A Hope for Children

IMAGINE THE HEARTACHE OF AN IMPOVERISHED ETHIOPIAN GRANDMOTHER WHOSE GRANDCHILDREN ARE NOW ORPHANS. AIDS has robbed her of adult children, who were the family breadwinners. And now she is the sole support of her orphaned grandchildren. She loves her grandchildren as only another grandmother would understand. But she can’t even provide food for them, much less provide any other basic need. And it may very well be that the orphan has symptoms of the very disease that killed the parents. Until recently, remaining relatives (most often a grandmother) had only one option to ensure survival of the child—to relinquish the beloved child to institutional care.

IN SEPTEMBER 2007, AHOPE ETHIOPIA LAUNCHED THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT/COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR 100 AIDS ORPHANS, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE NEEDS OF ORPHANS THAT ARE INFECTED WITH HIV. This holistic program offers services and support that enables what is left of the orphan’s families to keep them at home and is designed as a model to be replicated if there is adequate funding. AHOPE ETHIOPIA’S TWO CHILDREN’S HOMES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CARE FOR HIV POSITIVE ORPHANS CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO APPROPRIATE GUARDIANS WILLING AND ABLE TO CARE FOR THEM.

Social workers and counselor services to evaluate the needs of the child and guardian, to plan and implement the services and support that each child and family require, and to monitor the progress of the family as a whole.
A pleasant and well staffed compound with office, classroom and library facilities as well as indoor and outdoor recreation areas.
Full day daycare for children too young to attend school, including preschool and many activities for the children.
Tuition, uniforms, books and other school-related expenses for the school age children, with before-and after-school programs, including enrichment activities, tutoring and school mentorship.
3 nutritious meals plus 2 substantial snacks for each child every day.
Medical checkups and basic health care, including Anti-Retro-Viral medications through partnership with World Wide Orphans Foundation, specialist care and/or hospital care as needed.
Direct financial subsidy for basic expenses, such as rent, as needed on a case by case basis.
Community education on AIDS issues with special emphasis on reducing the fear and stigma associated with this disease.
Family training in child development, nutrition and hygiene.
A small (but growing) children’s library open to the children of the community to provide not only library services, but also to provide a natural setting for social interaction among neighborhood children . . . and MUCH MORE.

Donations go a long way. Note that costs are estimated as of fall, 2008 and are expected rise due to present inflation in Ethiopia.

$100.00 provides a preschool teacher’s salary for one month or purchase of a crib or cot with mattress and bedding or two month’s salary, including benefits for a cook or cleaner or books, tuition, uniforms, supplies and gym clothes for one child.
$150.00 provides two month’s salary for a child care worker or purchase of two tables and eight child size chairs or a month’s salary for a certified nurse.
$200.00 provides utilities (water and electricity) for one month for the Outreach Center.
$300.00 provides driver’s salary with benefits, plus fuel and maintenance on one vehicle for one month or feeds 10 children for one month
$500.00 provides printing and distribution of 4,000 children’s books on AIDS/HIV for community awareness programs all over Ethiopia.
$800.00 provides support for a training and sensitizing program, including a major community-wide event
$1,000 provides a month’s rent on the compound housing the Outreach Center plus some maintenance.

IT IS NOT TOO SOON TO BEGIN THINKING OF THE HOLIDAYS
A donation in honor of someone is a meaningful alternative to a gift of “stuff”. We will send you a beautiful card (with envelope) suitable to announce your donation with space for you to add a personal message. This is a good way to check off everyone on your gift list. And maybe this year you would like to honor a person who was especially important in your childhood—grandmother, teacher, mentor.

AHOPE for Children is a non-profit corporation under section 501(c) 3 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, FEIN # 46-0496846. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

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_____ Here is my donation in the amount of _________________.

_____ Please send me ______ cards suitable to announce this donation ( $25.00 minimum donation per card).CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO AHOPE FOR CHILDREN, 18539 Westside Highway SW, Vashon, WA 98070.