Child sponsorship update letter from Gode

Child sponsorship report on SOS CV Gode / Ethiopia - June, 2008

Forwarding the customary warm greetings and gratitude for you, the SOS Gode family would like to provide you the overall activities of the last six months within the village and its affiliated facilities.

Village
The big SOS family in Gode is doing very great. Our Village is running its activities well. We admitted 8 new children and the village is currently a home for 102 children (60 males and 42 females). We still are working to fill the 18 vacant places with most needy children in order to run the village with full capacity. The newly admitted children are very well adapting to the village life and they are feeling at home now with their new family.

In another development, one month advanced mothers training was given to the mothers in the village in order to certify and build up their capacity to lead their family. Besides, a one day instruction was given to them by the village director on child right and abuse issues.

Education
In this academic year 2007/2008 among 102 children of the village 82 are attending their education. Amongst, 57 visit the SOS Nursery School and 25 children are going to the SOS Primary School. The remaining 20 children are toddlers or newly admitted children; thus, they are staying at the recently established kids’ corner in the village.

The 1st semester result of the academic year was released last February. 16 of the school going children get in the rank of 1-10 in their respective classes. The tutorial program and teachers remedial lesson plan was the input to make our children the better in academic achievement of the school.

Celebration
This year’s SOS mothers’ day was celebrated festively and warmly on March 07, 2008 with the presence of the Mayor of the town as guest of honor. There were also invited guests from Gode town administration, women’s affairs office, and representatives of Non Governmental Organizations. On the occasion, the village children expressed their gratitude to mothers and entertained the mothers and invited guest by presenting songs. There were also different fun games among mothers that made the day more Joyful.

A speech was also made by the guest of honor, the Mayor, and other officials. According to the Mayor of the town, SOS mothers’ profession is a noble profession that every one should appreciate. Besides, he appreciated the role of SOS Village in providing a home for many homeless children and all its participation in the community development

Supporting the community at Gode

Gode SOS Medical Centre
The medical center is currently providing better health services for the SOS family as well as for Gode town and its surrounding community. Currently, the center is becoming the best alternative in alleviating the health problem of the community; especially, delivery which was a common problem for decades in the vicinity. It is also extending and providing its programs to cover wider areas of Gode administration area.

To increase the involvement of the surrounding community, awareness creation program was prepared for west Gode town community on harmful traditional practice and traditional birth attendance. The participants get awareness on the topics. Outreach program is also given on health educations like antenatal care, female genital mutilation, environmental and personal hygiene, and Voluntary Counseling and Testing of HIV/AIDS.

On top of this, our medical center is working in a close and supportive way with Gode Hospital and regional state health bureau.

SOS Primary School
In this academic year, 2007/2008, the school is running well in providing quality education for the village children and for the community children as well. The first semester parents’ day and the semester closing ceremonies held on March 03, 2008. Motivational rewards were given to the top ranking and improved student.

On the occasion, the village children presented welcome songs for their parents and invited guests. In order to develop and promote teachers’ capacity, training was given for five day on method of teaching and academic and life skill development program by SOS Ethiopia Schools’ project head. As usual the school clubs sport, debating, environmental and peer group clubs, are running actively with participation of students.

SOS Nursery School

Among the 112 children attending the SOS Nursery School, 57 of them are children from the village, and 47 are from the surrounding community while the remaining 8 children are scholarship students.

The SOS Nursery School accomplished the 1st half year with different events and activities. At the end of the semester, parents’ day was warmly and delightfully celebrated. As usual top ranking children were awarded from the final level of nursery school. In addition, an SOS mother was awarded as a best mother by the SOS Nursery School for showing good follow up and care for her children’s schooling. A training was also prepared by the nusery school leader both for the community and SOS mothers on Jolly phonics sound so as for the mothers to help their children in their study time at home.

To conclude, it is our strong and heart felt believe to work with you all the way to see the fruits of our planted seeds. Deep appreciation once again for your kindness to help children!

Sincerely Yours,

Mustefa Haji (Mr.)
Village Director, Gode

Case Study from Gode: Saving the Future
It has been Seven months since Deqo, an 18 years old young lady from the outskirts of Gode, is pregnant of her first baby. As to the culture, she is very happy to be pregnant after a short time of her marriage. However, in the 7th month, she noticed swelling of her extremities, abdomen, trunk and the face. She goes to a traditional birth attendant and told the case. The birth attendant told her she is okay and gave her some traditional medicine. But, the feeling gets very tough and the problem gets severe. Though she took other traditional medications, things could not go well. That is when she heard about the SOS Medical centre in Gode from a visiting relative.

As a final option, she asked her husband to take her to the medical centre. He objected furiously believing it goes up against their tradition. However, it was his final option to take her to the centre because he feels that she is not going to make it. Deqo had to endure lots of problems to reach the center which is a little far from her house. “She was in a very critical point during admission for she had severe pregnancy induced hypertension far from expected date of delivery. She also had severe anemia,” the medical doctor said.

After two days under medical care, she gave birth to a baby boy weighing 1.2kg (very low birth weight). Due to her illness, she couldn't breast feed her baby, the baby couldn't also suck. The pediatrics unit took good medical care for the new born. After delivery Deqo’s condition shows no improvement. Her blood pressure did not come down. But, finally she made it to survival with the meticulous care and support of the medical center. After a while, she asked for her baby with tears allover her face. “Thanks to the SOS Medical center! It was a peak of happiness I felt, when I have my first baby alive and start to feed him,” Deqo explained.

“Many people coming to visit me at home were amazed by my survival. I also told them about the care I got at the SOS Medical Centre. I hope, the center is a really nice thing for all the people in the area,” Said Deqo.