Imagine Ethiopia
by Teddy Fikre
Thursday , November 16, 2009
Stop!
Before you go on reading this, please take a moment to Google “Ethiopian Child” and then click on the “Images” tab.
I will give you one minute….
This is the image of Ethiopian children. This is the image of Ethiopians to the world. A deprived and desolate country, a country without hope, a country without a future. I’m sure you did not enjoy the “mental picture” you were treated to.
The point of this article is not to validate the stereotype that all there is in Ethiopia is deprivation, desolation, and despair. Ethiopia has a rich history, and while there are a lot of Ethiopians both in Ethiopia and abroad accomplishing great things, for too many of her children the future is bleak indeed. We cannot deny the truth behind these images.
These are the facts:
Artists for Charity is having a fund raising banquet on Saturday, December 5th. Come out and take part in an event that features a “taste of Ethiopia” theme with exquisite Ethiopian cuisine, traditional music, and a coffee ceremony that is unlike any that you have seen at your local barista. Along the way, you will hear some amazing stories about the children your money is supporting in Ethiopia and get to meet two of the children who are here in the United States.
The point of this article is not to validate the stereotype that all there is in Ethiopia is deprivation, desolation, and despair. Ethiopia has a rich history, and while there are a lot of Ethiopians both in Ethiopia and abroad accomplishing great things, for too many of her children the future is bleak indeed. We cannot deny the truth behind these images.
These are the facts:
1. As of 2007, there are over 980,000 Ethiopians who live with HIV/AIDS (source http://hivinsite.ucsf. edu/global?page=cr09-et-00)
2. There are over 92,000 children who currently have HIV/AIDS
(source http://hivinsite. ucsf.edu/global?page=cr09-et- 00)
3. In 2007, 67,000 Ethiopians died as a direct result of HIV/AIDS
(source http://hivinsite. ucsf.edu/global?page=cr09-et- 00)
4. 2.1% of all Ethiopians in Ethiopia currently have HIV/AIDS
This is the image of Ethiopia, the image of Ethiopian children. We can pretend these hard truths don’t exist, but that does not obviate the facts. The crisis is real, and it is fueled by a widespread lack of information and the dearth of basic health care. Shall we let 11,500 miles and an ocean comfort us in knowing that we are not there, that our own lives are not impacted by this crisis?
The real question that begs to be asked is “what now, what do we do about it”? The answer–through one incremental and strenuous step at a time–we can make a change. A mountain is not scaled in one day; consequently, HIV/AIDS will not be eliminated overnight, either. There are thousands upon thousands of Ethiopian children who have been orphaned at the menacing hand of HIV/AIDS. Many of them are not only parent-less, but are infected with HIV/AIDS themselves.
Artists for Charity (AFC) is taking this small step towards scaling this overwhelming mountain. AFC is a non-profit 501 (3) C organization that is dedicated to providing financial support to the Artists for Charity Children’s home in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. The children who reside in the AFC Children’s Home are HIV-positive double-orphans. By giving these children a safe place to stay, clothing, meals and complete medical care—including ARV therapy, education, mental health services and an outlet through the wonders of art—AFC provides hope to those who seem the most hopeless.
AFC’s aim is not to reach the mountain top, but to take simple steps together, and make a change in one, two, or 20 children’s lives. So I ask you—today—to take a step with AFC. I am sure AFC will appreciate your involvement and investment in their organization, but I am asking you today to take one more step. Please donate, even just $1.00, and collectively we can make a profound difference in a child’s future. The dollar we each give today can give hope to children who, without us, might have nothing to hope for.
This is a clarion call to action. This is a time of giving and a time to count our blessings. No matter how rough the recession is, no matte how empty our wallets might seem, we have to always remember that our station in life is that of kings and queens compared to the hardships many around the world suffer. As you head out to the malls on Black Friday to give to those who have plenty already, keep in mind to give to those who have the least amongst us.
2. There are over 92,000 children who currently have HIV/AIDS
(source http://hivinsite. ucsf.edu/global?page=cr09-et- 00)
3. In 2007, 67,000 Ethiopians died as a direct result of HIV/AIDS
(source http://hivinsite. ucsf.edu/global?page=cr09-et- 00)
4. 2.1% of all Ethiopians in Ethiopia currently have HIV/AIDS
(sourcehttp://hivinsite.ucsf. edu/global?page=cr09-et-00) for comparison, the HIV/AIDS rate in the United States is .0122
This is the image of Ethiopia, the image of Ethiopian children. We can pretend these hard truths don’t exist, but that does not obviate the facts. The crisis is real, and it is fueled by a widespread lack of information and the dearth of basic health care. Shall we let 11,500 miles and an ocean comfort us in knowing that we are not there, that our own lives are not impacted by this crisis?
The real question that begs to be asked is “what now, what do we do about it”? The answer–through one incremental and strenuous step at a time–we can make a change. A mountain is not scaled in one day; consequently, HIV/AIDS will not be eliminated overnight, either. There are thousands upon thousands of Ethiopian children who have been orphaned at the menacing hand of HIV/AIDS. Many of them are not only parent-less, but are infected with HIV/AIDS themselves.
Artists for Charity (AFC) is taking this small step towards scaling this overwhelming mountain. AFC is a non-profit 501 (3) C organization that is dedicated to providing financial support to the Artists for Charity Children’s home in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. The children who reside in the AFC Children’s Home are HIV-positive double-orphans. By giving these children a safe place to stay, clothing, meals and complete medical care—including ARV therapy, education, mental health services and an outlet through the wonders of art—AFC provides hope to those who seem the most hopeless.
AFC’s aim is not to reach the mountain top, but to take simple steps together, and make a change in one, two, or 20 children’s lives. So I ask you—today—to take a step with AFC. I am sure AFC will appreciate your involvement and investment in their organization, but I am asking you today to take one more step. Please donate, even just $1.00, and collectively we can make a profound difference in a child’s future. The dollar we each give today can give hope to children who, without us, might have nothing to hope for.
This is a clarion call to action. This is a time of giving and a time to count our blessings. No matter how rough the recession is, no matte how empty our wallets might seem, we have to always remember that our station in life is that of kings and queens compared to the hardships many around the world suffer. As you head out to the malls on Black Friday to give to those who have plenty already, keep in mind to give to those who have the least amongst us.
So, if you want to change the image of Ethiopia, if you want to google “Ethiopian children” and see more than deprivation, desolation, and despair, you can take a small step towards the mountain top by simply taking one step, and taking it now.
Stop!
Now Imagine Ethiopian Children again…
Artists for Charity is having a fund raising banquet on Saturday, December 5th. Come out and take part in an event that features a “taste of Ethiopia” theme with exquisite Ethiopian cuisine, traditional music, and a coffee ceremony that is unlike any that you have seen at your local barista. Along the way, you will hear some amazing stories about the children your money is supporting in Ethiopia and get to meet two of the children who are here in the United States.This blog submission was written by Teddy Fikre , an organizer with Ethiopian-Americans for Change and a guest blogger. Teddy is an avid supporter and a believer in the vision of Artists for Charity and any other organization that strives to make a change in Ethiopia. The views of guest bloggers are not the views of Ethiopian-Americans for Change. Guest bloggers represent the broad dissection of views and outlooks within our community.
