In the midst of all the conflicting headlines you see each day, you’ve probably heard about the East Africa hunger crisis. Here are a few basic facts about drought, famine, malnutrition, and hunger in Africa as well as how you can help World Vision respond.
Why World Vision is in Ethiopia
Ethiopia still ranks as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. In April 2018, a new prime minister came to power. He’s made many positive reforms, including signing a peace treaty with Eritrea, giving women significant political positions, and releasing political prisoners and journalists from prison. Despite these ongoing reforms, many people are still affected by ethnic-based conflicts in some parts of the country. More than a million people are displaced from their homes because of violence and instability from these conflicts. And the country hosts nearly 1 million refugees from places like South Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia. Thanks to the support of our partners, over 6 million people benefitted from our programs. More people have access to clean water and communities are learning how to manage their water systems so they’re long-lasting. Through programs focused on food security, farmers are growing — and cooking with — nutritious food so their families are healthier. In our work to strengthen job opportunities and training, we’re paying special attention to the most vulnerable, like pregnant mothers or people with disabilities, so they can have stable sources of income for their families. Mothers and fathers are learning good parenting skills, so child marriages aren’t encouraged and parents raise kids with love and care. Through school programs, kids are reading better and getting access to better quality basic education. Young adults are developing skills for jobs later in life, and adults or kids who can’t go to school are getting vocational training so they can earn a living. Along with partners, we responded to refugees in need, especially women and children, and people affected by drought, with basics like food and water and economic support like job training.
We never give up on people
World Vision child sponsorship looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with that community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for all children. For sponsors, it’s a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need in a life-changing way.
Sponsor a child in Ethiopia ❯
Progress in Ethiopia
Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families.
Child Protection and Care
Boys and girls are safe and valued, well cared for by their families, and participating in their communities as agents of transformation.
- Communities in Ethiopia are being empowered to better protect children by educating children, parents, and community leaders on child rights and how to respond to child protection violations. Child protection committees come together and become strengthened to work closely with faith leaders and equip them to use their influence to protect children against harmful practices, like early marriage, and promote protective acts, like registering children at birth.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- Through a collaboration with partners in Ethiopia, new water sources for communities and schools were built and existing water sources were either expanded or rehabilitated. The capacity of WASH committees was also expanded in order to maintain these water sources over time. They also helped to expand access to sanitation facilities and teach children safe hygiene practices like hand washing.
- Mother-to-mother groups were formed in Ethiopia, empowering mothers to prepare nutritious meals from locally available foods and use local solutions to reduce malnutrition through the PD-Hearth and Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition methods. Caregivers in Ethiopia were also equipped to carry out 'Nutrition-smart agriculture' by forming groups and received training, seeds, and basic tools so that they can grow more nutritious foods to support the health of their families.
Education for Better Lives
Children have opportunities to learn and to develop their talents, young people are equipped for the future, and families and communities support children's education.
- Literacy skills in Ethiopia are being improved by implementing Literacy Boost*. They trained teachers in literacy instruction methodology, and many of these teachers were also equipped to share the knowledge they gained with other teachers in their schools. Community members were also mobilized to start and maintain village-based reading camps with volunteer facilitators and reading materials for children. *Literacy Boost is a copyrighted tool designed, developed, and owned by Save the Children.
- Early Childhood Development centers in Ethiopia were established and strengthened to enhance comprehensive development of children age 3-6 and also worked to improve parents’ skills in supporting their children's development at this stage.
Prayer Requests from Ethiopia
World Vision's staff in Ethiopia are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
Peace and stability for people all over the country.
A unified culture for our staff as we continue to work for communities’ transformation.
News from Ethiopia
From the Field
1980s Ethiopia famine: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
The Ethiopia famine from 1983 to 1985, one of the 20th century’s worst famines, led to an outpouring of concern and donations from around the globe as well as new monitoring and alerts to prevent future famines.
Prayers
Covering the world in prayer: Pray for East Africa
Pray for East Africa with us, especially for World Vision’s work in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Let’s lift up the concerns of the families and children of these nations to our heavenly Father and listen to what He has to say to us about them.
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