During my time at Selamta, one of the things that surprised me most about the organization was the strong sense of family and community among all of the children, mothers, and staff. I don’t ever remember feeling like I was working for an orphanage. In fact, Selamta is truly much more than an orphanage. I really appreciate the structure of the family homes because I see that each home is really a family, not an childcare institution. Some of the fondest memories that I have of Selamta are of the times that I spent the night at different houses. The children love it when ambassadors spend the night. Towards the final weeks of my stay I had to write down a sleepover schedule because kids from every house began to ask me where I was sleeping. If there was ever a free day they would ask me to come for that night. It was during these sleepovers that I really observed what I believe is the essence of what makes Selamta’s family home structure so great. Each home functions as a tight-knit family. The children love each other as well as their mothers and aunts. They all play together, work together to get chores done, help each other with problems that arise, and just spend quality time together. Now that I’m no longer in Ethiopia, I like to think back to these evenings and my observations of the families. I like to remember the evening talks, the spontaneous dance parties, movie nights, and meals together. I love knowing that all of these children have loving families. There’s no doubt in my mind that I want to remain a part of the Selamta community and help it become larger. My greatest hope for Selamta is that it can grow and start many more families like those that I came to know this summer.

During Jamie’s stay at Selamta she organized a Mother’s Day celebration and helped our kids honor their moms and aunties with gifts of flower arrangements and handmade cards expressing their love and appreciation. Thank you Jamie for your contributions to Selamta. And we wish you the very best during your stay in Tanzania this summer.

THE FUTURE
The Ethiopian Ministry of Health estimates that 1.4 million children have been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic and that this figure will rise by 43% by 2010. As the number of orphans is increasing the vision for Selamta is to double in size in the next few years. Selamta has a proven track record of changing children’s lives by providing family homes and education. To illustrate the success, one of the Selamta “graduates” is now a prelaw student. It costs $800.00 a year to take care of each child and the organization is ready to accept large corporate funding and or grants to take the program to the next level. Volunteer service vacations are organized three times annually and for people with more time are welcome to teach and mentor the children. Donations are always gladly accepted. Yes one person can make a difference.

NEW ARRIVALS

On the last day of our trip we drove into a very poor area to meet three new girls who had been invited to join our family. The girls recently lost their father and since no cause of death was given we assumed it was due to AIDS. The mother passed away in childbirth eight years ago when the youngest was born. Zara age 19 in an attempt to take care of her sisters age 12, 10 and 8 years had turned to prostitution. They were living in a ten-foot by ten-foot room with no running water or kitchen facilities and paying $10.00 US a month rent. The room was neat and tidy and the girls gathered their personal belongings into 2 small supermarket size bags. The elder child ran to a neighbor’s where she had been working as a maid and where she wanted to collect some of her personal possessions. The man of the house, on hearing or her departure, whacked her across the face. Everyone in our group was devastated by this action and we pleaded with the community members to tell the man that this type of behavior is inappropriate.
In what seemed like a lifetime we eventually loaded all four girls into our van and gave them See’s lollypops for the ride across town. From the back of the bus I waved goodbye to the “matriarch” of the community. She smiled from ear to ear and generously waved with two arms and hands outstretched knowing the girls would be well taken care of at Selamta. My heart was overfilled with joy. I was instantly reminded of one of the most heartbreaking farewells I have ever witnessed in Rabbit Proof Fence (Pilkington) where the girls are forcibly removed from their families. Molly and Gracie cry and sob as the police drive them away to an orphanage a thousand miles away and their mother and grandmother scream for help as their own flesh and blood are stolen. As I waved to the community matriarch I had the opportunity to redo this paradigm in a positive and happy way!
Upon our arrival we showered all four girls with clothing, towels and their favorite gift of all a hand-made doll. The smiles of happiness of the girls’ faces and the big hugs of gratitude I received were overwhelming. I asked the caretaker to check the chicken coop for eggs and he found four. One egg representing each of the lives that will have a new beginning at Selamta. The sisters then settled into their bedrooms and had lunch. Suddenly, Zara told me she had to leave which was really disappointing since we were all hoping we could entice her to stay and offer her a job as a cook or an aunty so that the family would not be broken up. Perhaps in time, as Zara sees her sisters flourishing at Selamta she will decide to join them. Since my return to California I have received several emails telling me the new arrivals have settled in well and are enjoying life at Selamta.

Big smiles all around!

Children by their nature have an innocence and curiosity to engage with US volunteers. I wanted to know more about the wonderful mothers and aunties the true backbone of the Selamta Project. These are the women who decide on the home décor, shop, do the menu planning and cooking, cleaning, take care of medical issues and deal with the physical, emotional and spiritual well being for each child under her care along with the transmission of cultural knowledge. Most of the caregivers, like the children, have overcome adversity. Furthermore, Ethiopian women are marginalized members of society with many women victims of domestic violence and rape.
The Selamta mothers and aunties are chosen for their abilities to run a household and for their parenting skills. Before being given the responsibility of taking care of a home they attend trainings to enhance their skills. Most of the mothers are single and in some cases have one or two of their own children with them. Selamta believes in keeping family members together so a single mother will have her child/children under her care. Aunties on the other hand are frequently married and live a bus ride away in the suburbs of Addis. Each day they return to their families.
My favorite day with the mothers was handing out donated clothing and personal care items to them for each of their children. The ladies came to the office knowing exactly the type and sizes of clothing that each of their children would like and wear. I know many of the US donors who had given jeans, jackets and shirts so it was heartwarming to see the mothers leave with so many gifts sent by caring friends. The mothers and aunties beamed with joy as they left with their arms laden with gifts.

