During a business trip in March 2015 to southwestern Ethiopia, Heike Riedke, treasurer of vivo international paid a visit to the orphans in Awassa.
Some of the orphans had already finished their college’ degrees, some of them are still in school. Heike Riedke had the opportunity to meet most of the orphans in person and to talk to them.
She tells us about her visit:
„Five children still live permanently in the home in Awassa. I was warmly welcomed by housemother Tere and the children. During an Ethiopian coffee-ceremony I got the chance to see the loving care of the children by Tere.
The older kids, who aren’t living permanently in Awassa anymore, are always coming back during their holidays.
Saada plays a key role for the children.
She works for the organization OSSA, which takes care of the organisation of the orphans’ home. Sadaa has worked with the children since the project began and together with housemother Tere, she is an important contact person for the orphans.
It was also wonderful to learn that Meheret, the oldest one, has successfully completed her studies at the University. She is now undertaking a one-year-trainee-programme at Ethiopian Airlines before becoming a salaried employee.
I also travelled to Jimma, where I met with Selamwit, who is studying at the University there. Selamawit generously decided to support our project in Jimma while she was on her semester break. Now 19 years old, she is handling the situation of being far away from Awassa and her siblings very well.
I also met with three other orphans who were supported by the project from the very beginning. These orphans were not living in the orphanage but in Awassa with distant relatives.
With the assistance of the orphanage, the supervision of the housemother, the regular visits of Sadaa and the support they give each other, they have overcome their difficult histories and are doing well in school and university.
This is only possible because of the continuous donations. We are very thankful to everyone who has contributed to this vivo project since 2005.