is requested.  In some cases, a child may have more than one sponsor. The sponsor receives an initial report and photo upon enrollment and then periodic updated reports and photos as well as newsletters several times a year. In addition to our individual sponsors, we have social and family groups, clubs, churches and businesses that are sponsors and donors.

SOURCES OF FUNDS

      AHOPE for Children is seeking grants and donations from individuals and organizations to support AHOPE Ethiopia.  All donations to AHOPE for Children are tax deductible and a receipt is sent for each donation. A financial report is available on request. A donation form is located elsewhere on this site.