Bamba at Marineland

Dear Bamba,

Thank you soooo much for all your kindness on our trip to Marineland . Without you we could not have put the smiles on the children´s faces. It was an experience that they will never forget. Myki is still talking about this big tall strong man who carried him down the steps to see the dolphins swimming underwater. Thank you for the posters....now everyone will know about Marineland in Ethiopa!!!!!!! Eldana, Marta, Lydia and Laura send you a big "abrazo" y muchisimos Gracias. Thanks to you their day was so very special.

Kind regards
Jackie from Mediterranea

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2/8/09

At the end of July, the first set of nursery nurses trained in our Women's centre( also our Headquarters in Addis), will have graduated with honours.

Twenty women, of all ages, many of whom come from a Refuge Centre dedicated to helping abused women have, during this year, been able to learn a trade or skill allowing them to compete in the job market, become economically independent and therefore able to escape from vulnerability, poverty and unemployment. On completion of their course they have recieved an official certificate which qualifies them to do practical training in orphanages and to work as nannies to babies and small children in private homes.

Mediterranea is working alongside TTTM, an Ethiopian NGO which is in charge of the logistics of this training course This is the same NGO which founded the only refuge for abused women in Addis.

The future of our Women's centre in Addis depends on the worth and importance that TTTM bestows on our project.

We are waiting to hear their decision and also how we could approach this collaboration both logistically and economically.


30/7/09

Prostitution in Addis

Our local collaborators in Addis have informed us of the alarming increase in the spread of HIV, in the spots commonly known to be used by a great number of prostitutes, especially in a place called Piassa.
Addis is turning into a huge brothel; at any time of day but particularly at nightfall, an army of women take to the streets to survive through prostitution. Some of them ply their trade in the bars, massage parlours or hotels.
Sadly, Addis is gradually growing into a very serious destination which attracts tourism for sex. Research has proven that a great number of Europeans and Americans are exploiting this situation.

30/7/09

WHY?

Many broken-hearted locals, foreign residents, visitors, holidaymakers and all pacifists cry openly. We don't understand and can only ask the question "WHY"?






A new wheelchair

29/7/09
Tomorrow, thanks to the generosity of a kind-hearted person who has offered to pay the costs, we will go to an orthopaedic store to order the most suitable wheelchair for Mykias.

Marta & Mykias

No text needed.

Container for Ghana.

At last we have today sent off the shipment that will go to Barcelona, then on to Cardiff where it will be packed in a container along with the supplies donated by the Jones family for the Dangme East Hospital in Ada, Ghana.

The majority of the supplies are physiotherapy apparatus so that Jayne Coombs can set up a department for the hospital. And if all goes according to plan in the early autumn Jayne, Barry (the bulilder, have not asked him yet...) and myself (Michael Stoma)will head on down to Ada to plan some more building for the hospital and to set up the physiotherapy department.

OUR SCHOOL IN YEKA

What a joy and what a relief it is to finally witness how well our school in Yeka is functioning.

We can now put behind us the problems and the people's "revolution" leading to the dismissal of the former Edir in this town. Our beloved Birhan school in Yeka is now on the correct path to success. The new Edir is doing a conscientious job. The parents themselves are involved in the daily running of the school. This is very important because the former Edir refused to cooperate with them.

One of the most evident examples of the direct involvement of the parents can be seen through the participation of two of the members of the families' committee in the purchase of weekly supplies necessary for the centre. We sincerely hope to reach the same spirit of commitment achieved in Albugida; happy children; content, dedicated teachers; satisfied, enthusiastic parents and ultimately an honest and resolute Edir. These elements are the key to the successful functioning of any centre.

All of the aforementioned are fighting to obtain the certificate required stating that both the school and the surrounding land is in the name of the Edir. Once this has been processed, we can commence with the construction of the new buildings for the school. The "low cost", buildings made of tin are a temporary measure while waiting for the official documentation.

The mothers and fathers of the children have offered to provide the labour.

This academic year we will continue with the nursery school and introduce a class of slightly older children who have never had the opportunity to benefit from an education.

In the future we aspire to extending the Primary school.

Half of the mothers are illiterate. They are keen to learn to read and write. There are also mothers who would love to learn a skill or trade.
We have suggested that they talk amongst themselves and that they discuss these issues with their Edir. We are open to any proposals such as sewing workshops etc.. They, themselves, know better than anyone their own needs, which type of courses would suit them most and would be of the greatest benefit to their community. The decision is theirs. They will be able to use the school installations after normal lessons.

And now a piece of great news. Before the existence of the Birhan school in Yerka the vast majority of the children resorted to begging on the streets to survive. We can now confirm that none of the children who attend this school need to beg for a living.

In the photo we can see a meeting of staff, mothers and fathers with the Edir (I can assure you that they were not sleeping but listening respectfully and attentively)
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With just 20 euros a month we can feed 3 times a day, educate, dress and take care of the health of one child in either of our Ethiopian schools. In September we will have near to 450 children in these schools. Join us and to give these little ones a chance in life, just click on one of the following links: ONG/NGO.odf ONG/NGO.doc ONG/NGO.pdf and become a part of the solution.