2007 Project - Selamta Children's Home, Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, there
are more than 4.5 million orphans. Grief is just the start of
their troubles for when AIDS, violence, or poverty takes a parent, it
takes a childhood as well. These orphans are particularly
vulnerable to disease, malnutrition, abuse, child labor and sexual
exploitation.
The first goal of the Selamta
Children's Home was to establish a home (orphanage) and provide health
care and education for AIDS orphans. This was done successfully
for about 50 children. Their next goal was to create small family
homes for permanent in-country placement (foster care). Selamta
Children's Home is not actually considered an orphanage, for they
believe that no child should ever have to grow up in such a
place. It is, instead, a transitional home where children are
stabilized both emotionally and physically before being placed in a
loving family. This allows more children to flow through the
Children's Home, and then the cycle continues with more children in
need. These orphans, who would otherwise be left in the street to
lead a short and dreadful life, are able to grow up in a positive
environment where they can prosper into dynamic and productive human
beings.
With funding from ODW-USA, the Human Capital
Foundation (HCF) bought a new building to house Selamta Children's Home
in a location just outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the summer
of 2007. Now they have their own soccer field and a much better home
for the kids.
HSF also purchased and renovated six new foster
homes. They trained six single moms to be foster parents, and
placed 8 children in each of these homes. Healthcare, food,
clothing, and an education are all provided for these children and
their new mom. Aunties were trained to visit and support these
new families. Now there is plenty of room for Selamta to take in
more orphans in need of a home.
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