Celebrating International Women’s Day!

FOVC in cooperation with the Woreda’s Women’s and Children Affairs Office was taking a moment to celebrate International Women’s Day, March 8.

On the same day FOVC take the opportunity to distribute chickens and rosters to the orphaned children. It is Ethiopian Orphan Relief (EOR) which provided the fund to buy the chickens and rosters for all children at FOVC. Thank you EOR for this wonderful fund!

 

 

FOVC’s REAL WEBSITE!

I thank you all very so much for your patience while we were working on FOVC’s real website. It becomes real with the help of a wonderful artist Melissa Anderson. Thank you Melissa many million times for this beautiful and well organized website!!!

www.fovc.org

!!!!!!!!YEAH!!!!!!!!

Desalegn

Will you send a widow to sewing school?

Dear Ones,

It’s Lory here.

I have been awake much of the night, thinking and praying and tossing and turning about how we can do more. How I can live with myself, in my comfortable life, while too many are suffering desperately.

Here is an email I received from Desalegn last night. He has found a way to send the FOVC widows to a sewing school. The school goes for three months. It is run by a Catholic organization that is only about a fifteen-minute drive from FOVC.

Hi dearest Lory,

I have been working to find more effective ways to teach Beauty and other widows how to prepare materials and how to sew it. Luckily, I found a wonderful Center which offers a short term sewing training in Boditti. Its monthly training fee is only 40 birr ($2.5 USD). It is very amazing for me Lory. The widows will have a good training and that will help them to change their lives completely, I believe that!!!

And Lory, I worked out the break down which is needed to teach a widow at the Center per month:

1. For training fee = 40 birr per month

2. For meals=12 birr per day (360 birr per month)

3. For transportation = 10 birr per day (300 birr per month)

4. Miscellaneous = 50 birr per month

So, we need 750 birr or ($45.5 USD) per month per widow to teach widows a life changing skill. And we need three months training for each widow. Before finding this cheapest and effective way, I was thinking to teach only Beauty. But as this is very cheap and effective, I think it is good if we teach all widows to have basic knowledge there in the Center. By the way the Training Center is Catholic based and it will offer good skills in how to prepare materials for sewing and how to sew it. Thank you so much for bringing this idea and you will see the impact and result which the sewing project will bring soon.

With much love in Christ,

Desalegn

FOVC currently serves eight widows. For $135, a short-term sponsor can send a widow to sewing school for three months. $135 will cover her tuition, transportation and meals.

If you know very much about the problems faced by orphans and widows in poor countries, you know that providing an education for the orphans is the key to lifting them out of poverty. And the key to giving the widows a hand up is to provide them with job skills. A widow in Ethiopia is typically responsible for four to ten people. But she has no means to earn an income. No social status. No help from the government.The churches have no means to help. The community is struggling to survive, so the neighbors can’t help. In the small villages where we work, there is no other NGO or NPO presence.

It’s up to us.

Please email me if you can sponsor a widow for this destiny-changing opportunity.

Because it’s up to us.

Kathy helps a baby put on a clean new shirt. Even though this baby is surrounded by adults, he is covered with flies.

Mom is so proud for her baby. These moms are me.

Gift of food that we delivered to each of the FOVC widows.

Another family stand back looking on. Looking in.

These kids are no different from our children...except they were born on the other side of the world.

After we delivered the food and prayed with the widows, we got into our car and drove away.

LET US NOT DRIVE AWAY AND FORGET!

An Other Thank You Note and Pictures and FOVC’s This Year’s Plan

Here is a link to a wonderful thank you note from FOVC’s Board Member and Team Tasfa Coordinator and Mother of FOVC and its children, Lory Howlett. It also includes FOVC’s 2011 year some plans. Thank you Lory for this wonderful notice and thoughtful plans for this year for FOVC.

http://thehowletts5.blogspot.com/2011/01/worlds-biggest-thank-you-and-pictures.html

THANK YOU!!!

Why I am writing this note is to bless you (Team Tasfa) who came to visit our FOVC at Shanto, Ethiopia. Before the Howletts came in February 2010, we were in a terrible situation and to tell you the truth frankly we didn’t have anything to feed, clothe and educate the orphaned children. God knows we didn’t know what we are going to do at all. Let alone the kids and the money to pay for some technical staff, I myself didn’t have enough money to pay for my own meals and clothing. So what I had been plenty was hope, faith, love and keep praying to God. We thank God, Lory and Dave came at the right time. Then my children’s and my staff and my spirit revived and everything started growing fast. Different generous people (the Penlones, Katie and Becky and Emebeth) came to Shanto with many supplies and love, FOVC partnered with Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc. (EOR) and many people from all over USA and other western countries are showing their interest to support FOVC’s effort.

