The Children in Addis Ababa

When I volunteered in Ethiopia this spring I worked with kids of all ages from newborn to teenagers. The needs of each age group were obviously entirely different. The newborns needed to be held and fed. There were times when several babies were crying at once and there simply were not enough hands to pick them up, sooth them, feed them, make them feel safe. I can distinctly remember times where I would be feeding a baby, a caregiver would be feeding another baby and four or five other babies would be lying on the blanket waiting for their turn. Sometimes they would cry, but sometimes they would just watch you and be happy to be able to make eye contact with you and see you smile.


The toddlers loved when the volunteers came around. Our job with them was simply to play with them. The teacher in me so wanted to do so much more but they loved climbing on us and getting some one on one time. We would play and sing with them, kiss and hug them--basically give them lots of needed attention. After seeing us a few times they would get more comfortable and want us to pick them up and carry them around. We knew we had really bonded when they started to cry when we left at the end of the day.


The interaction with the older kids was more of a teacher-parent/student relationship a lot of the time as the volunteers were required to teach classes and enforce chores. Often we were the 'heavy' insisting that they fold their clothes, pick up the trash around the compound and do their classwork. Although the language barrier almost always presented a problem (they were taught English and had varying levels of proficiency) we still formed bonds with them by being a consistent loving presence, playing games and good old fashioned love and hugs.



The hardest part of my Ethiopian experience was saying good-bye, knowing that I would probably never see these great kids again. (Even harder than the amoeba I contracted and trust me that was pretty darn awful!)

There were a number of kids I really grew very attached to and leaving Ethiopia was like leaving a little piece of my heart behind. We hugged and cried when I left.


I loved spending time with them..so many memories, so many laughs.. and even though I gave them my contact information I knew that when I walked out of the compound that day that I would probably never hear from them or hear how their lives turned out.

For the most part that has been true. But not completely...

Through blogs and Facebook I have actually found several families! Have I told you how much I love living in the internet age? One little girl, the precious Redeit, was adopted by a family who saw her picture on my blog and contacted me! Finding out where she lives and that she is happy and thriving was incredible! Imagine bonding with a little girl in Addis Ababa and now, seven months later, being able to simply click on a link and see her at home with her family anytime I want. Her mother even extended an invitation to visit whenever I am in the area! Man, I loved that little girl, and now with her parents' permission I am able to post some great pictures of us. Here are a few of that beautiful little girl..




... and many more to come!