Nine-Month Report, 2022

January to September

December 2022

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Bacgraund

Vision for Ethiopia Association (VEA) is a humanitarian organization has been implementing community-based child development projects in different towns of Ethiopia.

The organization established to respond to the mental and physical needs of all targeted people in general and orphansand vulnerable children in particular regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, religion and race. Vision for Ethiopia promotes integral human development through effective coordination and implementation of economic, social, and moraldevelopment activities in a more integrated sustainable way. The organization also builds community capacity that supports and promotes the health and well being of children and their families and to collaboratively provide opportunities that support social-emotional competence and connectedness to family members, peers, and the community.

Vision for Ethiopia focuses on the poorest of the poor, orphans and vulnerable children and support their empowermentfor self-reliance guided and inspired by values: such as love, respect, integrity, teamwork, accountability, empowermentand excellence. Our success is defined by the positive changes we help people to make in their own live

Vision Statement

Vision for Ethiopia envisions a holistic national transformation.

Mission Statement

Vision for Ethiopia strives to help orphans and valnerable children (OVCs), their families and communities got the opportunities and develop the capacities to improve their lives and become productive and constractive members of the society.

Operational Areas

The organization operated in six major project areas in the country. We are direct implimenter in the three areas but work in partnership or with sub grant agreement to Save generation development organization form in two project area, which is in Wenji Kuriftu project and Negela Borena and Other partnership with Shira Kalehiwot Church development program at Shira, Tigray.

1. Debrebirhan project in Debrebirhan city, Amhara regional state.
2. Diradewa project in Diredewa city state.
3. Sirinka project in North wello, Amhara regional state.
4. Wenjo Kuriftu project in Wenji Adama area, Oromiya regional state.
5. Negela-Borena Project, Oromiya regional states
6. Shira Shimelba, Tigray region (Currentlly pending)

N.o	Project areas	Regions	Number of Children	Number of Staffs
1.	Dira Dawa	Diradawa city administration	205	2
2.	Diberberhan	Amhara region	210	4
3.	Sirinka	Amhara region	115	2
4.	Wenji Kuriftu	Oromya region	30	–
5.	Negela Borena	Oromia region	40	–
6.	Shira Shimelba	Tigray region/Pending	45	–
7.	Addis Ababa	Addis Ababa/ JSL Project	9	–
5.	Head Office			6
Total                                         645				14

1. Child Sponsorship Program Report

Project Beneficiaries

• Direct project beneficiaries: 645 Orphan

Educational Support

Major Activities	Detail Activities	Physical Plan	Achieved	Description
1.     Education Support				DB project —206 students, DD Project —196 students, Sirinka Project–103 students, Kuriftu———–28 students, Negele B——-63 students, and JSL————13 students total 609. The supported school materials are: Uniform for 420 students, Exercise books 5958, Pen 2362, pencils 1354, Erasers 1100, Rulers 613, Sharpeners 476, Bags in Kuriftu has included 28 and for those who are attending college and university they receive pocket money according to each project.
	1.1. School Materials
	1.1.1. Exercise books	650	609
	1.1.2. Pens	650	609
	1.1.3. Pencils	650	609
	1.1.4. Erasers	650	609
	1.1.5. Sharpener	650	609
	1.1.6. School Bag	332	28
	1.1.7. School Uniform	650	609
	1.1.8. Tutorial Service			It was rainy season and did not worked.
	1.1.9. Ruler	605	609
	1.10. University, College, TVET	17	25	Currently, 6 students are attending university and 19 are in colleges. They are DB- 4 children are at university and 5 are in college, DD- 1 child at university and 10 in colleges, SR- 1 at university and 2 in college, KUR–2 in college and totally 24 students are attending college and university. Also they have been receiving pocket money every month.
General Impact	Education materials support has made a great impact on the life of the beneficiaries. The feedback was much exited “at the time of inflation we have been suffering a lot and VEA gives us a relief, we think for this great intervention” said the beneficiaries. Due to this service all parents and students are very happy; all are saying that if the project does not give these educational materials they don’t know what to do for their children and getting worried. Also they assume that this support reserved for them every year and waiting for it always. Then after they received it, they get much relief and happiness. In the life of beneficiaries a single pen provision has a meaning and they are thankful all the time.

