What we do

The lonely, the abandoned, the orphaned or neglected child can do little in and of him or herself. Adult supervision, care and nurturing are essential otherwise the vulnerable and marginalized child becomes another statistic for death, disability or delinquency. In addition to the children, the lone woman with her dependents often unaided, becomes another statistic due to her exceedingly vulnerability because her dependence on those around her leads to violation of her basic needs by the very one on whom she is reliant. Mothers and children in all their guises are the ones we seek to help.

Children

Grace Village is home to fifty children ranging in age from small babies up to teenagers. There are six houses with eleven housemothers who are themselves vulnerable having either suffered from obstetric fistula without perfect healing, or are single mothers or are HIV positive. Each house provides a unique environment for two mothers and up to eight children where they are able to re-create a home environment. They eat together as a family; the mother prepares for her children and ensures bath and bedtime. The childcare coordinator provides the male / father role for the children. The older boys live in separate houses with a mother figure to help them become independent. They remain an integral part of the community. The older girls may room together; some are given responsibility to help with the younger children and all are taught mothering and nurturing skills and help out in the houses.

In the surrounding community, there are children able to manage at home but often with difficulty. The local government will select the ones who are most at risk and inform us, they are then admitted to the sponsorship program wherein over one hundred eighty children are currently assisted with monthly stipends and a savings plan to prepare them for the future after school is completed.

We are also providing child protection for refugee children who are by nature of their displacement exceedingly vulnerable. This is being carried out upon request from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Sadly often the funding received from the multilateral agencies does not cover even the basic necessities of life for these poor children so far from home and virtual prisoners without hope.

Women

North-western Zone as other Zones in Tigray has been affected by war and low rain falls resulting in poverty. People have migrated from their birthplaces to remote areas in search of food and work. Within these migratory people groups there approximately 4,000 woman headed householders having children and other dependents but without husbands or partners.

The lone woman carries a great burden when she has no male relative to relieve her; she must manage singlehandedly or become dependent on father, brothers or other male relatives simply to survive. The extended family is willing to help short term, but find the burden irksome over a long period. This then, is when she will turn to ‘other means’ of survival such as begging and / or sex work putting both herself and her dependents at risk for illness, violence and death.

Early marriage and growth stunting due to inadequate nutrition may lead to eventual obstructed labour resulting in an obstetric fistula. Obstetric Fistula remains the hidden tragedy of our rural women in Ethiopia; to bring the women to a place of help remains a challenge as so many are deeply ashamed. Many mothers still deliver at home, but no clean delivery kit is available.

We do want to make sure that those for whom we are responsible, such as the children and staff; the various projects amongst women and other vulnerable and marginalized groups receive the knowledge required for healthier living styles.

For more details please click: Children / Farming / Health