My Priceless Scarf

To you this is just a picture of a scarf, but to me it is a priceless gift. During the 4th Anniversary Celebration of ANHO (Abiy Negussie Humanitarian Organization) gifts were presented to Tony, Helen and Abiy. I was such a new comer to the crew, that the organizers were not aware that there was a fourth person. The mothers in the audience decided to take up a collection amongst them to buy a gift for the newcomer (me). A basket was passed around and they put what little money they could; one birr here, one birr there. One of the ladies had no money on her, so she took off her silver ring and placed it in the basket. What was in the basket was taken to the market and my scarf was purchased. All of this happened without my knowledge. I was not expecting a gift of any sort.

Hana and I.  In 2008 she lived on the streets of Addis Ababa.  Now she is living with her grandmother and is going to school, happy, and healthy. 

Walking to Selam's house...

They called me back up to the stage and presented me with this most lovely scarf. It is probably the most precious gift I have ever received because of the sacrifice that was made for it. In many ways and for many years, I will treasure my beautiful Ethiopian scarf of Red, Black and Yellow.

Selam, a child of ANHO welcomes us into her home. 

I am giving Selam the gifts from her UK sponsor. