Trio strive to make a difference in Ethiopia
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Trio strive to make a difference in Ethiopia
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Journalist: Jenny Oldland — Melitta Parsons, Delvene and Tahlia Johnson are packing their bags for what may be a life-changing trip — more than just a trip of a lifetime.
Melitta Parsons (front), and Tahlia and Delvene Johnson pack their bags with aid items ready for their mission trip to the Grace Centre in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, next month. The SYP trio are travelling to Ethiopia next month as members of a short-term mission team to work at the Grace Centre for Children and Families in Bahir Dar, 300 kilometres north of the capital Addis Ababa.
It certainly isn't a trip for the faint-hearted.
Ethiopia is a country ravaged by drought, famine, civil war and an AIDS epidemic.
In Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara region, the practices of female genital mutilation and cutting of the tongue (circumcision of the epiglottis) are rife, as are yellow fever, rabies and malaria. It also has one of the highest incidents of HIV infection, a high infant mortality rate and low literacy levels. Family incomes average $14 per month, and many widows sleep on the streets with their children.
The Grace Centre incorporates an orphanage, temporary care centre, day care centre and the newly-opened Hope Memorial Clinic for mothers and children.
Why Ethiopia?
Why go to Ethiopia? Melitta sponsored her first Ethiopian child through Compassion Australia in Year 6, and has always felt drawn to the African continent.
Delvene and husband Paul, who began the process to adopt from Ethiopia over three years ago and hope to welcome a new baby to their family within 18 months, feel the same passion and sponsor one child in Ethiopia and two in Tanzania.
The adoption process has, Delvene said, prepared her for the trip and she is under no illusions as to what they will find there. The Johnsons' ultimate dream is to live in Africa with their children Tahlia (who, at 10 ,is the youngest member of the team travelling to Bahir Dar), Lydon (9) and Baden (6). Six months ago, they also welcomed foster daughter Elena (11) into their family.
Working at the Grace Centre
The team will spend about three weeks at the Grace Centre where they will help with a number of projects including repairs, painting, working with mothers and new babies and in the new Hope Memorial Clinic, and teaching at the day care centre.
Tahlia is looking forward to holding the babies and painting children's play equipment.
"Tahlia has a keen interest in Ethiopia beyond her years, loves the culture and has the maturity to handle the trip. An Australian couple run the centre and have a 10-year-old daughter who is looking forward to Tahlia staying," Delvene said.
Supplies
Squeezing all their personal belongings into their carry-on luggage, the girls have been filling their suitcases with essential items for the centre, including cloth nappies, baby formula, first aid and medical supplies, small toys, toothbrushes, wool, even bike pumps (people tend to give children soccer balls but apparently don't think about what they are going to use to blow them up!)
Financing the trip and suitcases full of supplies themselves, they are now accepting monetary donations from the public to be put to good use once they arrive.
"We are flying from Brisbane to Bangkok and once we get there we will be able to purchase extra aid items as Ethiopian Airlines allow an extra 10 kg luggage allowance," they explained
"We are also going to spend donations received in the country itself once we get local advice on what is needed. While we are not a registered charity and can't offer tax deductibility for financial gifts, people can be assured 100% will be used to assist the severely poor and destitute in Ethiopia."
To good use
Larger financial gifts will be used for things such as simple operations for children their parents would never be able to afford; Fistula operations for women who will otherwise live a life of shame; simple tools to allow a mother to work and feed her family; education sessions for mothers of young children; and, with the wet season approaching, providing a roof over rudimentary shelters that families currently all home or raincoats for children who work outside all day.
"So far, tins in businesses in Warooka, Yorketown, Minlaton and Maitland, and private donations have realised $1,500; the response from the wider community is positive, and people say they are happy all the money will go to those who need it," Delvene and Melitta said.
"We also don't see this as our first and last trip to Bahir Dar, just the beginning of an ongoing relationship with the Grace Centre.
"When we return home, we will be running a couple of presentations to show the community what we were able to do, and what they did to help us make a difference."
