There are many organisations with sponsorship programs but Hope for Children has a different approach which focuses on meeting the whole needs of the children. Here’s some of the ways we are different.

World leading model

We have a world leading model for caring for orphans and vulnerable children. As the result of the international recognition of our model, many other organisations working in the developing world have adopted our model.

Working in urban areas

Most foreign aid organisations working in Africa support people living in rural areas. We work in urban areas of Ethiopia with the most destitute and vulnerable communities that are amongst the worst affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty. Our presence in these communities is increasingly important with the steady migration from rural areas into the cities in search of work and opportunities. The people we work with do not receive any real assistance from the Ethiopian government or any other organisation.

Working with the local community

We have strong links with the local community which assists us to identify and respond to their emerging needs. The Ethiopian staff have grown up in the community and many were themselves orphaned as young children.

Our philosophy for caring for children

Because most children who grow up in orphanages do not receive love and proper care, we promote the right for children to grow up in a family environment and stay connected to the community. Our approach ensures that the children grow up in a loving, caring environment.

Addressing all of the needs of the children

Many larger aid organisations provide only some basic needs to the children in their sponsorship program as they focus on generating the maximum sponsorship revenue by including the greatest number of children in their programs. In some cases this has led to territorial conflicts between these large organisations as they seek to cover the same groups of children. We do not support this approach because we focus on providing the children in our program with all the skills and resources they require to break the cycle of poverty and become healthy and independent adults.

Expertise in psychological care

Since we were first established, the Ethiopian staff have received regular assistance and training from a world leading expert on child trauma and grief. Our organisation is now considered one of the leading centres for providing psycho-social support to orphan and vulnerable children in Africa. The local staff are regularly asked to consult to the government and other organisations on this aspect of child development and care.

Addressing the stigma of an AIDS orphan

Today in Ethiopia an AIDS orphan faces considerable ostracism and discrimination from the local community. We address this through initiatives such as our theatre program which engages and empowers the young people to tell their life stories and educate the community about the issues they face.

Support for carers

The carers participate in programs to enhance their parenting skills and ability to provide for the children and their families. Many caregivers participate in a community savings group to work together to pursue business opportunities and break the cycle of poverty.

Culturally sensitive education

Community education is critical because religious and cultural beliefs prevent most Ethiopians from speaking openly about sexual health issues such as HIV/AIDS, family planning and female genital mutilation. We facilitate educational workshops to provide accurate information and encourage the community to speak openly about these issues. We also educate the community by Ethiopian volunteers visiting each house and speaking about these sensitive issues during a coffee ceremony, a local tradition which takes about 2 hours. As a result of our initiatives, we have witnessed a profound positive change in the community’s views and behaviour towards sexual health practices.

Promoting child rights

Many children in Ethiopia face daily violations of their basic rights, including violence and abuse at school. In recent years significant numbers of disadvantaged children have been arrested and imprisoned in atrocious conditions without real reason. The majority of these children cannot access proper legal representation. We provide carers and the children with education on child rights and access to legal advice and advocacy.

On the ground presence

We have an Australian based in Ethiopia which has been invaluable to the success of our programs. She is highly respected by the local community and is often called upon by the Ethiopian government and other organisations to provide advice on issues concerning orphan and vulnerable children. Her presence also ensures our donor’s money is used in the most effective way possible and we maintain strong communication with our projects.

Low administration costs

We are deeply committed to maintaining low administration costs. Until recently, our organisation in Australia has been run entirely by volunteers, including doctors, graphic designers, lawyers, accountants and administrative assistants. The entire $A400 paid by our generous child sponsors is given directly to Ethiopia to care for the children. We fund our administrative costs in Australia through approaching individual private donors. This ensures sponsor’s money goes directly to Ethiopia where it is needed.