People Living With AIDS

"We are on our way to dying with no one to help!" We have somewhat of a crisis looming with people living with AIDS (PLWA) in the community around the KHC church we are working with. Every day crying women are coming to the church pleading for help saying that "they are on their way to dying with no one to help." Their condition speaks for itself many are sick and malnourished and they say within two months they will be dead. It is not only them that is of concern but they have many dependants. The support group has about 60 members with over 150 dependants. In Ethiopia 70% of women with AIDS are infected through their husbands. In the group surveyed 40% have already lost their husbands and now they are left infected and with many dependants. Close to 80% of the group have no monthly income.
We have been using volunteers to research the situation. While there are many groups, government and NGO trying to do something for the crisis in Bahir Dar, this particular group have tried all resources and have not been able to get help. It has been particularly frustrating for me as well as I have tried to push my contacts and sources to do something. It reminds me somewhat of the story of the Good Samaritan. Everyone has a good reason why they can't help the man bleeding and dying in the ditch. Thank God that some good Samaritans from Australia (Steve Mackay and Noel Towns) responded to the need and have raised most of the funds needed to help. Our plan is to help setup small retail businesses for those well enough to work- to provide some immediate cash flow. We will provide additional interventions for those not well enough to work. In the long term we want to get them recognized by the government and see land provided for them for urban agricultural products. This is a real opportunity for the church to demonstrate the love of Christ to those forsaken and rejected by all. Click here to contribute to the vocational livelihood fund or for more information.
In November, 14 young women were enrolled in the Vocational Training Fund for Hairdressing (See picture above). This kind of training is to help in keeping young girls out of the commercial sex business, which around 10,000 young girls in Bahir Dar are currently engaged in.
Also in November the new multi-purpose centre was completed and they were able to have their first service. Amid much persecution the church has persevered here in Bahir Dar and it was encouraging to see a small group of less than 30 members a few years ago now with more than 200 worshipping on a Sunday morning and many in small groups in the community throughout the week.

The Gumuz agro-forestry project is well underway. I wrote much about this group in my last update about their values of murder and treachery. For details about this project click here. Much funding is still needed for this project.
With the help of Gypsi (my niece) we were able to conduct several days of training for the Big Brother/Sister program with the University Students. This program reaches out to some of the 6,000 street kids of Bahir Dar by linking up University Students as Big Brothers and Sisters. The students are very enthusiastic about this program and there are many new members this year.