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Journalist: Jenny Oldland — Melitta Parsons, Delvene and Tahlia Johnson are packing their bags for what may be a life-changing trip — more than just a trip of a lifetime.
Melitta Parsons (front), and Tahlia and Delvene Johnson pack their bags with aid items ready for their mission trip to the Grace Centre in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, next month. The SYP trio are travelling to Ethiopia next month as members of a short-term mission team to work at the Grace Centre for Children and Families in Bahir Dar, 300 kilometres north of the capital Addis Ababa.
It certainly isn't a trip for the faint-hearted.
Ethiopia is a country ravaged by drought, famine, civil war and an AIDS epidemic.
In Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara region, the practices of female genital mutilation and cutting of the tongue (circumcision of the epiglottis) are rife, as are yellow fever, rabies and malaria. It also has one of the highest incidents of HIV infection, a high infant mortality rate and low literacy levels. Family incomes average $14 per month, and many widows sleep on the streets with their children.
The Grace Centre incorporates an orphanage, temporary care centre, day care centre and the newly-opened Hope Memorial Clinic for mothers and children.
Why Ethiopia?
Why go to Ethiopia? Melitta sponsored her first Ethiopian child through Compassion Australia in Year 6, and has always felt drawn to the African continent.
Delvene and husband Paul, who began the process to adopt from Ethiopia over three years ago and hope to welcome a new baby to their family within 18 months, feel the same passion and sponsor one child in Ethiopia and two in Tanzania.
The adoption process has, Delvene said, prepared her for the trip and she is under no illusions as to what they will find there. The Johnsons' ultimate dream is to live in Africa with their children Tahlia (who, at 10 ,is the youngest member of the team travelling to Bahir Dar), Lydon (9) and Baden (6). Six months ago, they also welcomed foster daughter Elena (11) into their family.
Working at the Grace Centre
The team will spend about three weeks at the Grace Centre where they will help with a number of projects including repairs, painting, working with mothers and new babies and in the new Hope Memorial Clinic, and teaching at the day care centre.
Tahlia is looking forward to holding the babies and painting children's play equipment.
"Tahlia has a keen interest in Ethiopia beyond her years, loves the culture and has the maturity to handle the trip. An Australian couple run the centre and have a 10-year-old daughter who is looking forward to Tahlia staying," Delvene said.
Supplies
Squeezing all their personal belongings into their carry-on luggage, the girls have been filling their suitcases with essential items for the centre, including cloth nappies, baby formula, first aid and medical supplies, small toys, toothbrushes, wool, even bike pumps (people tend to give children soccer balls but apparently don't think about what they are going to use to blow them up!)
Financing the trip and suitcases full of supplies themselves, they are now accepting monetary donations from the public to be put to good use once they arrive.
"We are flying from Brisbane to Bangkok and once we get there we will be able to purchase extra aid items as Ethiopian Airlines allow an extra 10 kg luggage allowance," they explained
"We are also going to spend donations received in the country itself once we get local advice on what is needed. While we are not a registered charity and can't offer tax deductibility for financial gifts, people can be assured 100% will be used to assist the severely poor and destitute in Ethiopia."
To good use
Larger financial gifts will be used for things such as simple operations for children their parents would never be able to afford; Fistula operations for women who will otherwise live a life of shame; simple tools to allow a mother to work and feed her family; education sessions for mothers of young children; and, with the wet season approaching, providing a roof over rudimentary shelters that families currently all home or raincoats for children who work outside all day.
"So far, tins in businesses in Warooka, Yorketown, Minlaton and Maitland, and private donations have realised $1,500; the response from the wider community is positive, and people say they are happy all the money will go to those who need it," Delvene and Melitta said.
"We also don't see this as our first and last trip to Bahir Dar, just the beginning of an ongoing relationship with the Grace Centre.
"When we return home, we will be running a couple of presentations to show the community what we were able to do, and what they did to help us make a difference."
2008 May 13