Finally, you (Team Tasfa) which is really the team of HOPE and encouragement came to Shanto with much blesses and gifts to FOVC, its children, the whole community, to my staff…etc. We can say a lot but not in words on blog. But I truly say it is God’s help from heaven.

You may know that most of my technical staff and teachers were not been paid salary for couples of months. But thanks to you (Team Tasfa) now we have paid the staff their salary and they all are too much happy. Besides, it was Ethiopian Christmas time and FOVC’s kids and many other kids from the village have had enough clothing for their Christmas.

Therefore, we would like to thank and bless all of you (Team Tasfa, EOR, Team Tasfa’s families and friends and etc) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be blessed in your works!!!!

With the money which you (Team Tasfa) provided us, we bought sewing machine to train our widows, teff and cereals which is enough for two months to feed FOVC’s children, order dining tables and chairs for the children, the children are being given lunch, we bought color printer, etc. We are now so blessed with you, thank God. Concerning child sponsorship, Sharon is communicating with you and others and we bless her in God’s Mighty name for what she has been doing for my poorest children.

Thank you all very so much for all what you (Team Tasfa) have done and been doing for us!!!

(TEAM TASFA)

Desalegn Daka

Friend of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (FOVC)

WHP: A GREAT HOPE TO SHANTO

First of all, on behalf of FOVC’s staff and children here in Shanto, I wish a happy Christmas to all of you. FOVC becomes a great hope to the people of Shanto due to your great and continued supports. We thank you all for these uncountable support and we also need your relentless support in the coming years too. We depend on our supporters to bring a big difference in the lives of poor orphaned children and widows in Shanto and in other parts of Ethiopia.

Your donations have many impacts in the lives of poor children and widows. The children with old and tattered clothing are being given new and beautiful cloths and shoes. Many of poorest orphaned children are matched with their great sponsors.

As you have seen from my last post, FOVC’s Widows Hope Program (WHP) is highly believed that it has many impacts in the life of a poor widow, her children, her parents and her husband’s parents live. Here you can observe the pictures below how happy are the widows while they are receiving animals from FOVC.

Thank you, Denise, EOR and FOVC’s Board Members for this great happiness. Denise, we have especial thanks for you for funding our live stock development project through EOR. Your fund will help us to provide caws, oxen, goats, sheep and hens for a group of poor widows. You cannot believe how your small blessed money makes poor people health and wealth here in Shanto, Ethiopia!

Desalegn

FOVC’S WIDOWS HOPE PROGRAM:

When Friends of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (FOVC) was started its work in August 2006 with six orphaned children and one widow, the only thing which we had plenty were hope, faith and love to help poorest children in one of the poorest villages in Ethiopia, Shanto. There was no resource, no land, no office, only few workers, etc. After three strong and hard and difficult years, we met the two westerns (aka the Howletts) who have really big hearts for Ethiopia and its poor people. Then my hope and dream became true and real.

Now we have very skilled and committed staff, big land, much honored partner (EOR), very strong and hard working Board Members, 57 orphaned and 7 vulnerable children, much love and support from the local government and people.

Our sole partner, Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc, (EOR), has been supporting us with huge amount of funds. EOR funded FOVC with $21,800 previously to start our first phase construction work which includes toilet facility, kitchen and foundation of beautiful rooms.

EOR’s love, partnership and funds still continue. It has sent us another large amount of funds to start our life changing program, that is Widows Hope Program and to continue our first phase construction. Thank you EOR for this great love and supports for my children and people and widows!

Now it is time to start one of the four WHP projects which is called Livestock Development Project.

Why Widows Hope Project?

In Ethiopia, many children are living in extreme poverty in one parent homes. Because of abandonment, death from AIDS and malaria, mothers are alone, trying to keep the family together but most have neither education nor skills to provide properly for the family. Partnership will help meet physical, educational and spiritual needs to help prevent children from becoming orphans. FOVC carries the following life changing projects through its Widows Hope Program (WHP). With the help of partners like you, in average, a life of thirty five siblings and seven widows will be changed in each project for years to come!

FOVC’s WHP consists the following four different life changing projects:

1.  WIDOWS LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Rising food prices have made the lives of subsistence farmers in Ethiopia even more precarious. For the rural poor, close-to-the-earth assets such as farm animals and poultry are a longed-for source of financial and food stability. A flock of chickens, goats, sheep and cows means nutritious eggs, meat, cheese, protein and so and so for the family’s children, as well as providing a source of income that can help make the difference between crushing poverty and the ability to build toward a better future.

In our culture goats, sheep, cows and hens are a valuable asset for families and communities, but many people cannot afford them. Livestock can supply a family with several quarts of milk each day—important nutrition for undernourished children. Extra milk can be made into cheese or yogurt and sold to make extra money for the family. Livestock manure can be used to fertilize gardens and fields. Goats and sheep have two or three kids a year, enabling families to start small dairies. With their earnings, widows can afford food, education and health care to their siblings.