 

Health Care and Nutrition Support

 

This section is explaining the health support and it has been taking place fully in three quarter and the table shows the detail.

 

Major Activities	Detail Activities	Physical Plan	Achieved	Description
Health Support	Medical service
	2.1. Medical Service	20	1	1 child at DB and see Appendix-A. Other projects have no sick child on this quarter.
	2.2. Food Support
	2.2.1. Pasta	643	643	This number is 194 DB, 205 DD, 105 Sirinka, 64 NB, 30 Kuriftu & 45 Nehemiah Project. All 643 children have got 2KG Macaroni, 2kg pasta, 2liters food oil, wheat powder respectively. Totally 1335kg pasta, 1335kg macaroni, 412ltrs food oil, 543kg rice accordingly. However, food oil, wheat powder and rice are not common in all projects it depends on project beneficiaries’ choice and annual/project agreements
	2.2.2. Macaroni	643	643
	2.2.3. Rice	643	643
	2.3. Hygiene & Sanitation
	2.3.1. Hair Oil	643	643	All children have got 1240 soaps, 675-hair oil, and sanitary pad (modes) has provided for 70 girls. In addition, there is hair-cutting service at DD project for those who have no money to go Barbary. In relation to Hygiene and Sanitation, DB 27 girls, DD 54, 15 SR, Kur & Nege 38 totally 131 girls have got sanitary modes. .
	2.3.2. Soap	643	643
	2.3.3. Vaseline	643	643
	2.3.4. Modes for girls		134
	2.4. Safety for children
	2.4.1. Cloth
	2.4.2. Shoes	205	–	Not implemented
	2.5. Medical Checkup for new children	205		Informal trainings have been provided for all beneficiaries.
	2.6. Health related training.	205	–
	2.7. Food oil			It has provided only DD

 

Psychosocial Support

 

Note: Please include the number of beneficiaries who received the service/support. Make it clear and brief description

Major Activities		Detail Activities	Physical Plan	Achieved	Description
2.     Psycho-social
	3.2.Holiday Celebration		205	–	Was not done.
	3.3. Child letter to Sponsor (1times)		643	643	It was done at second quarter ones in a year
	3.4. Child Case history update		205	–	It is continued
	3.5. Photograph & Videography		205		It has been continued and doing when it is needed
	3.6. Family/child Visit		205	195	40 families at DB, 5 SR, 50 at DD, 28 Kur, and 12 Jsl have visited
	3.7. Football		–	–
	3.8. Sport Uniform		–	–
	3.9. Balls		–	–
	3.11. Computer Laptop		1	–
	3.12. Photo Camera
	3.13. Outdoor games
	3.14. Youth capacity building training		70	15	The youth tour program with young life Ethiopia from DB, fifteen boys and Girls has a trip at Debre Zeyit for three days. We heard a god testimony about them. There was a prayer, preaching, playing games and testimony period during the days.
	3.15. Motor Bike (donation)
	3.16. Children Center Rent		3	3	It has done properly and timely.

 

Family Empowerment Related Support

 

Note: Please include the number of beneficiaries who received the service/support. Make it clear and brief description

 

Major Activities		Detail Activities	Physical Plan	Achieved	Description
3.     Program Staff
4.1	Care giver		3	3	Have done properly and timely
4.2	Social Worker		3	3	Have done properly and timely
4.3	Health Worker		3	3	Have done properly and timely
4.     Emergency & Community Support
5.1	Community Support		3	2	It has been providing for two kids within the community at Sirinka
5.2	Community Social issues		3	1	Social participation cost has done at DD
5.     Family Empowerment
6.1	Business Training				104 family savings continued at SR, Kuriftu 5 families’ seed money provision has done and DB and DD was planned and not implemented.

