Part of World Vision's Development Credo states, "Start with what they know, build on what they have. Teach by showing, learn by doing." Today we witnessed an emerging community - Abaya in its early transformation. What a joy it was to see a community that is being touched by strangers from distant lands in the form of a new school, capacity building, and health post.
Our day started with a drive on what I call a "non-road" to a current water source. It was quite a drive and we saw the source of water for many people. A family was filling their water, men filling water, and an older woman carrying a 50 pound barrel on her back - a very common sight. The water was filthy. It was green and full of worms. A World Vision worker went over and pulled out a worm for us to see. It is heart-breaking to think about this as a daily water source. I considered my own sponsor child with her belly protruding from malnutrition and I wondered if worms were the source of her protuding belly. Currently 28.5% of the people have access to clean water in Abaya. Mind you, "close water source" is considered a 2 hour walking distance each way.
We then drove to the first health post in this community. It now serves 2,500 people in a 5-7 mile radius. It is staffed by the government with 2 doctors and all medical supplies. It is free for the people to use and it is their because of World Vision and the sponsorship program. We viewed the daily log, a log from a 3 month old health post, and it was nearly full. Each page was riddled with "malaria, malaria, malaria, pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea, malaria..." It is now the source of life to this community. World Vision hopes to put in 6 more health posts in the Abaya area.
As a teacher, I was thrilled to visit the school. Though disappointed that school was out for the day, I was excited to speak with the principal and some students. I spoke with a 5th grade girl who was so happy to share her English with me. She spends 1 1/2 hours for her walk to school each way for a 3 hour total! She wants to grow up to do something with English speaking people. I took pictures of the old buildings, and the two new buildings. Before World Vision built the new buildings, there were 80 students plus in each class...many with standing room only, plus outside viewing in windows. Now the students are spread out to 50 per classroom - the national average for Ethiopia. They share with us positive changes: school obscenities have decreased, school class size has diminished to 50, and academic achievement has improved. The beautiful new building also has basic scholastic materials and chalkboards.
Our final stop for the day was visiting a part of their "capacity building" - a barber shop! Interns are given the opportunity to learn the barber skill and practice it. They are receiving an important training for free.
It was a bittersweet good-bye at the ADP. We enjoyed worship together and a very surprising exchange of gifts. The ADP staff gave each of our team members authentic Ethiopian attire. We had a fun time taking pictures.
We walk away with full memories. My deepest picture is a little baby I saw yesterday outside a sponsor home. I thought the baby was 6 months or so old (able to sit). He had a large weeping sore on his head, covered with flies, and sitting by himself with a small handfull of barley oats. He then, quite wobbly, stood up and walking away down the alley. I was shocked beyond words. I could have sworn he was an infant, but he must have been almost 2. We have seen things that are so hard to describe, and witnessed joy in the transformation. Through our partnership with World Vision,we hope to help these people discover self-sufficiency and new life.
It's incredible, and indescribable. Thank you for parntering with us!
Pam
