Reconnecting With Ethiopia

By Almaz Asresahin, former Ethiopia Program Coordinator

Although I was born and raised in Ethiopia, this was my first visit to my homeland in the capacity of the WHFC Ethiopia Adoption Coordinator. I left Ethiopia during the civil war in the 80s. I have gone back several times to see my family, and have always found it to be a mixed blessing. When I am there, what becomes most apparent is the reality that many people of my generation have not survived to adulthood; and many who have survived are illiterate and face a life of destitution.

I have been blessed. Many of my fellow Ethiopians face life without the means to develop to their fullest potential. During my recent trip, my questions shifted more toward coming up with courses of action. Perhaps this is my way of minimizing the burden of being fortunately blessed, but it's also a way of redirecting my energy toward what I can do rather than asking questions that have no answers. This trip was empowering because I can now hope to make a difference in the lives of children who desperately need a chance.

Delivering Humanitarian Aid & Visiting Horizon House

Sarah Mraz, the WHFC Program Director, and I left Boston not only with the goal to strengthen our work in Ethiopia, but also to bring financial and in-kind donations to orphanages and medical clinics. It was truly a privilege to be sent by Wide Horizons with $17,000 in donations to present to three clinics identified earlier this year by Melissa King of Precious Angel, Inc. The donations raised at the 2004 WHFC Auction, provided critical medicines and treatment to prevent mother to child HIV transmissions.

We took six suitcases, each of which weighed 70 pounds. We were questioned by airline attendants about our suitcases, but Sarah negotiated, and we got permission to bring all of them without any charges. We had tremendous amounts of products most needed by our clinics, and I had the anticipation of seeing my family and friends.

Our first day in Ethiopia was spent with our representative Dr. Tsegaye, his wonderful wife, Yelfalem, the caretakers and the beautiful children at Horizon House. While it is always sad to see children living in orphanages, it is clear that the children here are being well cared for and loved, and they will soon be placed with permanent families. So many orphans are waiting for a similar opportunity.

Ethiopia and Adoption

Ethiopians have a strong sense of national pride. While Ethiopia is made up of many subethnic groups, with 100 different languages, the people are closely knitted by a common history: victory against colonization, and a Christian faith that was established long before Europeans brought Christianity to the African continent. At the same time, Ethiopia is still one of the poorest nations in the world due to prolonged civil and neighboring wars, persistent drought, and low technological development. So I was apprehensive on a deeper level of how Ethiopians perceive adoption, and about the officials who oversee adoptions. I began to wonder what kinds of concerns they have about adoption.

On our second day in Addis we met the adoption officials. I didn't know what to expect, in terms of how I might be received as an Ethiopian native, and in terms of my role in placing children with U.S. families. To my surprise, everyone was receptive to the needs of the children and to our work. The government officials who oversee adoptions have learned to place the needs of the children above the need to feel capable of keeping orphans within the country. One of the officials said, "We are so happy to have one of our people working for this agency, and now we can be absolutely sure that our children are going into good hands." I assured him of the fact that, even without an Ethiopian working there, the agency is devoted to helping all children from any country who are in need of families and homes. I also assured him that Americans are wonderful people who have lots of love in their hearts. He smiled with a sense of peace and pride for the choice they are making for their children. I was humbled by their gratitude for the hope being given to many children through Wide Horizons.

Meeting Children in our Sponsorship Program

On the fourth day, we traveled to the northern part of the country to visit the children and social workers in our sponsorship program. As we traveled the bumpy roads, we saw many precious children only about 5-12 years old herding animals. They waved, smiled, and blew kisses at us, and we did the same back. It was heartwarming to see their cheerful and upbeat expressions and hear their warm shouted greetings, but heartbreaking to realize that many of them will grow to be adults without education or any of the skills that would promise a future better than their childhood.

Unlimited Possibilities to Make A Difference

Historically, Ethiopia attracts mostly anthropologists and archeologists, who are fascinated by the cultural and political history. Within the last 15 years, however, a significant number of nongovernmental organizations are having a significant impact in the country. Currently there are over 100 registered humanitarian organizations working in Ethiopia. Political stability, in addition to the generous and welcoming nature of Ethiopians, have led to the increased interest and desire of many people to make a difference in the country.

The possibility of making a difference here is enormous. The needs are deep and wide beyond measure. My memory of Ethiopia is characterized by wars, poverty, illness, and loss. These things are being endured by children now. This recent visit was energizing and empowering because of the unlimited possibility of making a difference in the lives of children. Indeed, there are unlimited ways to make a difference in the lives of children. Through adoption, alleviating poverty, and by sponsoring a child we can truly make a difference.

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