PATH

It's been a month since we returned home from Ethiopia and almost two months since I blogged last. Sorry for the lack of posts while we were in Addis Ababa--for some reason the blogger website was always blocked while we were there (except for that one exception when I was able to get to it and make a quick post).

I loved being in Addis Ababa so much. The people there were so humble, grateful, kind, resilient, strong, and funny. I miss them so much and I pray the Lord will bless them in all they do. I loved my time there because of them. The people I worked with (Abenezer, Tesfaye, Bisrat, Yared, Gebeyaw, Selam, Tigist, Haregowin, Redit) are heroic in so many ways for what they are doing to help their country's rising generation. I admire them so much and wish I could do more to help them in their efforts.

While I was there I volunteered in three different capacities: in a preschool class at a government elementary school (Temanj Yaze Primary School), in after-school tutorials for the elementary students there, and at PATH. Today I will post pictures from PATH, and later in the week I will post pictures from Temanj Yaze.

PATH is a program that assists disadvantaged families in the Kirkos sub-city of Addis Ababa. It provides school supplies and after-school activities and classes for the kids; assistance in applying for high school and technical schools for the older kids; and opportunities for economic development for the parents and older kids. There are 54 kids enrolled in the PATH program, and they are free to bring their friends to hang out at the center.

The PATH center includes a courtyard for hanging out, a library with a collection of children's and teenager books and a TV for watching movies in English, a computer lab with four working computers, a bathroom with indoor plumbing, two offices for the social worker and financial manager, and a room for the mothers/guardians of the children to spin cotton to make blankets, shirts, scarves, etc. to sell.

I taught English and computer classes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at this center. We also would visit there sometimes on the weekends (one time we went there right after church--hence my dress in some of the pictures). Due to the high number of kids that were always at the center, I don't remember every person's name from the pictures. But for history's sake I have listed the names of the kids who attended regularly that I got to know.


Back Row: Be'emnet, art teacher, Abenezer, Henok, Cherinet
Next Row: ?, ?, Eyob, Zainaba, Yeshework, ?, ?
Next Row: Gebramikael, Natnayel, Kidist, Hermela, Helen, ?, Tewabech
Next Row: Abram, Iyuel, Yonas, Henok, Tamirat, Abdushukur, Tariku, Shukriya
Bottom Row: ?, Ashanafi, Yacob, Iyeros, ?, Herasarik
The PATH center and part of the courtyard. Me with two of the moms who spin cotton--they tried to teach me how to do it, but I couldn't get it! It was hard. Iyuel, Yonas, Natnayel, Gebremikael. I love these boys!! They were so funny, always trying to make me laugh. Look at those handsome smiles! Ethiopians have such white teeth, their smiles are so beautiful. Tariku and Yacob--I love these boys!!! They were soooo sweet. Abenezer (the super awesome, really nice social worker who does almost everything at PATH) and me ?, Selam, me, Iyerusalem, ?, ?, hanging out behind the PATH building. I think Iyerusalem is sooo beautiful, and she is really smart too. I really hope she goes to college. Ashanafi and Abdushukur--good boys goofing off for the camera. Bilen, Yeshework, Hermela, me, Helen, Asnakech. I love love love these girls!!! They were such great students--very well-mannered. You could tell they really wanted to learn English and were working hard in school. I pray for them so much, they deserve a good future. Yonas and Natnayel again Tamirat
Back row: Ashanafi, Cherinet, Natnayel, me, Tamirat
Middle Row: Iyuel, ?, Abram, Yonas, Be'emnet
Bottom Row: Herasarik, ?, ?, Tamirat, Saba
Me teaching a class on using Excel It was always four per computer so that as many kids as possible could receive the lessons.

My heart hurts looking at these pictures, I miss these kids so much!