Background

General back ground EthiCare Unit

The Original EthiCare Unit was called the Development Programme Unit (DPU).

Overview

This Unit had come about because of 2 Member of the EWF Inc., First Unit visiting Shashamane and looking at Projects we could become involved with.

The current project that we are involved with is the priority one at Aswasho Orphanage based in Macolda, Shashamane and whom we have been working with since 2019.

Although called an Orphanage it is not an Orphanage as we would know it – rather it is a secure and safe space for children who may well be orphans but also it is open to children who have parents who are experiencing severe poverty, there are also several disabled children who attend.

We launched the Mealtime Project on August 1^st, 2021. The aim was/is to provide nutritious meals, twice each day to all pupils. We began by providing meals to disabled children who were in attendance, their numbers have since grown from five to twelve.

The mealtime project is co-ordinated by the Ethi-Care Unit, our development team, the school’s manager, volunteers, and Board Members – please note all who are working on this project are volunteering.

Our Ethos

Our ethos was and still is to ensure that the children eat traditional Ethiopian foods. A typical meal is Ethiopia’s staple dish of injera ( a type of fermented pancake spongy in texture) and wat (spicy stew made with either meat, fish or vegetables- the Orphanage serves vegetarian meals) and salad. Breakfast may consist of a local porridge. Previously there wasn’t enough fluids at the school, but we now ensure that there is sufficient water and milk to reduce dehydration and at the same time improving cognitive performance.

However, we have faced some challenges since the Awasho Orphanage School project began in late 2019, this has included Civil unrest in the Oromo region where the project is located during 2020, Government of Ethiopia involvement in the conflict in Tigray in 2021 and of course the Global COVID-19 Crisis since the beginning of 2020.

Despite these challenges we have maintained contact with the Municipality (local council) and with the Orphanage. At the end of August of 2021, we launched our ‘Go Fund Me’ fundraising project to support us feeding the children – many people have donated to the project – thank you all very much and we have also had special fundraising event from Members in the UK ‘The Imperial Bicycle ride’ which took place for the first time in August 2022 and raising over £1,000 and which is about to take place again.

We also have members who subscribe regularly to the project once again give thanks to those members too.

What we ask is please to continue donating either via the ‘Go Fund Me’ link or why not do a one off special effort to help with the fundraising – it may be having a ‘tea and cake’ morning, a special sports event to highlight the work, collecting pens, pads, pencils, clothes and shoes for the children (which has happened and of which more about later in the presentation). No effort is too small or too big!!