Education Ethiopia Project #30736

Quality Education for Orphan & Vulnerable Children

by Brave Hearts

Project Report | Jul 20, 2020
How BHE Is Supporting Families Amidst COVID-19

By Konjit Yimer | Managing Director

Maraki at home during social worker's visit

BHE continues to support orphaned and vulnerable children and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has caused significant impact on health, economy and daily operations in almost every country. After the first case in Ethiopia was identified on March 13, the government had been taking steps to fight the spread of the Coronavirus in line with international action.

Nationally, schools have been closed since March 16 and a State of Emergency was declared on April 8 to last for five months. In accordance with government actions and regulations, BHE has suspended its regular services such as tutorials and group counseling sessions at the drop in center. These also include daily after school meals and guardian meetings. Yet, we are finding new ways of continuing to support our families during this time until regular services and schools can be resumed.

Raising Awareness, Basic Needs and Hygiene Support

The key messages in the prevention of COVID-19 have been to wash hands regularly, wear face masks while in public and keep social distancing. Despite difficulties in accessing adequate sanitation, BHE has been helping families ensure they can protect themselves. As the virus affects those with medical conditions and low immunity the most, we believe it is key for vulnerable families to know how to protect themselves.

BHE has provided the families with additional food support and financial support to mitigate rising food prices and disruptions in their livelihoods caused by restrictions on transportation. It is important to ensure children continue to receive daily meals at home that they don't have in school. BHE has also been providing extra hygiene materials including hand sanitizers and soap.

Children, youth and guardians who have medical conditions are encouraged to follow up their health. Government health care centers are providing telephone follow ups for those who had in person follow up appointments to decrease their exposure. So far, all our beneficiaries needing care are taking their medications regularly and are in good health.

Studying At Home, Library Support, Counseling and Follow Up

As students have to stay home and follow their education remotely, BHE is working to ensure they continue to have basic needs and follow up. We are routinely assessing the vulnerability and risks each family is faced with during this time. Children and youth are following their studies from home through TV and radio education.

This year BHE has 5 students under its program who will take the 8th grade national exam and 3 students taking the 12th grade national exam. As the exams are planned to take place in a few months, BHE is providing the students with model exams and material to help them study from home.

We also regularly encourage the children and youth to follow their studies by reading and following educational programs. They are able to borrow books from the BHE library that they can read at home. Lemma, a special needs student in 12th grade is provided with materials through the mobile app 'Telegram' by his school.

BHE’s Social Worker has been making regular calls and home visits to each household to follow their well-being, find out their needs and ensure each child follows their education. Children or youth in need of counseling and guidance are also able to discuss any issues they have during the calls and visits.

Some guardians have lost customers and their work due to lack of supply, rising prices and transportation restrictions. Others who earn their living by washing clothes in the community have not been able to work. However, most of our guardians are staying resilient with some continuing their trade and others finding different work while taking precautions.

While BHE's services have had to temporarily adapt to overcome this difficult time, we are strengthened by our ability to continue to provide essential and holistic support during this difficult time including food, hygiene, health, shelter, awareness and counseling support.

"I deeply thank our donors, staff and volunteers for continuing to support our work during this difficult time. I urge everyone to stay safe and well, my prayers go out to those affected by COVID-19." - Koni Yimer, Managing Director, BHE

Leul in his new home following education on TV

Lemma and his dad being safe at home

Lemma following his education using his computer

Maraki showing hand washing prevention of COVID-19

Sofia's family receiving emergency food, pad, soap

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Mar 23, 2020
Academic Success and COVID-19 Challenges

By Konjit Yimer | Managing Director

Simon, Yonas and Leul score excellent grades

The first three months of 2020 have been bright for BHE students. They concluded their first academic semester with three of our students earning outstanding achievements. BHE currently has 19 children in primary school, 9 in secondary school, 2 in vocational education and 6 youth in higher education.

