Meet Olit

Ethiopia

Olit is the youngest of her siblings. She lives with her mother and sister in a rented two roomed mud house. Olit has two brothers but they live in another town with their grandfather. Her father left the family when she was young and they do know where he is living. Olit’s mother only generates 150 birr a month (which is less than five pounds), so it is difficult for her to meet even their basic needs such as food. Olit’s mother suffers from asthma and so this affects whether she can work. They do not have proper toilet facilities and there is no bed in their house, they sleep on the ground.

Olit has been at the Abdi Academy for five years now and is a confident, generous, polite and funny girl. She interacts well and is good at developing new friendships. She obeys her teachers and sometimes helps others with what she knows. She wishes to be a teacher because she wants to help other children. She is from a Christian family and attends church every Sunday with her mother and sister.

Where Olit lives

Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Famine, HIV/Aids and extreme poverty have resulted in millions of orphans and a life of hardship for the majority of its population. Nearly one million children are orphaned as a result of HIV/Aids. A lack of investment in education and a high dependency on child labour has left five million children without access to an education. Educational opportunities for girls are lower than boys as they are expected to do domestic work or marry at an early age.

Our two schools, the Bethany School and the Abdi Academy are today providing the poorest children with a quality education, daily food, health care and family support. Our Children’s Village has two family homes which care for orphaned and at risk children. 

How your donation is used

92% of your donation will be used to directly provide the best care possible for Olit. We’ll use the remaining 8% to support the work of Stand by Me and find a sponsor for the next child.

What you receive

When you sponsor Olit you will receive a pack in the post with his story and photo. Every year you will receive an update about his/her progress, a new photo and at least one communication from him/her.

Real relationship

We know our kids love to receive your letters and write back so we encourage you to write as many letters as you like, along with photos and birthday gifts to develop a genuine relationship.

Stand by... almost there...