 

Special Report for Sirinka Project related to emergency

Introduction

VEA has conducted the field visit for baseline data assessment on its project area called Sirinka. It was done for two days by focusing on Staff situation assessment, Partners situation assessment and beneficiaries’ situation assessment. But, beneficiary’s situation assessment has reported in Report 1. This report focuses on three major areas such as VEA staff situation, Partner situation and also administrative issues.

Description

1. Staff Situation:

The staffs were passing through difficult situation due to attack of TPLF. They left their home and flee from their respective homes. When they come back to home they were facing attacking group abuse such as the attacking group come to their homes and taking their foods. They did not able to get their salaries on time due to the war; banks were damaged, and any communication was stopped. They are the one who face mental challenge at the time of the attacking group staying there. One of the staff, Project coordinator, flees when he heard about the attack earlier two weeks. He and his family stayed at Bahirdar with relatives safely.

1. 1. Partners Situation

VEA has been working in partnership with the church in Sirinka. The staffs of partner church have been facing the bad situation due to the attacking group. They did not get the salary on time; whereas their salary is less that they deserve. They do have families but they have no enough income to provide their family needs. Also they are psychologically traumatized and got frustrated as well.

1. 1. Administrative issues:

VEA has been planning to visit the Sirinka office in order to monitoring and evaluating the project implementation process. But, due to the political situation the plan was unable to be done as it was planned and took time. According to the observation, the staffs have been working well with high commitment.

However, there is unexpected issue happened with Project Coordinator Mr. Destaw Tibebu. At the time of war he took his family to the relatives and he himself went there and stayed for 5 months. While he was with relatives, he was contacting the Head Office through phone call. The Head Office take his situation in to consideration and supported him with especial gift for his emergency situation, Also his salary was directly sent through his bank account while the other staff did not get any communication due to the war. At the mine time there is the vision sharing training in Addis Ababa, Head Office and he attended on September 2021 and get his salary at hand as well.

But, he the project coordinator was hide what he has been doing and keep silent for some times until the Head Office finds out what he has been doing. He is the cheque signer and abused the given responsibility as follows:

• He flee two weeks earlier than attack and took the organization cheque with him
• The cheque usage is only and the only co-signing with Mr. Gashaw; but Destaw signed the two signatures in a similar way and pulled out 10,000.00 birr from the organization account.
• He did the same mistake by signing the two signatures in similar way and pulled out 10,000.00 birr from the organization account for the second time.
• Then after the war, while VEA Head Office and Project Staff preparing to start the project after war, he contacted the head office and has got the direction says “please go back to the project area and assess the situation and report to Head Office, then the team will come to Sirinka and does an assessment again and make a decision to start the project after war; until the team come to Sirinka, do not pull out the money from the organization bank account“. At the time of this order given to him, VEA Head Office again puts his situation in to consideration and sent his salary and other staff salary through his account. Then after some days he signed the similar signature and pulled out 50,000.00 birr from the organization account for the third time.

When the Head Office working on 2021 fiscal year balance, an accountant found out that 50,000.00 birr pulled out again. Then for the sake of the safety of other money, the bank was blocked.

Head Office tries to find out why Destaw did this, first he tried to deny but later he accepted that he pulled out all the money from the bank.

Then this was presented to Sirink Staff and they have got upset and explained what Destaw has been doing before in relation to the money.

• He abuses the money when the money is at his hand and so that in order to protection the other staff was taking care of all money transactions
• He has a known problem with his family in relation to the money and his wife even telling to other staff to be careful on Destaw.
• He submitted the false document to the government that shows the government officials took the per-diem; that they did not take and even did not conducted the supervision at the time.
• Then finally took 70,000.00 (seventy thousand) birr from the organization.

Recommendations

Staff Situation:

• Training: it is good to give training for the staff, which is focused on TRAUMA HEALING and SOCIAL WORK and Management.
• Physical Support: it is good to support some amount of provision for the survival after war.
• Materials for Office: it is good to provide some office materials such as computer, printer, and camera.