Give the gift of a livestock to a group of widows in Damot Pulasa! It costs $3,270.75 to provide a pair (one male and female) goats, sheep, hens and cows for each widow in a group. And then, see how you make a poor people health and wealth, with your small blessed money.

2.  WIDOWS CROP FARMING PROJECT

When normal agricultural cycles are disrupted and sources of crop seeds are gone, people struggle to survive at the most basic level. Sadly, this is all too often the case in Damot Pulasa, Ethiopia. But a loan of $1,874.25, provides 100 Kg of seeds— nourishing maize, teff, beans, a quintal of potatoes and onions providing food for a group of seven widows each has five siblings in average. In other hand a loan of $1,874.25 provides food for (5×7+7 = 42) people for years to come! Now isn’t that a seed worth sowing?

3.   WIDOWS HANDCRAFT PROJECT

In this project FOVC provides materials and teaches HIV/AIDS widows how to make handcrafts, which can be sold as a means of income. Wolaita people are famous for its abundance of colorful textile crafts, and for the artistry and creativity of its traditional craftswomen. For a group of seven widows which wants to start a small crafting business for life changing income, however, the initial investment in raw materials can be beyond the group’s or widows’ means. Training widows and allowing them to exercise their creativity and create handworks to sell can help make the difference between crushing poverty and the ability to build toward a better future.

Providing funds to pay for thread and material, to make scarves, potters, etc. to sell, can take an abandoned mother from starvation to self-sustaining survival. A group of seven widows needs a loan for $8,583.75 to start this project in group. After the widows repay the microloan to FOVC, the money will fund another group of seven widows, and then another, and then another… creating a “pay it forward” effect that touches many lives of widows in Damot Pulasa.

We believe that if they are trained and provided with necessary facilities, it will be the best income generating opportunity for them. There are many markets for the products to sell. As experience shows many trusts and guests visiting the Woreda are also very interested in the products.

The project has a secondary function since it acts as a valuable support group within the community, where the widows can make friends and share the challenges of being HIV positive.

We encourage the volunteers to support these women through purchasing some of their crafts made by the women.

4.   WIDOWS SMALL-SCALE BUSINESS PROJECT

Some struggling but hard-working widows in Damot Pulasa, Ethiopia simply need someone to invest in their desire to provide for their families on their own. A group of seven widows, in average each widow has got five siblings, needs a loan for $18,789.75. All widows are lost their beloved one to HIV/AIDS or other preventable diseases. They can open a shop with a loan – and pay it back so others can benefit. Local government promises to give a piece of lands to build small shops with area of 3x4m2.

Now the fund which is released by EOR helps us to start our Livestock Development Project. We are also wondering to start the remaining three life changing projects those are Crop Farming Project, Hand Crafting Project and Small Scale Business Project.

I hope and believe that our Mighty will help us to start the remaining three WHP projects.

We have many million thanks for EOR and its members and supporters for supporting and helping us to start one of FOVC’s life changing projects i.e. Livestock Development Project.

Desalegn

Katie’s and Becky’s Visiting to Shanto!

Thursday and Friday were much blessing days for my children and FOVC’s staff at Shanto. The two very honored and beloved Americans, Katie and Becky,  visited our orphanage and school and bring us too much love, uncountable supplies, clothing, shoes, t-shirts, much needed medical supplies etc.

Here are some fantastic pictures of my children and our dearest friends Katie and Becky.

Universal Children Day!

Today my children celebrated Universal Children Day for the first time in South Ethiopia, Wolaita. The children asked parents and the government to respect children right and avoid child labor.

It is very common in the villages like Shanto that a little child like the one in the picture below carry on many works which are beyond their capacity and age.

That is why my children celebrated this international day for the first time (it may be for the second time in Ethiopia). They marched from our office to the local government’s office and asked the government to stop child labor and other unlawful acts upon the children. That demonstration created a good awareness among the people of Shanto and public bodies.

 

 

New School Uniform!

Most of the time clothing and Shoes are the next main problems my children are facing here in Shanto, Ethiopia next to food and shelter. As you can see from the pictures below which our social worker took before the couples of weeks ago my children were in their old and tattered clothing and most of them have no any shoes. To solve the problem of clothing in some extent we provided the children with these beautiful school uniform. I know  that Team Tasfa is also working to solve my children’s clothing and shoes problem.  And Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc. is also collecting beautiful backpacks to send us with Team Tasfa. I am really too much excited to see huge smiles and joy of my little and sweet children.

My Children in Their Old Clothing.

My Children in Their Old Chlothing.

My Children in Their Beautiful School Uniform.

Thank you all for bringing this beautiful smile to the faces of my little children!!!

 

Desalegn