News from Ethiopia

In September we welcomed 40 children to our Abdi Academy in Dembi Dollo. They've joined KG1 and have settled into school life, excited at the chance to learn. Support at the Abdi Academy is already making a great difference in Tarike's life.

A big thank you to the supporters, especially Downshire Primary School, who have contributed to fund a new kitchen at our Bekoji Bethany School, helping us feed 480 kids a day. 

We’re very proud to announce that we are sending 8 students to University from Bekoji. Yoseph, Kasahun, Lidia, Biniam, Eden, Abraham, Rahel and Ephrem are off to study courses such as Engineering, Economics and healthcare. 

Orphaned and roaming the streets of Dembi Dollo at five years old, Natinael had a life of hardship that no child should ever experience. We could not walk past him, we had to intervene and thanks to Natinael’s sponsor we are now meeting all his needs.

In Bekoji, a big step for Stand by Me was opening an ICT lab, the first of its kind in Bekoji where electricity supply is often unreliable. The computer lab is in full use for students of all ages and the children are delighted to gain practical experience with technology. 

In Bekoji we welcomed 13 families onto our Income Generating Programme, these families are the most needy but also have the strongest desire and ability to work to provide a sustainable income to support their families.

In 2012 Chris and Fi made their first visit to Ethiopia, little did they know that this short trip would be the catalyst for them, in 2017, to move hundreds of miles away from their home to live in Bekoji, one of the poorest towns in Ethiopia.

Sometimes I have the stupidest great ideas. But there was no going back, I had decided, I’d spend the month of February sleeping on the floor to raise money for beds.