BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
Five decades ago, on June 16, 1971, during the apartheid regime, thousands of black school children marched more than half a mile long, protesting the poor quality of their education and demanding their right to be taught in their own language. However, armed police officers responded by murdering hundreds of protesters.
The cold-hearted acts of the police officers angered many and the children were in the hearts of every one. Following this painful incident, June 16 was designated as Day of the African Child by the African Union in 1991. Thus the Day is marked to honor the memories of those students massacred in Soweto, South Africa.
Last Thursday, the day was marked in Ethiopia with various events under the theme “Let us fight together traditional harmful practices exercised against children.”
Especially, in Debre Berhan, Debre Tabor, Bale, Wolliso, Hawassa, where Compassion International Ethiopia, non-governmental charity organization, organized, the day was observed with various events in the attendance of thousands of children.
According to the organization, since the past three decades, Compassion International Ethiopia has been undertaking various activities targeting in supporting and improving the lives of children in poverty.
As part of this effort, it has been offering the required support to over 134 thousand destitute children while they are living along with their parents, respective family members and love once.
Organization’s Public Relations Expert Girum Getachew told the Ethiopia Press Agency (EPA) that the organization is extending support for over 134 thousand children at their places to make sure that each child get love and protection from their care givers, [parents and family members] which is also important to build clear identity, enable them perceive the outside world in more better way, to let them prepare for the life challenges to come; thereby achieve its mission of ‘Releasing Children from Poverty’.
According to him, the Compassion International Ethiopia is executing 517 projects throughout the nation and is rendering necessary support to children living in poverty.
The organization helps children until they get at the age of 22; because it advocates the principle of supporting children while they are with their parents and it believes firmly that children who live with their parents and care givers are better off for number of reasons than those moved out from their places. “Every child needs love, affectionate, care and protection. The organization strictly adheres to this principle and works accordingly,” he added.
Mentioning that Africa Children Day is observed with the theme of ‘Let us fight together traditional harmful practices that could harm children’ he said the Organization is working to discharge its responsibilities in view of that; and make sure that each child who is supported by Compassion International Ethiopia gets the necessary
support, education, food and clothing until he/she reaches at the age of 22. The Africa Children Day was observed across the country where partner projects of the Compassion International Ethiopia are operating with various events, he added.
Stating that the Day was celebrated in various areas such as in Bale, Wolisso, Hawassa towns among others at equal time, Girum said the Organization had sorted out the harmful practices exercised in the areas against children and denounced the ill practices.
Compassion’s ministry in Ethiopia began in 1993. Currently, more than 89,800 children are served through its 390 Compassion- assisted child development centers throughout the country.
The origins of Compassion International began from South Korea in 1952. The foundation of compassion dates back to the early 1950s, when an evangelist named Everett Swanson flew from Chicago to South Korea to speak, sing and play for the American troops. Everett came in contact with hundreds of orphans who lost their parents in the war, abandoned and lived on the streets.
Currently, the organization is operating at all continent; in several countries; and is providing support for destitute children through opening branches.
The Ethiopian herald June 21/2022
