It was almost 15 years ago when World Vision Ethiopia, supported by Australian Sponsors, commenced Child Sponsorship activities in Kochere. Among the first, of what would be 4,000 children sponsored in this Area Program, was a young boy of 5 whose mother had died giving birth to his sister.
Over the years that have followed one generous Australian’s monthly pledge has supported ‘Wubshet’ through ten years of school. He has received school supplies, including text books, stationary and uniform, and this year, just a few months ago Wubshet passed his year 10 examinations and successfully completed his schooling. It is a very proud Dad (‘Haile’) who explains that Wubshet is not home, he is in Addis Ababa because he has just passed the entrance exams and been accepted into the Police force.
I’ve interrupted Haile and his (second) wife as they drive a pair of oxen to plough a new field that will be sown with barley. But, they are more than happy to stop for a few minutes and sit in the grass to tell me their story.
When World Vision came calling in 2004 Haile had not long ago buried his wife. He had four children under five and a small wooden shack in the valley. An offer to support his son and for him to receive training in agriculture seemed “like an answer to prayer from a great God”.
As part of the Area Program Haile received training in agriculture techniques, including potato and apple production and small business management. Over the years he has become so successful that he was invited by the government to be part of a farming trial of high yield variety potato. Part of the trial included him training others in the new techniques. Today he has a potato seed reserve bank that he manages and sells to the community. From the income he has made over the years he has moved to a new property, built a house and produce store, and planted out a large property with apple and banana trees, potatoes and coffee. Haile’s eyes light up though when he shows me his treasure, what he calls ‘holy land fruit’ – it turns out to be figs.
But he seems most excited when he tells me that for many years his children only had two meals a day, at the most. But now, his wife and their 12 children eat three meals a day and they drink clean, safe water from a community system supplied through Australian child sponsors funds.
Today, the ‘answer to prayer’ has provided him with hope that his son will be ok, he has a job, and it has changed his family’s life. But the impact of child sponsorship support has not stopped there.
Due to conflict in this region there are over 200,000 people displaced by tribal conflict in Haile’s district. Most of them are housed in schools, churches, local government properties and sports grounds throughout the district, but one family of ten, has found a safe home with Haile’s family. He has helped them to build a small wood house on his farm and he is sharing his food and resources with them, and they are helping him with his farming.
As he points out the small house in the shade of banana and coffee trees he tells us that ‘God has blessed him, and he must share that blessing with others’.
I’ve interrupted Haile and his (second) wife as they drive a pair of oxen to plough a new field that will be sown with barley. But, they are more than happy to stop for a few minutes and sit in the grass to tell me their story.
When World Vision came calling in 2004 Haile had not long ago buried his wife. He had four children under five and a small wooden shack in the valley. An offer to support his son and for him to receive training in agriculture seemed “like an answer to prayer from a great God”.
As part of the Area Program Haile received training in agriculture techniques, including potato and apple production and small business management. Over the years he has become so successful that he was invited by the government to be part of a farming trial of high yield variety potato. Part of the trial included him training others in the new techniques. Today he has a potato seed reserve bank that he manages and sells to the community. From the income he has made over the years he has moved to a new property, built a house and produce store, and planted out a large property with apple and banana trees, potatoes and coffee. Haile’s eyes light up though when he shows me his treasure, what he calls ‘holy land fruit’ – it turns out to be figs.
Today, the ‘answer to prayer’ has provided him with hope that his son will be ok, he has a job, and it has changed his family’s life. But the impact of child sponsorship support has not stopped there.
Due to conflict in this region there are over 200,000 people displaced by tribal conflict in Haile’s district. Most of them are housed in schools, churches, local government properties and sports grounds throughout the district, but one family of ten, has found a safe home with Haile’s family. He has helped them to build a small wood house on his farm and he is sharing his food and resources with them, and they are helping him with his farming.
As he points out the small house in the shade of banana and coffee trees he tells us that ‘God has blessed him, and he must share that blessing with others’.
