Ethiopia
Ethiopia is Africa’s second-most populous country and is known for its rich cultural identity, diverse wildlife, and beautiful natural landscapes. It is primarily agricultural with more than 80% of the population living in rural areas, farming and raising livestock. But droughts continue to devastate Ethiopia, killing crops and livestock and causing food insecurity and child hunger. A rapidly expanding population is also putting more pressure on land resources, worsening environmental degradation, and raising vulnerability to food shortages. Violence between ethnic groups also threatens the stability of families. That’s why our global community of Child Champions is here, working in hard places to bring help and hope to children.
CHILD RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT IN Ethiopia
CHALLENGES FOR KIDS AND HOW CHILD CHAMPIONS HELP
Food Insecurity and Malnutrition
Droughts are common in Ethiopia. In 2022, Ethiopia’s worst drought in 40 years hit people living in poverty in rural areas the hardest. Without adequate water, crops dry up, livestock die, and families go hungry. Child hunger and severe malnutrition are increasing at alarming rates.
How Child Champions Are Helping Children in Poverty in Ethiopia
Through OneChild’s Childrens Crisis Fund, families receive disaster relief including emergency food relief supplies, and families who are struggling day-to-day receive vitamins, supplies, and food baskets. At their Hope Centers, children regularly receive nutritious meals and snacks.
Read this inspirational story: A Child Champion Helps Moms Find Hope in Hard Places
BE INSPIREDChild Marriage in Ethiopia
Living in poverty forces some families to marry off their young daughters in hopes that they will be taken care of by another family. In 2022, child marriage increased by about 119% across some areas worst hit by drought. When a girl is married off, she loses the opportunity to stay in school.
How Child Champions Are Helping Children in Poverty in Ethiopia
Child Champions help rescue kids, including vulnerable teen girls. They hold training sessions with caregivers to give them coping skills and connect children and their families to counselors and other resources. They intervene on behalf of their kids in cases where girls have been promised as brides to older men in exchange for a dowry, such as cattle. They encourage families to allow their girls to stay in school so that they have a chance to find a way out of poverty.
Read this inspirational story: Young Entrepreneur Builds Her Future With Confidence
BE INSPIREDLack of Access to Clean Water
Kids living in poverty in Ethiopia often have no choice but to drink from contaminated water sources, which leads to preventable illnesses like diarrhea and cholera. Between 60-80% of communicable diseases in Ethiopia are caused by lack of access to clean water and poor sanitation.
How Child Champions Are Helping Children in Poverty in Ethiopia
Kids enrolled at Hope Centers have access to clean water and also are taught good hygiene practices to avoid preventable illnesses. Most Hope Centers have a well that pumps clean water and makes it available not only to the kids, but to the community as well.
Read this inspirational story: A Future Secured at a Hope Center
BE INSPIREDEscalation of Violence
Conflict between ethnic groups and government troops in northern Ethiopia has displaced tens of thousands of people, mostly women and children. Ongoing fighting prevents the delivery of aid and causes displacement, disruption of livelihoods, and food insecurity.
How Child Champions Are Helping Children in Poverty in Ethiopia
Hope Centers are safe places of unconditional love and support for kids. The attention children receive assures them they are loved and provides them with the emotional support they need during hard times. Child development and youth development are crucial for kids at risk and so supporters’ generous donations also equip Child Champions to help growing kids with career guidance, vocational training, even scholarships and beyond.
Read this inspirational story: A Lost Daughter's Return
BE INSPIREDTRAVEL TO Ethiopia TO SEE ONECHILD’S WORK FIRSTHAND.
MEET A CHILD IN Ethiopia
Read more stories from Ethiopia
We are accountable to the children we serve AND to our donors.
Our accountability to our donors is one of our highest priorities. Our goal is to use the funds entrusted to us as wise stewards. To do this requires continued monitoring of our fund distribution. OneChild is also a member in good standing with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
