AHOPE FOR CHILDREN
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Mission Statement
AHOPE for Children’s mission is to support services to Ethiopian children with a primary emphasis on orphans infected with HIV. We do this by: - Providing loving care and hopeful futures for HIV positive orphans who have no one left to care for them; - Assisting extended families who wish to keep orphaned children home but have no resources to do so; - Participating in public education programs to reduce the stigma facing HIV positive children.
About This Cause
AHOPE is an established, accountable, local non-governmental organization that provides a caring home, education and community support for HIV positive orphans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AHOPE started as a hospice 10 years ago to care for children who were dying of AIDS. Due to the advances in medicine and global healthcare delivery, children at AHOPE can now treat their HIV positive status as a chronic disease. This presents us with a wonderful problem – over the long term, how do we care for, nurture and mentor these children who are quickly becoming adults? AHOPE started with one home and has developed into three (3) housing programs based on the age and development of our children. Little AHOPE, for children between the ages of infancy and 11 years of age, provides love and nurturing for our children. Those that are school age attend school daily. There is an in-house pre-school while the older children are provided with school fees, uniforms and books to attend public or private school. AHOPE, partly through the support of volunteers, provides activities on site ranging from art and clown classes to spiritual support and sports. Family Group Homes are located within the community and is the first step towards integrating our children between the ages of 11- 14, into their community outside of school. The two group homes are smaller than Little AHOPE – 10 children per group home – and is staffed by a Mother and an Auntie; both of whom live in the home with the children. The focus of the program is to provide our children with a less institutional environment and begin teaching basic independent living skills such as chores, helping with the cooking and following curfew. In order to address the needs of our children who are now in their teens, the Youth Development Program was established. These older children need transitional intervention in order to be successful adults. We have 31 youngsters living in four (4) Youth Transition Homes (YTH). The focus of these homes is to ensure a successful transition of youth into adulthood by providing them with a comprehensive array of programs and services including: health, life skills, budgeting, housing and job training. While they are still in school there is a need to begin exploring job opportunities as well. The youngsters have begun taking advantage of job training opportunities which give them an introduction to different careers but more opportunities are needed. Community Development Program (CDP): The Child Development Center (CDC) provides before and after school programs (play, tutoring and meals) for HIV positive children residing in the community. Often an HIV+ child is not wanted by extended family due to the stigma associated with the infection. When there is a family member willing to take the child into their home, the financial means may not be available or they are not prepared to take on the nutritional and hygienic needs of the child. CDC provides this support to those in the community willing/wanting to take in an HIV+ child as a means to assist in keeping families intact. CDC staff meets with the children and their caregivers in the community to assess their needs and provide services so everyone’s goal of keeping the family together is supported. Medical, educational, financial and emotional needs are explored and services provided by AHOPE. Children who come to CDC daily are given nutritious food, clothing, psycho-social support and educational support no matter the circumstances within the family. Child care is provided so guardians are able to provide for their families. In addition, CDC has a library which is open to the community for use. Home Base Services is for families not residing in the city of Addis Ababa or unable to send their children to CDC due to distance. Staff will travel to where they in order to assist HIV positive children and their families/caregivers. Micro-Finance Loan Program enables our families to begin businesses that will help them to become self-sufficient and create sustainability for themselves. Some of the businesses that have started include: • A café • Weaving, including scarves/shawls, Gobi (blankets) and shirts • Spices • Ceramics kiosk • Embroidering – linens, bags and clothing This is a five (5) year program and it is expected that the loans will be paid back. AHOPE’s vision is that ultimately there is a place in society for our children to grow up and be productive, contributing and responsible citizens. To help reach this vision, AHOPE works with children, family, friends and the community in addressing the stigma issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. As our youngsters grow up and needs arise, AHOPE has been expanding and growing to meet those needs. We have programs that are in the process of starting: Training Center: In order to provide our youngsters and families with the needed training to become self-sufficient, AHOPE is opening a Training Center on the site of the CDC. There are three areas being focused on: 1. Sewing Center – this sewing center will enable our children and families to learn tailoring. With this skill, clothing and household items can be created and sold providing families and youngsters with an income. The sewing center is fully functioning, including electric and Treadle sewing machines, fabric, notions and an instructor. 2. Computer Training – this is a program in its early conception which will teach basic computer skills to our children and families. The goal is to partner with local agencies in the AHOPE community and teach everything from typing to creating documents. As we are living in a technical world, it is imperative to teach computer skills to our children and families. 3. Art – many of our youngsters have shown themselves to be creative and artistic. In order to foster these skills, AHOPE will provide training, not only in the different techniques but how to use their artistic abilities to create a career for themselves. With the partnership of volunteers and art teachers, AHOPE will be able to provide our children with the skills needed to take their art to a higher level. Mentorship: Mentorship allows our children to have someone in their lives that will encourage and support them as they move closer to independent living. Our goal is to have each child matched with a mentor outside of AHOPE Ethiopia’s staff. Each mentor would be tasked in working with the child to establish and work towards a set of goals. Whether it is educational or personal, short term or long term, the mentor would work with both the AHOPE staff and the child towards meeting goals and achieving success. How you can help: Your financial support of AHOPE for Children enables us to continue working towards creating an environment that allows our children and families to develop the skills necessary to become self-sufficient and independent. Your support provides us with the ability to continue to provide workshops, training's, housing and other innovative projects that will provide those we serve with the necessary means to have a successful future.