Child sponsorship update from Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Update for child sponsor supporters from the SOS Children's Village Bahir Dar, Ethiopia from Winter 2008.

We are pleased to send you the sunniest greeting and heart felt best wishes for Christmas and New Year. It is a pleasure to express our gratitude and appreciation for your support to the SOS family in Bahir Dar. Here is the updated news for you about the village.

The Village
The sprit of the Village Children growing up with love and care is maintained. The number of children under our care is increased to 127. The reason for the increase is the transfer of 23 grown up boys and girls to youth facilities and in their place we admitted 14 needy children to the village. It is also expected that we will be admitting other children in the coming months. It is a new start for the village for it has new experience to have this large number of children in its 8 years history.

All the newly admitted children were deprived of their basic necessities before they came here. When the children come to village they got all the blessing the village can offer. Now, they are adapting shortly, it is exiting to see complete change. They started to play together and cherish the love with their SOS siblings. They look so contented and easily integrated with their SOS family and the environment.

Moreover, new facilities are established for the Youth. Their transfer was not easy for all residents of the village. A feeling of sadness hovers on the air for some times during the day. Soon, soothing breath over take and everyone was advising them how to lead their life in the Youth Facilities. Then a funny drama show was presented by the youngsters. They also staged poems. The SOS moms on their part transmitted messages for the youngsters. Finally they were accompanied by the youth leaders and moved to their respective youth facilities.

The annual medical check up was conducted for every member of the 12 family houses, and boys and girls of the Youth Facility. To our delight no one was diagnosed with a serious problem except for minor disorders like allergy. On the other hand, one of the kids who had impairment has got physiotherapy. Consequently, his conditions were improving. His limbs can move in a better fashion than before. He also keeps his balance well. His language becomes more expressive and clear. Bicycle is bought for him for further improvement.

Education
Academic Performance of the Children this year is so exciting for all of us. There is no detention this year. Rather all children are promoted to the next grade level with good results. Three children, in the village, made the highest average improvement, above six points. Four went to SOS CV Awassa for International General Certificate study. One of the grown up boys has got a better result for further education in Swaziland. These measurable improvements are reflected in high satisfaction of coworkers and village residents.

Events at Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Celebration
Grand celebration for SOS Children's Village Bahir Dar was SOS Day. Children pour out their emotion in their poems and presentations. The day was eventful and it was fascinated with unique events and exhibition unlike the previous celebrations. Partners show their solidarity in their speech and promised to cooperate with us further. It has also been a special occasion to promote SOS Children's Mission, Vision and Values.

In door and out door games offered to the children made the long summer vacation thrilling. Chess, Checker, Dart, Table Football, Football and Valley ball were among the games the children enjoyed so much.

Hiking and Environmental Clubs
The two clubs can be placed in the fore runner of all the other clubs. More than ever, the near by hills, banks of Nile river and shores of Lake Tana are explored. No marginal place around the town is left untouched by members. In turn they got knowledge about their surrounding panorama. The Environmental Protection Club also planted seedling which was initiated by the Town Administration. Each child planted at least three seedlings. They also visited Wanzaye Spa and they took bath in the Hot Spring. They cleaned the Social Center and swiped drainage from herbs. The drive for all this was children's curiosity, and the interest to bring about suitable environment for all to live in.
Training

From Switzerland, International Scout Office three Volunteers were here to conduct training. The 1st phase scout training was in SOS CV Harrar. The 2nd phase was hosted by our village. It was a practical training on different skills conducted by the senior children and volunteers. The training focused on different skills of tying rope, using compass, how to be resourceful during hiking and how to trace a lost man.

Youth Festival
2008 Youth Festival was held in SOS CV Addis Ababa, the capital. It was a one week event and it has been a triumph for Bahir Dar Village. The unbeaten Females football team won the Festival's Football Champ. They are awarded with gold medals. We collected many medals in Females Rally, Males Rally, SOS Great Run, and 4000 meter male. On aggregate, our youth put us in the first place. Meanwhile, they visited 'Arat kilo' Museum and some of the old churches in the capital.

Projects for children at Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Social Centre
Many of the community members know it from its solid one year out spoken service. Now the Social Center expanded its programs and gives a package of service and support. The major ones are: Educational Material, Medical service, blanket and mattress, food and cereal supports to the vulnerable families. The services are adult literacy programme, counseling, micro saving, Day Care service, traditional conflict resolution and counseling and houses renovation; so far 35 houses were renovated.

Basic needs of the OVC /Orphan and Vulnerable Children/ and care givers almost met. Skills training pave the way for employment opportunities. House renovations improve the problem of shelter. Right holders are able to attend their regular education. The Neighboring community is responding to the problems of OVC. Above all, care givers started to generate their own income. And they started to treat children in properly. The knowledge on how to bring up children shows improvement and the problem of malnutrition is partially solved.

SOS School and Nursery School
Success has never turned its face from SOS School. The competence of the students is proven in regional and national exams. All Grade 8 students passed the regional exam with good result. Twelve of grade 10 students scored straight 'A's. 35 children are graduated and promoted to First Cycle, elementary school at the SOS School, 3 are from the village. This gives us great motivation to work even harder. In the current academic year we have also granted 16 students with scholarship. Our school has already begun its 3rd cycle of college preparatory class in one stream, Natural science. Moreover, new equipments are bought to strengthen the min-media and offer better services.

In the SOS Nursery School one hundred and six children are attending. For the New Academic Year the SOS Nursery School replaced the depreciated materials with new ones and become fully fledged with playing materials like the swing and the balance. Three SOS Nursery School teachers, who have taken upgrading summer class for three years, graduated from SOS Training Centre with Diploma.

We are very concerned that the economic crisis that is affecting the well-developed nations would have indirect impact on our country as well. Though everyone has been motivated and pledged to speed up the race for better life in the new Ethiopian millennium, we are afraid that the current crisis might still pull us behind. However, we are positive that the measures being taken to address the situation would resolve the crisis and brings better future for everybody.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous support.

Sincerely Yours,
Abeba Tiumelissan (Ms.)
Village Director, Bahir Dar