Saturday, May 4
th, I continued my journey with
Abraham. Our first stop was the Impact Library. Located in a very poor neighborhood. Impact
strives to provide early education (reading and writing) to neighborhood
kids. They also provide one meal a day which,
many times is the only meal the kids receive. Abraham found it was hard for
kids to study on an empty stomach!
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| Entrance to Impact School |
The school is run by a wonderful young man, Enouck. Enouck was one of the young men mentored by
Abraham….and get this….when the school is closed overnight, security is
provided by three other students currently in University. These three men
Abraham has also mentored and are products of this same neighborhood. They serve as
role models and give real meaning to "Lifting as we Climb" and
"Each One, Teach One".
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| Impact Library Leader Enouck |
You see Impact has very little in the way of books,
classroom and computers, but they are making real IMPACT!
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Impact Library
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Hello from the students at Impact Library!
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A brother teaching his sister to read.
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Classroom
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Library
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Studying intently!!!
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| This is what it is really all about!!! |
Saturday afternoon and evening my immersion into
Ethiopian culture continued. The goats I saw on the streets were really lambs. It is a tradition to serve lamb for Easter
Dinner.
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| Easter Dinner? |
Abraham's beautiful wife, Saleem (sah-leem) runs a shop
dedicated to fair trade and sharing of profits.
Over coffee and popcorn, (coffee is always served with snacks) Saleem
shared more about her shop. She has
women on site who do weaving, sewing, bead making etc. All profits are fairly shared and this allows
women to have their own money for medicine or education for their kids. It's less about aid and more about
sustainability!
So you know I did some SERIOUS Shopping in her store!
Abraham and Saleem do well by doing good!
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| Abraham & Salem |
Saturday evening was a traditional Ethiopian meal. Injera is a grain and basic Ethiopian staple..looks like a
large pancake. Food is eaten with hands, family style. There is an elaborate handwashing experience before and after the
meal. I know Spicy and this food is very, very, very spicy! There is always beef, chicken and lentil…I
even spotted some Collard Greens which were very good...not as good as my
husband's, but very good. ;-)
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Easter Dinner at the start
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| Easter Dinner afterward |
There was also entertainment highlighting the different
regions of Ethiopia.
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| Local Entertainment |
See two videos of local entertainment I shot at these link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f55Os00ezt4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EhympiyaQk
(I am still working on learning how to embed videos into my blog.)
Here I spend time with my travel partners at the end of the day.
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| My travelling partners. |
Reading both post Sunday morning as I prepare for Mother's Day service is so inspirational. It brings joy to my heart of the work that is being done, and the work still needed. Makes me want to make a difference as well! Thanks for sharing your journey, safe travels. Luv u cuz
ReplyDeleteGot back from Ghana yesterday and finally have one full day to myself-and reading through your "journey" has been very heartwarming on many levels--realizing the "impact" your trip wil have -for the people there,and for yourself.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the years my father served as Assoc. Director of Peace Corps and as Associate for USAID--- He used to say;" The Americans find out they are getting asmuch from here (Ghana) as they are bringing".
Kudos to you.
See you when back home.!
Grace