BY BETELHEM BEDLU
A 12 year’s old girl, with multiple health complications, used to follow up her medical treatments in Yekatit 12 Hospital, one of the hospitals in the capital Addis Ababa, around Addis Ababa University.
In one of the odd days, when she returned from her checkups, she, along with her mother and her other brothers and sisters, could not be able to get back home as it was already night and had no penny for transportation. Then, her mother helplessly decided to spend the night with her children in the nearby church where she met the woman who received them with open arms for the family to spend the night at her house.
The generous lady as well as her daughter, Bethlehem learnt, how the sick child was in critical health condition as she was receiving treatment for Tumor, Tuberculosis (TB), HIV and other HIV related opportunistic diseases.
From that day on, Bethlehem started checking up the wellbeing of the family and supporting them with everything she could offer. However, as time passed by, she started having a hard time meeting the needs of the entire family. That is when she thought of discussing with her friends to see what they can offer for them.
Fortunately, her friends were happy to take part and began their participation right away. Given their vary profession; they were able to raise fund by staging a theatre as well as carrying out various activities.
Assuming that doing a documentary that shows the status of the family as well as the health condition of the girl is helpful, they started producing it. Unfortunately, the little girl passed away on the second day after the film was made.
According to Abel Gethaun, President of Yegna Kum Neger Charity Organization, after going through that the situation has startled them to the point where they could not figure out what to do next. Then, they decided to support the family with the money they would get by staging the film.
Using the money they gathered, the youths were able to move the family to a better house, bought for the mom a baking oven and wheat flour that would help her make Defo Dabo (bread) and provided her with the necessary materials.
Once everything seem to settle for the family, the youths, being overwhelmed with what they offered as well as feeling sad for not making it to the girl, wondered if they were a charity group and how much could they benefit others with only what they have.
It is now three years since Yegna Kum Neger Charity Organization was established. The association has over one hundred members which most of them are students. The association has branches in towns such as Adama, Welkite and Dukem and they have plans to expand it in different part of the nation.
Since its establishment, the association has undertaken several activities including repairing 15 houses with a cost of three hundred thousands, provided full holiday gift packages for 600 people, reunited families as well as providing school materials for students with low income families.
Apart from the support, they support 60 households regularly, on a monthly basis, have designed two projects. These two projects which are named (#they deserve it) and (#the middle ones) are said to be the pillars of the association.
As to him, the major aim of the #they deserve it, is creating an opportunity for few segments of the society such as street children to let them try things or activities that they could not afford to do it by themselves. One instance could be the time when they offered street children ‘Burger’. Discussing with one restaurant, they fed the children burger as it is something that they cannot afford to buy themselves and for the association, like any ordinary person who happen to live in this era, they need to have the test and deserve to have the bite at least one day.
It is with the same intention that they also distributed diapers for street women with children. As to the president, even though the diaper has one time use and could easily end, the idea is to let them try and feel worthy.
While he elaborates the purpose of the second project that is #the middle ones, Abel said that in countries like Ethiopia, finding an extended family coupled with low income generating family member is not a new thing. Those who live in that state are supposed to live in a very small room when the breadwinner is usually a sole one.
“If things got worse, the elderly would go to institutions that are available for elders while the children would be able to go to childcare centers which leave the youth: ‘the Middle Ones’ on the street. It is this thinking which brings the idea of # the middle ones”, said the President.
He further stated that in this project, the youth would get the priority as they are the one who are left out of the family during economic and other crises. Therefore, the association provides trainings so that the youths would be able to survive the other family members.
Once one, among the youths, finalizes his trainings, the necessary equipment would be provided for him and is expected to start saving to return the money as it is used for the other member.
In the recent 125th celebration of the Victory of Adwa, members of the association have taken part as celebration and public gatherings are their main source of income through shining shoes.
Noting that the association has been performing all of its activities without the support of any institutions except for few individuals who happen to contribute their share for quite some times, Abel indicated that they cover their expenses by shining shoes in various holidays and street festivals.
Thus, along with staging short dramas and music, they celebrated the day by polishing shoes for the participants. As to Abel, celebrating the day, while the ones who have made the victory a reality starved and go to their bed on empty-stomach, is irony.
The association believes that celebrating such days would be meaningful if those who passed down the victory to this generation is recognized and supported by any means necessary.
He urged everyone to contribute their share for such charity association as it could be meaningful and can change the lives of many.
The Ethiopian herald march 11/2021
