Ethiopia

J251 Grace Centre Ethiopia

The Grace Centre project for children and families is a multifaceted, integrated, holistic approach. They endeavour to meet the needs of a broad range of children and their families in the town of Bahir Dar, and its surrounding community. This project aims to work together with families in the local community to assist children and offer hope for the future. The provision of childcare gives mothers in the community the flexibility to work to support their families without having to worry about their child’s safety. Providing sponsorship, education and training to mothers and children. Also, child adoption is promoted in-country, and overseas options are explored as a last resort.

J321 AACASA

Fiche is one of the oldest provincial towns in Ethiopia. Around 3,000 poor, old and under privileged people still live in the town.
There is one elementary school in the Kebele. There is no kindergarten or pre-elementary educational facilities so a number of young children are left without adequate education until they reach elementary school age. In addition, there is no public library to service the elementary and secondary schools. Mojo has a similar problem.

Four years ago, AACASA’s project partner in Ethiopia, Li’ileseb, identified a significant need in Fiche for a community project which would assist children in the community and the broader local areas. Li’ileseb developed a concept for a combined kindergarten, transitional home and library for the local community in Fiche. This concept was encapsulated in a project plan submitted to Orimiya Regional State Government for Fiche. In addition, since then there has arisen an opportunity to assist the residents of Mojo in a similar fashion, and this plan includes the provision of a centre in both areas.
The main aim of the project is to develop the Fiche and Mojo areas; we believe this project will contribute significantly to development in those areas by:

• Providing training and employment during the construction and operational phases of the project
• Providing a community asset which will provide long term benefits
• Improving the lives of children through education and care