Partners Situation

• Training: it is good to provide the training on how to address children spiritually
• Physical Support: it is good to support them that help for survival after war.
• Partnership Support: the church as a need of many things and will be discussed:
  • Bridge building
  • Church building
  • Finance scarcity for administration issues

Administrative issues:

• The whole staffs agree to take Destaws issue to the court, wisely and the process will be implemented step by step. Calling him to come office, taking the materials (computer, stamp, Camera and others) from him and holding his work situation for the time being until the issue taken to the court.
• Then Alem will take over all work of the project under the supervision of Damtew until the new direction comes.

According to the description, baseline data assessment VEA has taken an action to support the Sirinka VEA project beneficiaries and it was achieved in February 2022.

 

There was high excitement to see each other again after war and the beneficiaries are so happy. The restarting has done at the presence of government offices, beneficiaries and VEA staff as well.

 

Special Success

 

Bayeligne Tadesse

He has been getting support for long period of time through VEA DB project. He has studied in TVET College and graduated. He had a plan to upgrade his education but recently he has got a job and willing to stop the support. Saying, “Now I have got the job, it is time to stop getting support and VEA can continue supporting other child, thank you sponsor and VEA staff”

 

Not only that, he has been getting counseling by the social workers and they have been sharing gospel to him, then he accepted Jesus Christ as a personal life savior and now he is attending discipleship class. Praise is to the Lord.

Mihret Melkamu

 

She has got serious problem due to Pneumonia and she admitted 15 days at Debre Berhan Referral Hospital. She has been getting different treatment at the time of staying at Hospital. Her mother and the social workers have been visiting her. Vision for Ethiopia has covered the medical cost.

 

After she had taken the medical treatment, she able to back home and her mother and grandmother said, “we are proud of VEA, and wishes a long period of service, thank you sponsor”.

 

Food and Sanitary materials Support pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psychosocial Support and counseling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Youth Empowerment Project Report

 

1. Introduction

Vision for Ethiopia Association has been implementing the project called youth empowerment for 40 youths in small business, sheep farming and woodwork businesses accordingly. Diplomatic Spouse Group in Ethiopia funded this project. On the process of implementing it has the following steps according to the plan.

2. Providing Basic Training

The first step was providing the skill training and life skill training that prepares them for the intended business and helps them to be successful. It was held for some days and there were so happy.

3. Major Empowerment
   • Wood work Skill group

The youths who are selected or willing to have woodwork skill are registered on time. But, after their registration, there was a challenge on it, which is the case war, and internal people migration was affected Debere-Berihan city. But, after the war ends they stared the class and it is going effectively.

• Sheep Farming Group

It was so helpful for the youth and their families especially for those who have the free compound to farm. They are on progress and working hard to increase the number of sheep. They are hopeful because the current market of the sheep is so good for those who have sheep.

• Small Business Group:

This category includes different type of the business but based on the group members’ choice, the chicken farming is included here.

• Chicken Farming:

They are doing good and happy to do that because unlike to another business, it has immediate result or gain through egg product and small chicken as well. They are working hard on it.

• Lace Work and Embroider

There are also girls who are working on lace and embroidering business. They create it and sell it. They started getting some income.

• Baking Enjera

Others are also engaged in baking local bread called Enjera. Also it is one of the businesses that give immediate income or result. They are working hard on it and happy.

• Tattoo Work

This is the best choice of the person and working well on it. He is so happy to get an income through this work.

4. Conclusion

Empowering the youth is so helpful for the community and themselves. They will be able to change their life and also the community will be benefited because the young generation is becoming productive.

This project has a great impact on the life of those youths and their families. They are so thankful for the donor as well.

We know that a few months ago we started a youth’s empowerment program.  Accordingly we recruited 40 youths from the community who had assisted by the project previously and those who assisted in the project recently, but who are not well-educated youths, and then we gave trainings on two important Topics.

