Although Joseph didn’t finish first grade because he has to help harvest coffee to feed his family, hunger hasn’t erased his hopes of going back to school.
Why World Vision is in Ethiopia
The economy of Ethiopia has been one of Africa’s most robust for the past decade, but a severe drought last year devastated food supplies for its 96 million citizens. The Ethiopian government requested $4.5 million in international aid after crop failures left 8.2 million people at risk and 48,000 children under 5 years old severely malnourished. In the face of this food and water crisis, World Vision committed to digging wells, maintaining water sources, and helping farmers cultivate as much food as possible. A program was initiated called Gardening for Improved Nutrition and Increased Income. This model trains gardening groups to move from subsistence farming into a market-oriented production system by providing them with technical education, tools, seeds, and irrigation. To deal with malnutrition, gardens were stocked with nutrient-rich vegetables and healthcare clinics equipped with scales and supplements to monitor and treat children. Hygiene trainings highlighted the importance of handwashing and focused on protecting children from waterborne illnesses that further weaken their health.
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.
- We trained and supported new gardening groups with supplies and seeds in order to increase agricultural productivity and improve nutrition for local families.
- Community members learned how our savings groups can help them increase their income and provide for their children’s essential needs, such as school and medical expenses.
- To ensure that children are protected in safe environments, we trained community members on positive child development, responding to violence towards women and children, and child rights.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- Access to safe water supplies increased when we extended pipelines and drilled new borehole wells. We also equipped water management committees to ensure that water sources are properly maintained.
- We worked to improve hygiene and sanitation by starting school hygiene clubs and implementing the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach. CLTS is used to stop open defecation, increase access to latrines, and teach communities about how to prevent waterborne illnesses.
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.
- We helped improve the quality of education for children by training teachers on child-friendly teaching methods and effective ways to teach kids to read and write. Many of these teachers shared the lessons they learned with other teachers in their schools.
- We organized village-based reading camps with plenty of children's books and volunteer tutors in order to improve kids' literacy skills.
Love of God and Neighbors
Children and families are growing spiritually, local churches are strengthened to demonstrate Christ's love in practical ways, and people are living at peace with their neighbors.
- Following Christ's example, we worked alongside children and families to change lives, promote peace and understanding, and demonstrate God's unconditional love.
Prayer Requests from Ethiopia
World Vision's staff in Ethiopia are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
The well-being of our sponsored children across Ethiopia, where we have worked for 40 years.
Parents who are worried about their children getting enough to eat each day.
News from Ethiopia
Prayers
Matthew 25: Pray for the thirsty
844 million people around the world don’t have access to clean water; that’s more than 1 of every 10 people around the world. Join us in prayer for children and families who are thirsty and lack this most basic necessity.
From the Field
Africa hunger, famine: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
In the midst of all the conflicting headlines you see each day, you’ve probably heard about the 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.
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