High Risk Children
Where We Started
The
prevalence of disease, accidents and death in Ethiopia creates an unusual
number of orphans of all ages. Each desperately needs the necessities of life, but
has little chance of finding help. Also, because of the nearly nationwide
repression of rural women and girls, there are millions of children and young
women “on the run,” needing refuge from their oppressors. This oppression is
the result of universal trade, trafficking, abduction, and exploitation of rural
women and girls. For example, often a very young girl is sold by her father for
goats, or traded by her father to another man who reciprocates with a trade of his own daughter, or some other common circumstance that puts a young girl in
jeopardy. She will often try to escape. If she does, she will be hunted down,
and if her pursuers are successful in finding her, she will be imprisoned,
raped, circumcised, and beaten until her spirit and willingness to escape has
been destroyed.
If the children are newborns or toddlers, many can be adopted. If the children are over 4 years of age, adoption is often not an option and Village of Hope must either find them a surrogate Ethiopian family, or be prepared to be the family of these children itself, until the kids are raised to maturity and ready to be independent, self-sufficient adults.
What We Have Done
Village of Hope started a High Risk Children’s Center (HRCC) in the spring of 2006. Since that time we have been providing protection, food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care and nurturing. HRCC children are all under 18 years of age and as young as newborns. It is not uncommon for us to care for underage girls with their small children.
As appropriate, Village of Hope works with local and international adoption agencies to assist in finding permanent homes for HRCC children.
Initially we could only had room for about 6 children. We received a donation from Nu Skin. This allowed us to build five small dome homes that increased our capacity to 24 children.
In 2007 we were given a dome balloon from Domes for the World foundation that allows us to build individual cement dome homes that six children can live in and call their own. This “balloon” allows us to build higher quality homes at reduced costs.
In early 2008 we received a commitment from the Morrell Family Charities for funding that will allow us to build domes for an additional 120 children.
As the program grows, each group of 30 children will be organized into “Family” groups. Each family has a “Mother” and two “Aunts” to help work with and support the family. A “Father” will oversee each group of 150 children.
Current Projects and Future Plans
1. Build and Furnish 50 Domes. This will allow us to serve our capacity of high risk children.
2. Serve 300 High Risk Children. There are millions of rural orphans and girls in Ethiopia that are victims of unthinkable circumstances and require some place to be rescued. Our ability to serve high risk children will increase with each dome we are able to build and each child sponsored.
How You Can Help: