Tsegereda Visit

I visited Tsegereda school during my trip to Addis Ababa in early October. Here are some photographs of the latest intake of children at the school - they were very happy!

Thomas Redmond - Treasurer, Tesfa Foundation UK

Minneapolis Event

Yesterday we held an event in downtown Minneapolis to remember Leeza five years after her passing, and to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished. It was called the Five Schools Benefit in tribute to our central achievement: five schools in five years, over 700 children served, and all for about $150,000. In this photo, we’re listening to members of the University of Minnesota Women’s Track Team talk about Team Tesfa and about the teen girls in Ethiopia. You’ll notice Sophia in the back serving coffee Ethiopian style. And the towering figure in front is Patrick McGrann, head of the Minnesota non-profit, Kitegang. Patrick has been to Shiro Meda to fly kites with our children. He spoke about the experience and about the hope that small non-profits like ours represent.

Dana

Anthony's Fundraiser

Last night, 8 year-old Anthony held another fundraiser at his house. He cooked again, this time preparing mash daal and kadai aloo with rice for his guests. (!) It was a beautiful evening in Minneapolis, and we sat in the backyard as we ate. Anthony came around with his home-made donation box after dinner, collecting for the Shiro Meda school, where his pen-pal Ermias attends school. I’m really impressed with Anthony’s commitment -- and with his cooking.

Dana

On May 17, Art Aid International hosted its second annual wine tasting and art auction fundraiser for Tesfa schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Stephanie Timmerman, (featured above with kids in Shiro Meda in February) is a Grand Rapids artist and the founder of Art Aid. She’s been twice to Ethiopia to work with the children in our schools. Her specialty: art lessons in which the children create beautiful paintings, large and small. Some of this art was up for auction in order to keep school programs alive and well. Stephanie has a real talent with the kids, and she’s very devoted to their well-being. Soon, we’ll have a gallery of children’s art up on-line. Watch for it.

So what’s Team Tesfa? Team Tesfa is a team for young track and cross country runners who want to compete among the pros in Addis Ababa. It’s also a vehicle for the foundation to reach out to teenage girls who need a helping hand. These are girls who are separated from their parents or orphaned, who have no support unless they work in bars or as house servants, who often have to give up their education, who are vulnerable to sexual violence. We provide them with housing, education, stipends, and community. In back are (left to right) Meseret, Worke, and Askwal. Up front are (left to right) the team captain, Ijigu, and the team coach, Mr. Berhanu. Coach Berhanu is an old Navy man who competed and coached in a dozen sports. He stands about six and a half feet, and his hand completely envelopes yours in a crushing grip. He’s a very kind man, and he offered his services as a volunteer for months, until we could find the funds to pay him.

I’m back in Minnesota, checking in with everyone who has supported the work in Ethiopia. One of my favorite visits is with the Women’s Track team at the University of Minnesota. Coach Wilson and the women are very enthusiastic about supporting the teenage girls on Team Tesfa. They are writing letters to Ethiopia and brainstorming ways to raise money. I’m hoping they will be able to make a trip to meet the girls. Meanwhile, they invite me to a practice at the Field House. This is me with team captain, Julie Schwengler, national level competitor in the 800 meters.

Dana

Sometimes it’s difficult to justify what we do to skeptics. Why don’t we do more? they ask. And I don’t know what to say. We do our best with limited resources. That makes for hard decisions.

It is hard to judge what the value of Teddy’s smile is when he received his dinosaur. Was the impact greater in the donor who felt warm and fuzzy for days afterwards rather than in Teddy’s life? What should our priorities be? How do we measure the difference education makes in these children’s lives, in their families?

We have enrolled three bright professors from Mankato State University into Tesfa’s educational advisory committee. Lilly, Linda and Steve are ready to solve multi-grade, trilingual education in rural settings for low-income students. We will have some answers in a couple of years after they visit Ethiopia and train our teachers.

We may be able to provide cost effectiveness calculations of early childhood education for low income Ethiopian children in the future. It’s a step. After all, limited resources should be used wisely. For now, providing education to those who don’t have it keeps us going.

Roxana, Minnesota