DATE=1/6/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=STREET CHILDREN IN ETHIOPIA PART -II
NUMBER=5-45189
BYLINE=HILLETEWORK MATHIAS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON D.C.
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The issue of street children is getting
increased recognition in Ethiopia. Several non-
governmental organizations in the country are trying
to enable these kids lead a normal life and realize
their potential. In part two of his series on Street
Children in Ethiopia, V-O-A's Hilletework Mathias
looks at what some of these groups are doing to help
the kids.
TEXT: Street children in Ethiopia are like any other
kids. The difference is the way they are forced to
live. But they can have productive lives if they are
given access to food, shelter, health care, education,
and above all loving adult care.
One indigenous organization embarked on such a mission
is HOPE Enterprise, which began its work in 1971 with
just three street children. Today, the organization
is helping about five-thousand kids in Addis Ababa and
two other Ethiopian towns - Dessie and Gambella. Its
executive secretary Minas Hiruy discusses the group's
philosophy about childcare.
/// MINAS ACT ///
We just do not only give hand outs. We take these
children seriously. Contact is very important.
Identification with them is very important. And many
of us work with them, talk to them and play with them.
And in the process, they get a sense that somebody
cares for them. And at that point, we say 'hey we
have this opportunity of training of education for you
to be involved in and work your way out of the bad
circumstance you are in.' And we have seen quite a
few street children turning for the better and
standing on their own.
/// END OF ACT ///
HOPE has about 14 training programs. The trainees are
assigned as apprentices in real work environments in
private and public organizations. Combined with these
efforts, is a job placement program. Mr. Minas says
HOPE has a good track record of placing most of its
graduates in jobs.
/// MINAS ACT //
Most of these children find themselves at the basic
care level, where we try to meet their basic needs.
Very few numbers we assist through our vocational
program. And the graduates from that are quite few.
Last year, we graduated 140-youngsters, and off these,
we managed to place some 70-percent of them. This is
like four-months after they graduated.
/// END OF ACT //
One of the successful graduates of the organization is
Haimanot Alemu, a former prostitute whose life HOPE
changed for the better.
// HAIMANOT ACT: EST ACT IN FULL IN AMHARIC AND FADE
UNDER FOR TRANSLATION //
I was a prostitute in the past. All I used to do was
sleep in the daytime and go to work at night. The
money I earned was not enough for school. Whatever I
made was for my family. It was in the midst of this
that HOPE found me on the street and took me to its
office. I was 22 when I came to HOPE Enterprise. I
first took some basic courses. Then I was trained in
metal work for one year. I was then sent for
apprenticeship to a company, which eventually hired
me. Now I am a salaried employee. I make things like
shelves, tables, and chairs. I like the job very
much. Now I am even trying to work closely with those
who have advanced knowledge in metal work.
/// END OF ACT ///
Among other non-governmental organization promoting
the cause of disadvantaged children in Ethiopia is
Forum on Street Children-Ethiopia (F-S-C-E). The
organization is mainly an advocacy group trying to
influence government policy in favor of street
children. It also aims to enlighten members of the
general public and the police about the true nature
and needs of street children.
The organization conducts its awareness-raising
program in various ways, including preparing
educational programs, printing relevant articles on
police newspapers, and organizing seminars and
orientation programs for police recruits.
Dawit Woldemariam is the executive director of F-S-C-
E. He says the group's efforts are paying off.
/// DAWIT ACT ///
We are able to work with the police commission. We
have established 10 protection units in Addis Ababa's
police stations. So when children come to these
police stations they are refereed to these child
protection units. And we are able to open
coordinating offices in Addis police commission. And
it is amazing the police commission assigned 14 police
staff to work with us full time. A captain is
assigned to coordinate this work and we have assigned
our staff by what we call the community worker. And
there is a legal advisor, psychologist. This is a
breakthrough for us to work with police and make
police more sensitive to the issue of street children.
/// END OF ACT //
Despite such efforts the number of street children in
Ethiopia is increasing, and their quality of life is
steadily going lower. The families from which they
come live on the margins of existence, and with the
cost of living rising inexorably and donor fatigue
increasing, these kids are in peril. (SIGNED)
NEB/HM/ENE/RAE
07-Jan-2000 08:51 AM EDT (07-Jan-2000 1351 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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