Ethiopia Team Round-Up

Who would have thought that so much could be achieved in Ethiopia in just one week? An enthusiastic team of medical and building volunteers from the UK visited Bekoiji in March with Ahmad Ayoubi, our Stand By Me Director of Operations. They spent a week at the Children’s Village and Bethany School and worked tirelessly every day; building, painting and repairing.

The team built 12 water filter systems for the most impoverished families of the children at the Bethany School, giving them the precious and life-saving gift of clean water. The team also built bunk-beds for two of our very needy families (above) – they were extremely grateful as they had previously been sleeping on make-shift beds on the cold and dirty floor. At last, they are able to rest comfortably at night-time. A store room has also been built and equipped with ample shelving which has proved a real answer to prayer for our staff in Bekoiji.

The staff were also thrilled to see the team build a washing area for Jane’s Home (in our Children’s Village) as this meets an essential need for the children and their carers. The opening ceremony for the washing area and the store room was a real time of celebration for everyone! Over the course of the week the medical team carried out health checks, eye tests and educated the families on the importance of personal hygiene.

Deso Teshome, our Operations Manager in Ethiopia, said,

“We are so thankful for the dedication of the medical team as, over the course of the week, they examined all of our Bethany School children and their parents. The team had wonderful news to report! They confirmed that a significant improvement in the children’s health is evident. We were delighted to receive this report and to know that the medical treatment, nourishing food and counselling being given to those suffering from HIV and other illnesses, is really making a difference.”

The changes and new facilities that the team have helped to put in place will have a lasting, positive impact on our children’s lives. As volunteer teams visit our projects abroad, lasting friendships are made and the children are assured that there are people around the world who love and care about them.