BHE’s Integrated Support

Helping Three Youth Thrive

Leul, Yihun and Berta are three young men who have experienced several ups and downs in their lives, despite their youth. Yihun and Berta both lost their parents at a young age, while Leul lost his dad when his mother was ill and unable to take care of him. The three have had difficult childhoods and have all previously come close to discontinuing their education.

After joining the program at different times, they received holistic care including fulfillment of basic needs, counselling, guidance and educational support. Furthermore, BHE supported the three by finding homes with guardians and foster families.

Due to their guardians being unable to provide them care, BHE helped them in finding safe shelter. Now all three have their own safe homes where they can independently take care of themselves.

Berta is now beginning his second year of college studying ICT Database. He is currently studying from home until class resumes. He enjoys painting in his free time.

Yihun is taking the 8th grade national exam this year. He spends his time preparing for the exam and reading at home. He enjoys socializing and playing basketball with his friends.

Leul is an outstanding student who will be starting 8th grade next year. He is currently studying at home in preparation for the coming school year.

Along with grocery support, BHE connected them with a shared guardian who provides them with injera. The young men had regular meals together to foster their sense of family and support for each other. Due to COVID-19 they now have their meals individually.

Shegitu, who provided the boys injera, is Roha’s mom, a young boy in the program. She is a part of BHE’s income generating activities guardian association and has received a loan to help her improve her small business.

As a result of COVID-19, demand has decreased and she has had to temporarily close her vegetable shop due to reduced customers. supporting the three youth, she also gains income for her family. She now sells incense at her local church to continue her income. By supporting these three youth, she also increases her income, which helps her support her family.

Creating networks of support and innovative ways to maintain income among BHE youth and guardians helps sustain the positive impacts of the project and build a sense of community, despite social distancing. These young students have come a long way and now have bright futures ahead of them.

How BHE Is Supporting Families Amidst COVID-19

BHE continues to support orphaned and vulnerable children and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has caused significant impact on health, economy and daily operations in almost every country. After the first case in Ethiopia was identified on March 13, the government had been taking steps to fight the spread of the Corona virus in line with international action. 

Nationally, schools have been closed since March 16 and a State of Emergency was declared on April 8 to last for five months. In accordance with government actions and regulations, BHE has suspended its regular services such as tutorials and group counseling sessions at the drop in center. These also include daily after school meals and guardian meetings. Yet, we are  finding new ways of continuing to support our families during this time until regular services and schools can be resumed.

Raising Awareness, Basic Needs and Hygiene Support

The key messages in the prevention of COVID-19 have been to wash hands regularly, wear face masks while in public and keep social distancing. Despite difficulties in accessing adequate sanitation, BHE has been helping families ensure they can protect themselves. As the virus affects those with medical conditions and low immunity the most, we believe it is key for vulnerable families to know how to protect themselves.

BHE has provided the families with masks, additional food support and financial support to mitigate rising food prices and disruptions in their livelihoods caused by restrictions on transportation. It is important to ensure children continue to receive daily meals at home that they don't have in school. BHE has also been providing extra hygiene materials including hand sanitizers and soap.

Children, youth and guardians who have medical conditions are encouraged to follow up their health. Government health care centers are providing telephone follow ups for those who had in person follow up appointments to decrease their exposure. So far, all our beneficiaries needing care are taking their medications regularly and are in good health.

Studying At Home and Follow Up

As students have to stay home and follow their education remotely, BHE is working to ensure they continue to have basic needs and follow up. We are routinely assessing the vulnerability and risks each family is faced with during this time. Children and youth are following their studies from home through TV and radio education. 

This year BHE has 5 students under its program who will take the 8th grade national exam and 3 students taking the 12th grade national exam. As the exams are planned to take place in a few months, BHE is providing the students with model exams and material to help them study from home.

We also regularly encourage the children and youth to follow their studies by reading and following educational programs. They are able to borrow books from the BHE library that they can read at home. Lemma, a special needs student in 12th grade is provided with materials through the mobile app ‘Telegram’ by his school.

BHE’s Social Worker has been making regular calls and home visits to each household to follow their well-being, find out their needs and ensure each child follows their education. Children or youth in need of counseling and guidance are also able to discuss any issues they have during the calls and visits.