The Selamta Project has 85 children living in modern homes equipped with electricity, running water and plumbing in a new suburb on the eastern area of Addis Ababa. Upon my arrival at the front gate a small boy with big brown eyes and a very sweet smile welcomed me by shaking my hand and showing me to the kitchen where the mothers and aunties were preparing injera (Ethiopian bread). Later, I learned that the four year old welcoming committee was Tsega probably the most loved child in Addis and the only Selamta child who is HIV positive. Tsega is small for his size due to his health issues but his heart and charisma are enormous. The mothers and aunties knowing of our group’s arrival performed the elaborate coffee ceremony- a traditional welcoming gesture. Coffee is one of Ethiopia’s major exports and a cash crop that provides much needed income for the nation.
After coffee, I trudged down the unpaved roads to greet the children as they finished classes at the Alpha School. Each child, proudly dressed in their burgundy school uniform greeted me with hugs and kissed my checks the appropriate number of times. I could not imagine a California high school or middle school child performing such a gracious greeting in front of their school, let alone in front of their peers. I saw the happy smiles and the kindness the children showed each other. I knew these were wonderful children whose hearts were full of gratitude and love from the care given at the Selamta houses despite the obstacles and hardships they had overcome early in their lives.
Walking back to the main house I held hands with a small boy who recited his ABCs with perfection. The Alpha school offers 8 hours of classes a day and teaches English, French and Amharic the local language that has over 260 letters. The older children walked together and shared the day’s events. Back at the main house a group of boys excited about social studies focusing on the history of Ethiopia sat with a tutor and did their homework. A handful of girls and boys went to the woodworking class set up by a US volunteer and the remainder of the children played hopscotch in the courtyard. I read some stories out loud to some of the older boys who were keen to improve their English speaking skills. Each child was well mannered and courteous not only to me but to all of the volunteers. My heart sang with delight to see an effective program improving the lives of children who recently were living on the streets.
I spent many afternoons with the children hanging out, giving them hugs and sharing their life stories. One of my favorite topics for discussion was: “What would you like to be when you grow up?” Each child had definite goals of being a doctor, an engineer or a teacher. Listening to the children’s aspirations reaffirmed that the Selamta program is working. A child coming from a loving support system and who is receiving a fine education can visualize a future in a successful career. With Ethiopia’s social structure in turmoil and with so many children displaced by the AIDS/HIV epidemic it is vital that new leaders are being groomed for tomorrows leadership and for these leaders to advocate social justice and human rights. Selamta is providing the academic challenges and family support for Ethiopia’s next generation of leaders.

The city of Addis Ababa is a thriving metropolis over 5 million people and full of western influences, from the ultra modern airport to the out of control urban housing boom and extensive freeway construction under the supervision of a large Chinese corporation. As we drove from the airport to the hotel I was struck by the people’s western style of dress mostly blue jeans and US style t-shirts. The other striking factor was the heavy smog that is a result of no vehicle emissions control. The city is situated at 7,500 feet (about one mile high) and I noticed the dryness of the air, the arid landscape and absence of tall trees.
Our group stayed in the city of Addis and traveled daily to the Selamta family houses in the outer eastern suburb. Each day proved to be an adventure as we drove the streets full of lorries, taxis, large buses, small buses, cows, goats, sheep and innumerable pedestrians. Like any developing city all of life can be seen on the streets from beggars to well dressed businessmen and women along with shanties built by people too poor to live anywhere else. Many of the street people arrive from the country areas and have no work or family to support them. We had a van and driver to transport us on our daily excursions and I would not suggest renting a car and driving in the city. I never could work out who had the right of way at the intersections and corners!
We stayed at the Hotel Ghion originally built by Haile Selaisse to house his summer guests. The Hotel has traditional Ethiopian charm and its greatest blessing is the wonderful gardens that surround the complex. The gardens filtered the city noise and smog along with providing homes for some of Ethiopia’s endemic birds. Each time we entered or departed from the compound a group of armed military guards spoke to our driver and inspected our vehicle. Often times the large parking lot in front of the hotel filled with UN vehicles and their African drivers and the scene reminded me of the horrific movie Hotel Rwanda. The Ethiopian government runs the Hotel Ghion which is moderately priced compared to the palatial Sheraton at $400.00 a night and the fancy Hilton at $300.00 a night and all of this in a country where the average Ethiopian earns less than $800.00 US a year and thousands remain hungry.

In February I traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to work as a volunteer with the Selamta be at peace Project, a program that provides housing, education and medical care for orphans many of whom have been living on the streets. Much of Selamta’s success can be attributed to the small family homes that the children live in with a “mother” and “aunty” who provide the love and care needed for children to thrive.
PLANNING THE TRIP
I had often thought about doing humanitarian work in the global sense but never felt comfortable about signing up to work with people I did not know. My daughter and son in law, who live in Sebastopol, shared the Selamta story with me and I was intrigued to hear that Ethiopian’s children’s lives were being changed for the better. Then I met Carol and Mike Foster founders of the program and I was convinced that this service vacation would be well organized, meaningful and a positive experience for our group and for the children.
As I began to share the news about my Ethiopian service vacation with friends I was struck by the sense of awe and support I was given. My extensive background of world travel in developing countries put me at peace with the journey. However, I never imagined traveling to Africa let alone Ethiopia – a country of which I knew very little except for the recent famines and photos of starving children and more recently the AIDS/HIV epidemic. Rather than focusing on learning more about Ethiopia I immersed myself into educating myself about the Selamta Project and working with the children knowing that once I arrived in Addis Ababa I would be immersed into the culture. The flight to Addis Ababa takes about 22 hours and most travelers from the west coast of the USA stop over in Washington DC, London or Rome. Most of the travelers in our group spent a few nights in London to stretch their legs and to help ease jet lag.

 

Heather Ben and Tara at the Addis airport