When I think of Ethiopia I think of “Dreams.”
I got to volunteer with two amazing organizations when I was in Ethiopia: Children’s Haven and HOPE Ethiopia.
Both these organizations are passionate about children and encouraging them to follow their dreams.
I worked for a week with Children’s Haven in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Children’s Haven focuses on helping young orphaned and impoverished girls who have been affected directly or indirectly by HIV/AIDS by providing a day program that runs year-round for them to attend.
At Children’s Heaven the girls acquire skills, and knowledge, while developing the confidence and self-reliance needed to live healthy productive adult lives.
Our team helped at the summer day camp. We led devotions focused on bravery, encouragement, identity, acted out bible skits, led activities centered around a vision board and encouraged the girls to follow their dreams. We also helped teach English and coordinated a field day for them full of fun games and activities. The very last day we were there happened to also be the last day of the summer program and the girls got to showcase what they had been working on all summer. Some of them showed of their talents in singing , dancing and acting and others showcased their outfits they designed in a fashion show.
I loved seeing their faces light up when they talked about their dreams. In a room full of so many girls they each had a different dream which I loved. Their smiles and laughter lit up the room. Working with this organization for a week reminded me how important it is to be role models for little girls and always empower them to encourage each other in their endeavors and never stop chasing your dream.
The remaining 2 weeks I was in Ethiopia, my team along with others traveled a few hours away to a city I don’t know the name of and lived in a village there with an organization called HOPE Ethiopia.
HOPE Ethiopia is ran by true visionaries with some of the purest hearts I’ve ever encountered. Ralph and Glenda have ran this organization for years. They have taken in orphans, homeless and abandoned elderly and provided them with a home. They are passionate about raising the kids of Ethiopia to grow up with moral standards, good character and encourage them to follow their dreams. They also are passionate about reforestation and we were lucky enough to visit the reforestation site and some of us got to help plant trees in the local area. We also helped with painting, grass cutting, and leading the kids in bible stories, skits, and activities.
The girls on our squad held a “Beauty for Ashes” event for the women workers we got to befriend. BFA is a ministry that focuses on women, through hosting events and bringing women together. The women partake in bible study and activities focused on self-worth and value. At this event our theme was, “What is my Worth?” We led the women in worship, and spoke life into them as we talked about our worth in the eyes of God. Prior to the event, some of us girls prayed over cards and wrote words of encouragement and scripture inside the cards. At the event, the women chose a card just for them to have.
I am blessed I got to encounter such beautiful organizations fueled by passion and mission to bring empowerment and encouragement to the children of God to never stop chasing your dreams and keep working hard to achieve your goals.
This month was full of laughter, dancing, love and joy – just see for yourself.
https://youtu.be/l1JC8QzdMKE
