Ezra Ejigu (Tewodaj Media)
Under the slogan “They Are My Children Too,” a fundraising initiative will be held to support 50,000 children and their families who are exposed to hardship, it has been learned.
Regarding the initiative, a press conference was held on Tahsas 7, 2018 E.C. at Ras Amba Hotel.
To reach about 50,000 children and families facing severe hardship, Mary Joy Ethiopia has formed a coalition with veteran female journalists, writers, scholars, and volunteer fundraisers.
Speaking at the press conference, Sister Zebider Zewde, founder of Mary Joy Ethiopia, stated that due to the social and political crises currently affecting various parts of the country, more than seven million children have been forced out of school.
According to reports by international organizations, about 43% of Ethiopia’s population lives in poverty. She explained that the growing vulnerability to poverty in urban areas has, over time, pushed children, mothers, women, and the elderly into extremely harsh living conditions.
As a result, these groups are being deprived of basic services, including access to education, fulfillment of basic food and shelter needs, and opportunities for parents and guardians to secure employment.
Therefore, she emphasized that helping them escape these dire living conditions requires broad cooperation and coordinated efforts by the government and other stakeholders.
Taking this alarming situation as a starting point, the coalition, under the slogan “They Are My Children Too,” has officially launched a movement to expand the child sponsorship support program previously initiated by Mary Joy Ethiopia, with the aim of assisting more than 50,000 children.
The coalition has launched a wide-ranging campaign to ensure the holistic development and participation of children by providing food, healthcare, education, and psychosocial support. Through a special program, 50,000 children and their guardians will receive monthly family sponsorship support, according to statements made by the movement’s coordinator, journalist Roman Tegegne.
It was stated that one billion birr is required to return 50,000 children to school. The project targets providing support to children and families facing severe hardship and street vulnerability in five regions: Tigray, Somali, Oromia, Amhara, and Afar. It was also noted that this project requires significant collective effort.
To fulfill this major social responsibility, a special online fundraising campaign will be conducted from Tir 20 to Tir 30, 2018 E.C., it was announced.
According to information obtained by Tewodaj Media from the coordinators, the coalition launched the campaign by pledging to support 100 children.
Job well done! Good luck!