16 Birr is an average price for a single macciato or coffee in almost every corner of Addis Ababa. In the meantime, 16 Ethiopian Birr is a one day expense for a single child at Muday Charity Organization. Love is not an issue of calculation. It is something we prove through work. When one decided to share love, pocket does not matter. What matter most is his heart.
Last Sunday, Muday charity Organization had a “Love Week” in its compound, around Kotebe. The event was organized with a mission of showing love and compassion to children and mothers who are supported by Muday Charity Organization. The Ethiopian Herald had a chance to visit the Organization and had moments with the visionary founder Muday Meteku and visitors.
Loving one`s nation can be express in several ways. Fighting against the intruder or shading blood for mother land is manifestation of patriotism. Beyond that, there is also another way of showing love to the nation by helping fellow Ethiopian brothers and sisters, Says Muday Meteku who is the founder of Muday charity Organization.
The idea of opening a charity organization was conceived at the heart of Muday Miteku when she was little girl. When she complete grade 12, Muday had a great desire of opening primary school. As the saying goes “Necessity is the mother of innovation” she was able to open a school with her friend. But, when the school start operation something caught Muday`s attention. The economic disparity among her students have struck her mind. Some of her students were from well to do families while others from poor family ground.
The economic situation of those little poor children have push her to do something. Therefore, Muday decides to give her life for those impoverished students. When she made this decision all roads were not smooth.
The financial challenge and others have pulled her back from achieving her dream. However, thanks to her perseverance Muday is able to mange her challenges. Currently, Muday is providing a loving home for more than a dozen of Kotebe’s homeless children. These kids have either lost the only parent who was supporting them, or they were living in unsafe conditions.
Rahel Sheferahu, is a young mom whom The Ethiopian Herald meet at Muday Charity Association compound. By the time The Ethiopian Herald meet her, Rahel was selling handcrafts.
Rahel is among those unfortunate Ethiopian woman who became victim of irresponsible man. Rahel and the father of her son were in love for some time. However, when Rahel became pregnant he ignored her leaving alone. For that reason she was forced to nurture her child by herself.
After she gave birth to her child, life was not simple as it seems. She was forced to look for someone to help her and it was at that time Rahel joined Muday Charity Association. From the time she joined Muday, Rahel is able to train her idle hands to produce handcrafts and generate income earn a living from them.
Rahel believes that showing a person how to catch a fish is more better than feeding what is caught. When a given person is trained how to catch a fish S/he can feed others. But, if that person is trained to eat what is already cached, S/he will be dependant and can not make progress in life. “This is the principle of Muday. Everyone in Mudy is expected to engage in any kind of income generating activity. When that person leave the Charity Association S/he can lead independent life.”
Selome Dagnachew is the owner of Barock Interior Design and Event Organizer. She was among the individuals who had been to Muday Charity Association to share her love and compassion for those children and mothers in Muday.
Selome believes that sharing love to someone who is in need of it is something precious. We can not please a person only by contributing money. We should also show them sympathy by sharing love.
Selome also believes that, we Ethiopians have a culture of sharing. It is part of our life. But, this globalized era have brought us social media where individuals are expressing with distance. Well, there are several advantages of using social medias if we properly utilize them. But, there are moments where we should show our love and compassion in person. That is what Muday Charity Organization is doing. Women artists and w/ro Muday at “Love Week”
The Ethiopian Herald April 14/2019
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