5. Recommendation
   • The woodwork skill trainees are dreaming to open their own woodworking shop but the materials are very expensive when it compares with their ability.
   • Some of the youths who are living with extended families were not get permission to work based on their desire and rejected by their guardians. So, that they are pushed to change the business. For Example, the one who choice tattoo work.

 

1. Emergency Support Project Report

 

1. Baseline Data Assessment Report for Emergency Support

Introduction

In Ethiopia, the war was experienced for more than a year. There was much devastation in Amhara and Afar regions.

The war map from July 2021 to December 2021

However, since the middle of December 2021 the place where occupied by TPLF was released and controlled by Ethiopia Government. Its map is as follows:

The map is taken from Google by January 16,2022

After war there was many devastation and distraction happen. Therefore, VEA had conducted a strategic meeting and decided to make a field visit to do baseline assessment of the need of the people who had been affected due to the war.

VEA visiting map is as follows:

As indicated on the map, VEA team visited Debreberihan to Woldiya including the regular project areas. The team members are Henok Tamiru, Damtew Kebede, Befkad T/weld and an assistant driver Nahom Milkiyas.

The field visit started on January 12 to 15, 2022 for four days. The targeted community for baseline data is Sirinka community and the data that was found is explained in the next part.

2.    Physical Observations

• Schools Damage: The schools within the attacked community were damaged, computers stolen, libraries damaged, bookstores destroyed, students chairs damaged. In relation to education, there is no school materials access to start the school. The attackers were using the school to settle in it and cooking in classrooms, sleeping there, using as a toilet and devastating any learning materials.
• Medication: – The health centers destroyed, Pharmacies were damaged and stolen. Like the schools the attackers using the health centers as their home and doing everything within medication rooms. The medical equipment were stolen, the medicine also burnt. The peoples were facing sickness without medication and professional treatment.
• Shelter Damage: – in the communities there were many houses, hotels, shops, buildings, government offices have destroyed. The attackers have damaged every place that they suspect.
• Gender Abuse: – the attackers totally do NOT have respect for women, children and girls. They have been raping the girls in the age 10 to 14. Also beating the small kids and they order the kids to put off their cloths and beating their reproductive organs.

3.    Psychological Observations

• Emotion: the emotion of the community after the war and many destructions is very bad and suspecting anyone who is walking around. When they asked to reflect they show an irritation, annoying, and revenging faces. According to the community members’ explanation, the attackers have been doing things against humanity and committed the act that TORCHES the people mentally.
• Self-Confidence: The people are frustrated and thinking that the attackers may come back. So that they are thinking that they are exposed to attacked. Also the students/children were not willing to start the school because they do not want to be apart from families and they have seen their school damaged; thus they assumed that they would attack again.
• Traumatisation: as it was explained above, the attack that the community seen by their own eyes, it left them with TRAUMA and frustration. They were not ready to work; even interacting within the community has become difficult to them. The women raped needs psychological support, the kids also need mental healing and community also needs to get the motivational support psychologically.

             I.          Preparation

At this stage, VEA has conducted intensive meetings on how to implement the project for the targeted area. Also the strategies were discussed. The preparation has also two phases:

1. Discussing with local Government Offices: The discussion with government offices was chosen to get direction from the government. The way of promoting the project is well. The VEA team has discussed with government offices in specific Woreda like Habru Woreda Education, Health, and Administrative officers. The discussion agenda was to identify the urgent need of the community. After the discussion, VEA identifies the basic needs supporting schools and health centers. It is a place where the high numbers of community especially, young get access. Supporting the schools is supporting the high population within the community that embraces children and youths. Also, health Centers are the place where the sick ones get treatment.
2. Purchasing Supporting Materials:VEA management staff discussed how to ready the materials and purchase them from the market. It took a market assessment that includes the availability of materials and price. After the market assessment completed, the purchasing process has done by collecting Performa.

          II.          Implementation

Before the implementation, our organization Vision for Ethiopia (The implementer organization) and the Donor organization EECFC in partnership, organized a project-launching event in Addis Ababa, Saro Maria hotel. During the launching event, the representatives of the two organizations and other guests attend the event, and the project briefing takes place using different media.

