Ethiopia

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About Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, the world's sixth poorest country, some 1.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. The country is also home to 720,000 orphans.

 

MCC Supports:

Akaki Kale Heywet Church

This congregation-based HIV/AIDS outreach provides training, counseling, and support to people living with HIV/AIDS in one neighborhood in Addis Ababa. The group works closely with the local government structure and receives many patient referrals from the local government social work office. The project provides support to bed-ridden patients and offers training in health education for AIDS patients. Students in the neighborhood receive behavior change education and couples are provided with per-marital counseling and education.

If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.

 

Beza Lewetatoch Limate

Based in Addis Ababa, the Beza Lewetatoch Limate project was organized by a group of young, professional men who felt the desire to become more active in HIV/AIDS issues in their community. The project trains idir leaders (traditional community leaders often used for funerals) as a way to reach out to Orthodox Church leaders and school teachers in the community. The intent is to encourage more community members to volunteer to provide care and support to people living with AIDS and children orphaned by AIDS.

If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.

 

Kolfe Keranyo Sub-City Kebele

The Kebele project operates in a small neighborhood in Addis Ababa. Through a partnership with the local government in the area, MCC supports at-risk youth and children who have been orphaned because of AIDS. Boys and girls are supported through sports clubs that offer children safe after-school activities. Grandparents and children in the community are supported with financial assistance to meet basic needs.

If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.

 

Meserete Kristos Church (MKC)

Because of the seriousness of the AIDS pandemic in Ethiopia, the church is involved in an AIDS prevention program at a national level. Through the national office, MCC supports 3 MKC regional offices with HIV/AIDS related staff and programming. This project cares for hundreds of people living with AIDS through home-based care work and income-generation training. The church reaches thousands through awareness events at the community level. The program also offers counseling services, support for orphans, rehabilitative training for vulnerable groups such as commercial sex workers and street children, local resource centers and support groups for people living with AIDS.

If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.