Ethiopia- Orphan Report and Update

Engage Now Africa is currently sponsoring 217 orphans living in 14 different villages. ENA's goal is to track all of these orphans through their education because our ultimate goal is to have them move onto college.  Once they have graduated from Primary school (grades 1-4) they will move onto Secondary school (5-9).  At that time the children are tested and if they pass they can move onto college.  Those that score exceptionally well can qualify for University.  Each semester every child is tested and either moves onto the next grade and if not they can remain in that grade until their test scores are adequate.  

ENA will be able to work closely with the schools to identify any problems and help this child with whatever he may require.  Often times it is because they have missed too much school  We are hopeful our uniform program will help add credence with their caretakers as to the importance of their everyday schooling.

 Diana Bingham, ENA's East Africa Director, identified orphans in the area last year and had them each measured for uniforms.

On March 12, 2014 Diana Bingham, ENA's East Africa Director, met with the Director of the Hildi School in Debre Zeit.  Hildi is a "cluster" resource center, which means that Hildi is the headquarters for ten schools.  ENA sponsors 42 orphans in this cluster.  

Diana arrived in the afternoon and gave the orphans that attended school in the afternoon their uniforms.  Their uniform bag consisted of two complete uniforms (either two pairs or pants or two skirts and two shirts).  A pair of custom made leather shoes, 12 notebooks, pens and pencils. Although the children's feet were measured, almost all of them claimed their shoes were too small  Although they were the correct size and a bit too big for growing room, this was because they had never worn closed toed shoes.  They had either been barefoot or worn "flip flops".  After much discussion about it they became very happy and all were extremely grateful and proud to be wearing a uniform for the first time. It was a wonderful experience to help dress the children in their uniforms and watch their faces as they each grew a huge smile once they had them on.  They felt very validated and proud to own a uniform.  ENA will follow up with the cluster headquarters and receive a report as to their schooling and progress.

The uniforms ENA measured and ordered for them arrived!!

We wish to thank Reuters for their generous donation and helping to make this possible!

We believe this a a worthwhile and sustainable program and hope we can continue for the next several years so that each one of these orphans receive the education every child deserves.