After the preparation is completed, VEA has been doing communication with government officials and school directors to be ready for materials’ delivery. Then the materials’ traveling has done in two phases.

• Phase One: Schools Support Materials Delivery for six schools. The materials list that distributed for six schools are in table 1 bellow.

Items	Per-School	# Of Schools	Total	Remark
Computers	4	6	24
Copy Machines	2	5	9	One school chose 1
Exercise Books 1	5,000	5	20,000
Exercise Books 2			15,000	For Woldia Woreda
Pens 1	2,500	4	10,000
Pens 2			8,000	For Woldia Woreda
Printing Papers	4	6	24	Carton
Printing Toners	4	5	18	1 school get 2.
Gown for Teachers			237	Teachers’ No varies/school
School Chairs	50	1	50
School Tables	10	1	10
Mattress	1	10	10	For KG students
Reference books		2	497

Table 1: The plan/ agreement was for six schools and the sixth school support was provided for the Woldia Woreda Education Office because the Woreda leaders agreed to distribute to all school in Woreda based on their needs. Also the sixth school support items support is based on their need and the table shows some items vary.

• Phase Two 1: Health Center Support Materials Delivery: Health Center Support Materials Delivery materials list is as follows:

Items	Total Items	Remark
Microscope	1
Office Chair	5
Safety Box	1
BP Apparatus	6
Power Generator	1
Laptop	1
Suction Machine	2
Gown for staff	40
Fetal Doppler Ultrasound	2
Printer	2
Desktop	4

• Phase Two 2: Government administration office support: for North Wollo Zone, Habru Woreda.

Items	Total Items	Remark
Office furniture	1	Full set
Printer	2
Computers	2
Laptop	1
Toner	1

       III.          Outcome & Impact

Outcome:

The outcome of the projects is listed as follows:

1. a) The schools can begin the regular teaching-learning process by using the materials.
2. b) The students can attend school fully by using exercise books and pens.
3. c) The teachers can duplicate the teaching materials using print and copy machines.
4. d) The schools can record the data using the newly provided computers.
5. e) The teachers were highly motivated because of personal motivational support.
6. f) The students can sit on the school chairs to follow the teaching attentively.
7. g) The health centers can record information about the patients and other data’s by using computers.
8. h) The health center workers can provide full medical services using the provided equipment.
9. i) The Woreda Office started regular activities using office furniture and accessories.

Impact:

The impacts of the projects are listed below:

1. a) The school community acknowledged that no one does as EECFC has done before. They are very much impressed by the support.
2. b) The government acknowledges that EECFC is concerned for the needy in the community affected by the war.
3. c) Teachers are also highly motivated by their gifts because, throughout their history, there was no one has given attention to the teachers.
4. d) Other Zones can know what the EECFC has done. They are willing to welcome EECFC to be a partner in development areas.
5. e) The best impact is that EECFC is earning a high reputation and building goodwill so that it will be able to expand the gospel.

 

       IV.          Conclusion

An implementation of the EECFC fund on supporting Amhara region North Wollo Zone, North Shewa Shewarobit area in different schools and health centers, and also in Afar has completed well as was planned. However, it had some safety issues while the materials were traveling to the targeted locations, and by the mighty hand of God, VEA was able to accomplish all support delivery. We do have recommendations as follows:

          V.          Recommendations

Though VEA has finished the projects successfully, the needs of the target area are not fulfilled. The needs are listed for the further fund needed.

1. As it was mentioned in the findings, there are many schools whose materials were destroyed and need support like the supported ones.
2. The trauma healing work is not done and needs to be worked on it. Because the people after the war did not get mental/psychosocial support to be healed from trauma.
3. Also, other health centers need materials to work effectively.
4. Mainly there is a need for child sponsorship in the North Wollo because the children remain fatherless, some lost their both parents, and others also remain jobless, helpless, and looking for support.