The Children of Yirgaalem Appeal was launched in 2005 to relieve the Poverty in the Sadama region of Southern Ethiopia. The town is located 317 kilometers south of the capital Addis Ababa and 50 kilometres south of Hawassa. The Charity raises funds to ensure that as many children as possible receive an education by funding the building of, and the maintenance of a school - Abebech Feyissa - in the town.
The Trust has also given street children a home, fed 300 school children each day, supported a medical centre, and has helped other schools in the area. Every penny that is donated is put to good use to directly benefit the community of Yirgaalem.
According to Government figures, published in 2011 by UNICEF the number of children living on the streets in Ethiopia was 150,000. In fact UNICEF believe that by using non Government organisation figures the actual number is nearer 600,000.
Ethiopia is a very poor country: more than 94.7% of its population earns less than two dollars per day. Droughts lead to food shortages throughout the country and most of the population survives through food distribution programs led by international organisations and small charities like ours.
School attendance became mandatory in 1997 for children aged 7 to 16. Education is not totally free, and school fees are expensive – not to mention the cost of school supplies and uniforms. Education can be too expensive for many families. Only 13% of children are enrolled in secondary school.
Find out about how we help homeless childrenEducation is not free, however, and school fees are expensive – not to mention the cost of school supplies and uniforms. Education is much too expensive for many families, so some children simply cannot attend. Only 13% of children are even enrolled in secondary school.
Also, classes are overcrowded (between 50 and 60 children per class), which makes learning difficult. Thus, the literacy rate for people above the age of 15 is only 57%.
Find out about how we help educate children