Thank you for being part of Hawassa Hope. I just returned from a trip to Ethiopia and wanted to share what I saw and heard from our community sponsorship families. I wish I could gather you all in one room and tell these stories in person.

These are stories of hope and stories of pain. Sitting with a family in their home and listening is a great privilege.

If you feel inspired to give today, you can make a donation at the link below:

What we’re seeing in Sidama right now

Drought in Ethiopia

The Sidama region in Ethiopia is currently in a drought. July is usually one of the rainy seasons, but it has been very dry. Everywhere we went, people asked us to pray for rain and shared their worries.

In Aleta Chuko, we were told that 75% of the corn crop is gone. People are struggling to grow anything.

How this is affecting families

Families shared that because they have not been able to harvest, they not only have a lack of food, they also have nothing to sell for income. This harvest is what many families rely on to pay for clinic visits, clothing, and school supplies for their children.

Older community members told us they are deeply concerned about the poverty and hunger that could be coming. These are people who lived through the drought in the 1980s, and they are worried. Many families told us how they had cut back in what they are eating. 

Fuel shortage

On top of this, there is a fuel shortage in the Sidama region. One day I counted 64 vehicles in line at a fuel station that wasn’t even open.

How you can help right now

We want to give every family in our Community Sponsorship Program an extra food support gift to help them in this season of drought and hyperinflation. Many families told us how they had cut back in what they are eating. 

You can donate toward this urgent food support at the link below. 

Elsabet Initiative: meeting our moms and babies

I was able to meet with the current 40 moms in the Elsabet Initiative (our maternal care program) for their program graduation. It was so good to see them and their babies. It’s always a day of celebration and joy.

You can watch a short video below:

A special story: Baby Bezawit

Meet Baby Bezawit and her mother.

Bezawit was born with a cleft palate. We are so grateful her mom was part of the Elsabet Initiative because we were able to help immediately, not only with Bezawit’s needs but with mom’s medical needs as well.

Bezawit has already visited the Cleft Palate Clinic in Hawassa. Now she needs to be healthy and grow before she can begin surgeries. She cannot nurse so she needs to be on formula that is given to her with much care. 

The need for Baby Bezawit: formula

Formula is out of reach for this family. There is no possible way for them to afford what she needs.

I sat in their home and made a promise that we would cover her formula until she no longer needs it.

Can you help us cover her formula? It’s approximately $10 for a small can.

Building Hope: the need continues to grow

I was able to visit one home that Hawassa Hope recently repaired. Tewabech and her family were so happy to have a safe structure that protects them. Tewabech can now do her schoolwork so much more easily.

Thank you to everyone who gives to our Building Hope initiative.

 This is one area where the needs have grown substantially. Families who used to be able to care for their homes or slowly build their homes cannot any longer. Hyperinflation and the fuel shortage have taken away any extra funds they could have used for repairs or building.

We currently have around 50 families waiting for a home or for theirs to be repaired. I met families who have land but no home and are begging friends for a place to sleep. I spoke with one mom who is currently sleeping under a makeshift shelter made of false banana leaves.

How you can help

You can give to Building Hope at the link below.

If you would like to cover the build or repair of an entire home, contact us here and I can share stories and estimates with you.

More updates coming soon

There are so many more updates to share, but I didn’t want this post to be too long.

In the midst of the hard stories, there are many ways we can step in and make life a bit easier. We can be part of the hope in someone’s story.

Thank you so much for standing with us in Ethiopia. Lives are being changed because of your generosity. We are grateful for you.