AHOPE for Children News

November-December, 2004

      

THE AHOPE ETHIOPIA CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL.

 

 Here they are in their uniforms all ready to leave in the morning.  Right after I sent out the last newsletter, Sidisse sent me an email with the wonderful news that the local public school had accepted our school-age children.  There was an immediate need for uniforms, school shoes, gym clothes, tennis shoes for gym class, book bags and supplies.  A couple of very generous visitors at the time provided some of the needed items and you faithful sponsors and donors paid for the clothing and shoes. (Your money at work!)  The acceptance by the school administration of children with known HIV status indicatives a major shift in the community attitude towards people infected with HIV.  Hooray!  AHOPE Ethiopia retains a tutor for those whose health problems keep them home and for after school homework assistance.  The first week of classes, the new students all came down with the flu.  Sidisse, the nurse, and the rest of the AHOPE Ethiopia staff were very busy attending to very sick children and I was concerned that the children were being exposed to too much risk of infection.  Dr. Aronson of World Wide Orphan Foundation provided wise counsel on this issue.  She said, “You have to let them have a life.”  And all the children recovered and returned to school.

 

THE ARVS ARE ON THEIR WAY.  World Wide Orphans Foundation is working diligently to obtain the rest of the funding needed to begin the ARV treatment for our children, now expected to begin in the spring of 2005. A standard test to detect depression and other signs of mental distress is being translated into Amhamric and will be administered by an American psychologist as part of a total wellness program that will accompany the ARV treatment program.  The children have endured unbearable losses: they all need counseling for their issues as well as counseling to ensure that they will remain in lifelong compliance with their ARV regimen. 

 

ADOPTION FOR THE NEGATIVE KIDS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE: AHOPE Ethiopia is working with two American and two European agencies for the placements.  Children who tested negative will continue to need sponsors until they are placed.  When they are placed, the sponsor will be reassigned to an HIV positive child. One of the negative boys was reclaimed by his family. There are 10 girls ages approximately 1 year through 9 years, and 6 boys ages 1 year to 12 years available for adoption.

 

VISITORS AND LOCAL SUPPORT:  We welcome visitors and are proud to show what can be done for HIV positive orphans with enough financial backing, good administration and lots of love and attention.  Recent visitors include a large group of Rotarians from the United States, adoptive families that were in Ethiopia to bring home their new children (many of whom brought supplies to AHOPE Ethiopia in their luggage—many, many thanks to all of you!).  One visitor learned that one of the older girls needs a hearing aid and returned to the States and arranged for a donation to provide the instrument.  Several visitors provided treats and outings for the children.  The community, both Ethiopian and expatriate, is helping in many ways.  There is a project to provide daily milk (very expensive in Ethiopia) to the children and there have been local donations of other food staples, clothing and toys

 

THE JUMPER/BOOKBAG PROJECT:  Women throughout Southern Illinois, from retirees to students in high school home economic classes, have been sewing beautiful jumpers for the girls and book bags for the students.  A donor, who has a specialty clothing store in New Mexico, provided 12 dozen tee shirts.  The jumpers are being matched with the tees for a complete outfit for the girls and are being shipped as space allows along with various assorted needed supplies. (Re shipping:  I have put in a grant application that would include a container shipping at least once a year.  If that grant is approved, the shipping situation should improve significantly. Stay tuned.)

 

  

WE PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAYS:  Plans for the AHOPE Ethiopia Christmas holidays are already underway.  Each child will receive a set of traditional Ethiopian clothing.  For the girls, this includes an embroidered skirt, blouse and scarf.  The boys have a similarly embroidered tunic and trousers.  Each will receive several personal gifts and chocolate.  One of the visiting sponsors donated money for the purchase of wooden pencil boxes and Sidisse has been stashing toys for months. Sidisse is also having traditional dolls made for the children.  I am not sure what is meant by a traditional Ethiopian doll, but asked her to have extras made for doll collectors among the donors. There will be singing, games, and a nativity pageant. A traditional holiday meal will be prepared with beef and chicken. This year we will not be able to accept individual gifts for the children due to the same shipping problems we have always had, but sponsors who wish to contribute toward the cost of the party and gifts are more than welcome to add an additional amount to the sponsor donation.  The cost per child for this very special event will be $30.00, including about $15.00 for the outfits.  Sponsors are encouraged to send holiday cards to the AHOPE for Children office to be forwarded to the children in Ethiopia.

 

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS WILL BE DISCONTINUED: Now that we can expect the children to grow into adulthood within the Ethiopian culture, we have decided to discontinue the birthday parties, which are not a part of the culture.  There are many Ethiopian holidays and celebrations and now the children can expect to live long enough to also celebrate other individual accomplishments such as graduations. Due to the generosity of one of our sponsors, there is money available for at least one outing with ice cream or other treats every month along with special foods and customary activities for each holiday. During the Christmas party, there will be a birthday cake to celebrate everyone’s becoming a year older.

 

 

SOME IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY GIVING:  In the last two years, some have given sponsorships or donations as an alternate to a gift that is really not needed.  If you would like to make such a gift, send a check to AHOPE for Children with the name and address of the recipient and the honoree will receive notification.  This also works for any other event, including birthdays and memorials, where the donor would like to honor someone. Contact the office for details.

 

     As I write to you all, we in the United States are headed into the Thanksgiving holiday.  I am profoundly thankful for all the donors who have made it possible to provide for the children at AHOPE Ethiopia, to give each of them a chance for a future of hope and promise, and to allow our organization to become a model for what can be done.

 

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS,

 

Kathryn Pope Olsen