Is it February Already?

I can’t quite believe we are moving to the middle of February. Has it already been a month since I last entered a blog? January is a month when we need to put the finishing touches on the MCC Ethiopia budget and send it to Akron. Consequently we try to connect with our partners, old and new, to get a sense of what amount we need for each program. December-January was also a time when we applied for ‘dedicated funds’ for various programs we have. That is, funds available from Akron from specific accounts for specific purposes. For example, there is a ‘peace fund’ and any programs we have that fit the criteria for peace building/ making we apply for. This way the money comes from that fund and not our core budget. There is a “Generations At Risk” (GAR) fund for programs dealing with HIV/ AIDS, a Peace Fund and a few others. So we spent time lining things up. There was, in addition, plenty of other ‘distractions’ along the way. All this is to say, sorry, haven’t kept in touch with all of you who have been clicking on our blogspot and waiting in vain for some news. So I’ll send a few off this week in a bid to play catch up.

Field Day at Bingham Academy

Does it seem real to have a ‘field day’ for students in January? Usually January means a ‘snow day’ instead, no school. But January is one of the warmer months in Ethiopia. Even with extremely low humidity and temperatures in the high 70’s (20’s C) it was pleasant in the shade. But those out in the sun over time had to guard against dehydration, it is so easy to forget to drink liquids when the climate is so agreeable (but dry).

Abigail at the beginning of the race, on the far right.

Amani, Abby and Sophia all participated in the two days. Races of running, obstacle courses, hurdles, track and field events (Sophia was in the softball throw). The girls all brought home ribbons for their participation (mostly red and yellow, but a couple of blue ribbons as well). Parents were encouraged to participate as well. I was a judge for the races, Wanda volunteered for snack and drink duty (lucky her, they had more than enough volunteers for that so she mostly just watched).

The 2 field days were Friday and Saturday with Monday off school. I don’t know why Saturday was needed (why not just have field days on Thursday and Friday?) but it was a required day. Wanda and I had work to do but still were curious about the whole thing and so we volunteered and ‘spectated’. The students are divided up into 3 ‘houses’; Taylor, Carey, and Scott (just like in the popular Harry Potter series). Our girls are all in Taylor (go red!).

A broader look at the Bingham Field Day.

In the end, after all the K-12 children had finished their events they had a couple of races for the teachers and adults. All in fun of course but it was fun to see the adults out on the track in the long events. The youngest ones were the leaders and victors of course, some who are able to run daily were quite far ahead of the pack. Our girls, now that they know what Bingham Field Days are all about, will enter even more events next year.

Beza Lewatatoch

MCC and Beza partners from left: Wanda, Getacheow, Engoch, Tadesse, Mekonnen (MCC Program Manager), Doug.

One of our newer partners is also one of our neighbors. We all live in the Kolfe Keranyo Kebele (sub-city or suburb). We live near the top of one hill and they live over on a hill on the other side of the Ring Road. We have a dedicated peace fund and GAR fund with Beza. The area is desperately poor and all the problems that are typical of such an area are rampant and chronic. The community is located next to the city landfill and many of the families "garbage pickers". Some have made this a family livelihood for a second generation now. Children are not attending school. Prostitution is common, so is HIV/ AIDS. Young men are in groups like gangs. This is the very definition of a "rough neighborhood". And in the midst of this is a small NGO that was started to bring some hope to the community. No other NGO’s are working here, just Beza and MCC. So we visited our partners, Getacheow and Tadesse to see their work. What follows is Wanda’s account of our visit:

Our eyes needed to adjust from the bright Addis sun to the bark of the mud and straw room with no windows. As my eyes slowly started to focus I could make out the bench I was being welcomed to sit on. As my surroundings became ever more clear I could make out the woman in the bed who I was sitting beside. I could make out the edges of the mud room, the few cooking utensils, pictures of the Mother Mary from an old calendar hanging on the wall, the other small bad opposite me. We all squeezed into the room and Mekonnen (MCC program manager) said, “So, do you have any questions?”

We were visiting the home of an HIV positive person who is being helped by one of our partners Beza Lewatatoch. They have been working with HIV positive people over the past year with a grant from MCC. They will continue over the next three years adding a peace component to their program as well. On this day we were visiting a couple of the beneficiaries and learning more about the programs they run and envision for the future. We were joined by AMBS professors Ted and Gayle Gerber Koontz who are visiting Ethiopia as part of their sabbatical.

Yes, we had questions, but I still struggle with what to ask so as to be respectful of someone’s privacy and at the same time understand their plight and to share a bit of their life. To “walk in their shoes” so to speak, even if just for a few minutes. This woman, we found out, is suffering from leprosy as well as AIDS. Her medication is free from the government but she has nothing to buy food with and so often has to take all this medication on an empty stomach. The anti-viral drugs for AIDs are much more effective if they are taken with a proper diet. She is not strong enough to work, has only one grown son who suffers from mental illness, and therefore can only rely on the goodness of her neighbours who offer her some food. The volunteer from Beza comes regularly to do a coffee ceremony with this woman. The coffee ceremony is at the heart of Ethiopian hospitality. The volunteer comes, roasts and grinds the coffee and welcomes neighbours to come and have coffee in the woman’s home. This benefits the woman in a number of ways. First of all, the volunteer comes with coffee, soap, sugar and some kind of refreshment that is left with the beneficiary. Secondly, asking people into the woman’s home helps decrease the stigma that many suffering from HIV/AIDS face daily. During the hour or two it takes to do the ceremony, education can be given to the neighbours about the disease. Their neighbor is better accepted into the community and she lives a life that is much less isolated than it could be.

Wanda and Engoch with 3 generation of women beneficiaries.

An hour later we all squeeze into a second mud room of another beneficiary. As my eyes adjust this time I see a bundle on the bed. “Is that a baby?” I ask and quickly go over to take a look. This baby turns out to be the granddaughter of the woman being supported. We learn a bit of her story. Her husband left her when they discovered her status. She moved from the country into Addis. She managed to find this 2 by 6 meter room. She then invited her daughter and granddaughter to come and live with her. Her daughter’s husband had left them when the baby was a couple of months old. So, the three generations share this room. The woman tells us proudly that her daughter and granddaughter are free from the disease. Under the Beza program this woman is given about 50 Birr (about $5) a month to help with expenses. When we ask her how she will survive on what she has she answers “God will provide.” Through MCC funding, our partner is helping God to provide.