Ethiopia, 2013

In May 2013, Board Members, Brynn Wartman and Rachel Vingsness, embarked on a ten day trip through Ethiopia taking them from bustling Addis Ababa to rural Mekelle and Adigrat in the north. Together, they delivered art supplies and facilitated workshops with over 2,000 children.

Along the way they were met with warmth, kindness, thanksgiving and curiosity. The team also experienced first-hand the impact that poverty has had on the history rich country.

Some more about Ethiopia today…

  1. In rural Ethiopia about 16% of the population are living on less than 1 dollar per day and only 65% of households consume the World Health Organization's minimum standard of food per day, with 42% of children under 5 years old being underweight.
  2. Although conditions are better in cities, all of Ethiopia suffers from poverty and poor sanitation. In the capital city of Addis Ababa, 55% of the population lives in slums where many people make their houses using whatever materials are available, with walls made of mud or wood. Only 12% of homes have cement tiles or floors. Sanitation is the most pressing need in the city, with most of the population lacking access to waste treatment facilities. This contributes to the spread of illness through unhealthy water.
  3. Despite the living conditions in the cities, the people of Addis Ababa are much better off than people in rural villages owing to their educational opportunities. 69% of urban children are enrolled in primary school, and 35% of those eligible for secondary school attend. Addis Ababa has its own university as well as many other secondary schools.

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