This post is not for the 98% of the people that read this blog. I know that you, my blog buddies, think about poverty in Ethiopia on a daily basis. Your children are from there.
This post is for the 2% of people who land on this blog completely by accident, or by typing the following search words into Google, 'Amharic dating friend,' 'When you lose something you can't replace,' 'Is Colin Firth attractive?' or 'What to do when you lose your best friend to cancer.' (Actual phrases from my sitemeter). To that last person, I am so so sorry about your best friend. I don't know what you do. I am trying to figure that out myself.
I am adopting two children from Ethiopia. I am doing this for selfish reasons. Poverty is one reason I am able to do this. Everyday, Ethiopian families are finding it impossible to feed their children. They are giving their children up for adoption.
Okay, so you may be saying,' I am an American, I would rather hear about how to help Americans.'
Americans who are living in poverty, have access to many social services. Before I was married, I was uninsured.
This is where I went for health care. It was free. When my friend
Petra needed supplemental food for her family, she went
here. There are services in place here in America, lots of services.
Please watch
This.Thank you for watching it. That video was shot in
Oromia.
I recently received this information from my adoption agency...
We are happy to share news with you about a new direction in which
CHSFS Ethiopia is moving, in association with adoption service partners in certain regions of the country.
CHSFS Ethiopia recently signed and enacted formal adoption service working agreements with two licensed orphanages in the states of the Southern Region and
Oromia.
Mussie orphanage and
Bethel orphanages are licensed in local child care institutions that reach out and care for unaccompanied, abandoned, and orphaned children. In turn, these license child care providers may refer children to placing agencies such as
CHSFS Ethiopia for the purpose of adoption.
Ethiopia is losing her children.
Speaking of losing children. Most women in Ethiopia do not have access to a doctor when they go into labor. Please bear with me and watch
THIS. Please, it is not that long, just watch it.
Thank you for watching. There is no reason that these women should not get their lives back. They have already lost so much. Their babies have died inside of them, and they have been ostracized from their communities. A fistula surgery costs $450 dollars, the same price as one of
these.One more picture, and then I promise I'll shut up.
This was taken by our friends,
Angie and Anil when they traveled to pick up their son Noah. This is
Kolfe. This picture breaks my heart.
Kolfe is a kind of end of the line orphanage. Most of the boys there have aged out of a possible adoption. Their future is quite grim. I think about this picture a lot.
How can you help? What moved you most? Anything? Nothing? I lost you ten minutes ago?
Here are some suggestions.
DONATE:
Doctors Without BordersGIVE A WOMAN HER LIFE BACK:The Fistula FoundationSPONSOR A CHILD:Wide Horizons for ChildrenAHopeI know this is a
very simplistic explanation of problems and solutions.
I am just a woman, trying to have a family, trying to respect a country. I am selfish.
Ethiopia deserves to keep her children, not give them to people like me. I am grateful, but it shouldn't have to happen.
Thanks for listening. Please do what you can.
* 1st photo is from Compassion.com; 2
nd photo is from Forbes.com
"Damot Pulasa and its neighbouring districts in the South of Ethiopia have been severely affected by unusual weather patterns in 2008. The previous year heavy rainfall destroyed crops. 2008 a drought has left people with empty bellies. Ato Mengistu Godana, vice-administrator of Damot Pulasa, says: “This district is usually known for producing surplus crops but this year we are facing an unprecedented drought. All 23 villages in the district are affected. Mothers and children suffer the most.” Photo: Jose Cendon/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Mothers and their children at a Red Cross Red Crescent centre in the Wolayita region in the South of Ethiopia. Photo: Jose Cendon/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Photo: Jose Cendon/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Photo: Jose Cendon/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Photo: Jose Cendon/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Heads of families are waiting at a Red Cross distribution centre in Wolayita, Ethiopia. Photo: Jose Cendon/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
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