Ethiopia Christian Ministries (ECM)
900 Ogden Avenue #368
Downers Grove, IL 60515
www.ecministries.org
June 12, 2007
School…Does it have to only
be a Dream?
Imagine waking up each morning and watching
the other children head off to school. They
leave in the morning and come back sometime
in the afternoon. At one time all of you
were together, but now, they learn to read
while you wonder how to fill your day until
they return. Oh, it is not that your family
does not want you to go to school. They
do. So very much. And they have tried. But,
still, they cannot afford the required uniform
that would let you in the door, which would,
quite literally, open a world of doors to
you.
This scenario is played out day after day
after day all across Ethiopia. The tragedy
of this has weighed very heavily on the
heart of the Rev. Dr. Benyamen Yusuf, and
he has sought ways to help Ethiopian families
acquire uniforms to enable them to send
their children to school.
One such way has been through a program
that provides sheep to the children to care
for and raise. The money they earn through
this enterprise pays for their school uniforms
and opens the realm of hope into their lives.
It also teaches responsibility and the rewards
of a job well done. Another program provides
literal “seed money” to single
women who want to start their own small
micro-enterprises, which provides an income
so they can support their children and send
them to school.
A young girl named “Mary” desperately
wanted to attend school in the village of
Debra Ziet. She did not have a uniform.
At the same time, a blind woman nearby wanted
to go to the Women’s Center daily
for food and companionship. The leadership
of the Center saw how the two needs could
be met in a dignified way. “Mary’s”
uniform became her payment for walking the
blind lady to the Center and home each day
before and after she attended school. And
the blind lady? Well, she is assured that
each day she will find food, fellowship
and Jesus Christ at the Women’s Center.
A small sign is posted on the right side
of the stage at the school in Debra Ziet.
It reads quite simply, “When education
goes wrong, nothing goes right.” Marta
Abebaw, leader of the Debra Ziet Children’s
Ministry has seen both sides of this education
result. When education “goes right,”
children can grow up to make a difference
in their world.
One school uniform can change the life
of one child forever. Think of the possibilities.
Think of the hope. Think of who that child
might become because of one uniform.
Charla Russell
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