At the start of the year, BHE joyously celebrated Ethiopian Christmas and Epiphany with the children and guardians. We provided each family with a chicken and ten eggs for each occasion so the children and their families do not miss out on the festivities. During the recent school break the children enjoyed their time at the drop in center doing various educational and fun activities.

With three of our youth graduating from university last year, we now have a total of eight youth completing their transition period in the program and graduating from BHE this year as self-reliant adults. We are proud that these youth have come a long way from their hardships and now have the education and skills to support themselves and their future.

For International Women’s Day held March 8, we celebrated our female university graduates who are exemplary for the younger students especially girls in our program. Despite losing both parents and facing several hardships, five of our female graduates worked their way to success and self-reliance. Please read about their journey on our blog here.

The global spread of COVID-19 has become an increasing concern for everyone. With the first case of the Coronavirus confirmed in Ethiopia on March 13, the government has since taken action to close schools temporarily to slow the spread. In line with this, BHE has suspended tutorials and other sessions at the drop in center after giving awareness sessions on the virus and protection methods.

BHE has also put in place measures to help families cope during this time including providing them with grocery essentials. We did this so that children continue to get their daily meals while some goods may become overpriced or out of the market due to the impact of COVID-19.

We are greatly concerned how the virus will affect the most vulnerable in our society and in our program as we have a number of children and guardians with pre-existing conditions. Thus we are trying our best to raise awareness on protection and safety for all. Everyone is in our thoughts and prayers as we try to navigate and find the best way to support the children and families in these difficult times. We will keep you updated on our work.

Please join us in spreading awareness about COVID-19 to help reduce the spread and exposure to vulnerable people. Wash hands with soap, stay home or away from public gatherings as much as possible, cover your nose and mouth if you cough or sneeze and follow reliable protection advice. As always, thank you for your kind support to our program and please stay safe!

BHE awareness message on COVID-19

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Dec 26, 2019
A Priceless Holiday Gift - Alemu's Surgery

By Koni Yimer | Managing Director

Alemu after his surgery recovering at home

BHE currently supports 47 children and youth along with 39 guardians. Of the children we support 19 of them are in primary school, 9 of them are in secondary school, 2 are attending vocational and technical training and 6 are following their higher education studies. This year 3 of our youth graduated from university earning degrees in Water Engineering, Nutrition and Food Science as well as in Accounting and Finance.

It fills all of us at Brave Hearts Ethiopia with immense joy to share with you a moving story about Alemu, a resilient boy in the BHE program who underwent surgery a few days ago. We immeasurably thankful to Cure Hospital who took care of him.

Alemu is a young boy who has endured a lot of hardship. His parents unable to take care of him, so Alemu lived with his grandmother in the countryside. Unfortunately, he had an accident while playing soccer and broke his left arm.

Although he was hospitalized, he was unable to gain effective treatment and his arm suffered from infection, muscle loss and deformation.

Alemu's arm was deeply damaged by the infection he contracted because the local hospital carried out traditional practices that lacked medical merit. When he went to visit Cure Hospital, the doctors were afraid that his arm was beyond repair and would have to be amputated.

The doctors decided to undergo a surgery that was predicted to last 45 minutes, however, it lasted almost 3 hours long. Alemu's pain was almost unbearable. His damaged tissues in his arm made it particularly difficult, yet the medical team was able to complete the surgery successfully.

We are very proud of Alemu who was extremely brave and strong throughout this ordeal! After much deserved sleep and rest at the hospital, he is now home with his guardian and recovering. He will rest for the next 6 weeks until he goes back to Cure Hospital for a week long physiotherapy program.

BHE is supporting Alemu through its holistic care program including educational, health and counseling support. Despite all that Alemu went through we are delighted his surgery has ended successfully and he is now making recovery. He is now able to go to school and continue his education.

"Thanks to Daniela Berger, Dr. Rick and Cure Hospital staff for their support and ensuring that Alemu received the medical attention he required" ~ Koni Yimer, Managing Director, BHE

Alemu sleeping after his surgery at Cure Hospital

Alemu in his home drinking milk and resting

Alemu up and about near his home

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