About Habesha Momma
Welcome to Habesha Momma! A passion commitment that brings hope to many.
So, what exactly is Habesha? Habesha (HA-beh-shah) means a group of people inhabiting the horn of Africa, and many Ethiopians use the term to identify themselves as native to Ethiopia.
In our frequent travels to Ethiopia, we have found that there were many Ethiopians that wanted to give back to their communities yet found themselves needing help in providing the resources to complete these heart mission goals. After much communication, several prayers, and with the love and drive of people with similar vision and hope, the organization of Habesha Momma was formed! Now, we were set to help those people make the change they want to see in their own communities.
With a population of over 107 million with a median age of about 18 yrs old, roughly 29 % of the population lives in extreme poverty. Contributors to these statistics are lack of access to primary education, child labor, HIV, drought, as well as lack of sanitation and clean water. Working together to raise awareness, provide education, job opportunities and offering clean water will be the first step to changing these statistics if even for a few. As drastic as these factors are, the scope for creating healthier and happier lives IS attainable, with help.
Our current project is the Debre Markos project. Debre Markos is a town located several miles North of the capital of Addis Ababa, about half way to the town of Bahir Dar.
Debre Markos is a small community, again with many children living on the streets, for varying reasons. Several work all night at the local bars, selling cigarettes, gum and tissue. Whatever they can, basically, in order to earn income. Situations that are not always secure. We are working to bring these children off the streets, and into safe and stable environments, then work on family re-unification. We have learned that this isn’t as cut and dry as it would seem, and so we are steadfastly working on programs for conflict resolution, family unification, and most importantly, healing. Our children go to school, get tutoring and learn basic life skills to learn how to thrive in a family again. This is an outreach program for families in need in the area, offering a food package, providing rent support, and helping with other needs, so that they can return to work and get their lives back on track for success, and hopefully end the cycle of poverty.
For those children that cannot be re-unified with their families we have Freedom House. It’s a home where the children live as a family. They are provided food, clothing, shelter and attend school.
We offer a Saturday meeting program for all of the children in our program where they work through conflict resolution, have group projects, learn about hygiene and general life skills.
Where we began:
Our first major project was a primary school in the town of Hawassa, Ethiopia which began in September of 2015. Situated several miles outside of Addis, Hawassa is a resort town to many, many villagers. This brings people in from the countryside who are eagerly, looking for jobs. If they are unable to find jobs, they are forced to beg and look for other ways to gain income, critical for daily survival. Children there are largely unable to afford an education by themselves, so we have happily and readily stepped in to help those children. We opened the Mulat Knowledge School with KG, or Kindergarten in November of 2015, and we grew and gained accreditation, adding more children each year.
Due to changes in the current political situation, and the needs of our in-country partner, the school closed it’s doors in June 2018. We are saddened by this close but know that there is always a plan.