Some guardians have lost customers and their work due to lack of supply, rising prices and transportation restrictions. Others who earn their living by washing clothes in the community have not been able to work. However, most of our guardians are staying resilient with some continuing their trade and others finding different work while taking precautions. BHE continues to undertake needs assessment and provide families with the required support.

While BHE's services have had to adapt to overcome this difficult time, we are strengthened by our ability to continue to provide essential and holistic support during this difficult time including food, hygiene, health, shelter, awareness and counseling support.

"I deeply thank our donors, staff and volunteers for continuing to support our work during this difficult time. I urge everyone to stay safe and well, my prayers go out to those affected by COVID-19." - Koni Yimer, Managing Director, BHE

An Early Christmas Gift for Brave Hearts Ethiopia’s 180 community members in Kebena!

Story By- Sharon Marshall

We all know that the lack of sanitation is the cause of diseases such as , cholera, and typhoid.  In fact, according to WHO (the World Health Organization) nearly 500,000 children under the age of five die every year.  And as we all are aware, proper sanitation and hygiene creates an enabling environment, and helps secure the health and safety of all.  The improved health of the children also results in better school attendance, another very important issue.  Sadly, some of our children and their guardians at Brave Hearts have not had access to these basic necessities.  Some of the girls and women told of their personal challenges to find a suitable outdoor space to use as a toilet, as finding a place that is private and also safe is often impossible in and around Kebena. 

Australian Ambassador Mark Sawers and His wife Anais Maro officially opening the BHE community toilet and shower

Photo Credit; Mekbib Tadesse

BHE started its Operation Flush Toilet Project in late 2014, after we discovered that two young girls, Sebie and Kebedech, were missing classes due to ill health. After our social workers did a thorough assessment, it was found that the girls kept falling sick because of lack of the proper toilet facilities in their village.

The existing toilet was used by over 40 people living in the village. It had no appropriate water for septic tank systems and the toilet area routinely flooded, causing raw sewage to run and preventable diseases to spread.  Along with that, of course, a very unpleasant odor permeated the area. We found that, as well as Sebie and Kebedech, other community members routinely fell sick from various preventable diseases. One of the resident women told us that,

“I only came home to sleep late at night, because the smell during the day was impossible to cope with. My home shared the semi-broken toilet wall and was often soaked with human waste”. 

Realising something must be done immediately to stop the direct risks caused by this situation, BHE started work right away with the local government and community members to renovate and install new toilet systems.

Head of the local administrative office, Ato Alemayehu, expressing his gratitude to BHE and the Australian Embassy In Addis Ababa.

Photo Credit: Mekbib Tadesse

The reconstruction took about three months and was not an easy project. The area around the toilet had to be cleaned and dug in order to construct a new 48 meter cube septic tank.  New pipe systems were laid in order to ensure clean and safe means of waste disposal. The toilet was also reconstructed to have three toilet rooms with flush water systems and one shower room with appropriate water flow systems.  Hand washing basins were also constructed.

The changes following the reconstruction were remarkable! The compound was clean and safe for children to play in.  It was deeply touching when one of our girls recalled her sufferings saying, that

"in days I used to not drink water so I wouldn’t have to go looking for a private place” I’m overjoyed that this wonderful, bright girl now benefits from the Brave Hearts toilet project.

Ambassador Mark and his wife Anais Maro, BHE board of directors Ethiopian national team coach Abrham Meberatu celebrating with BHE’s children at BHE’s drop in center.

There is nothing more fulfilling than a project which has met its goal of bringing about changes in the lives of those it aimed to support.  BHE has taken this success and was inspired to keep working on toilet projects that will make meaningful and wide-reaching steps to improve and create healthier and happier communities for the children (and their families) we support. Thus, with funding support from The Australian Embassy and the Australian Government, DIRECT AID PROGRAM,  and our friends at Stream Construction, we are delighted to now completed Operation Flush Toilet Project 2, a new toilet facility with septic tank, four showers, four toilets and hand washing basin, fully tiled and with improved piping system. This toilet facility will serve 36 households, 180 members of the Brave Hearts community.

We believe there is no more rewarding job than helping communities, especially children, to transform their lives.

Ethiopian National team coach and BHE Board Of Director, Abrham Meberatu handing over the keys to the facility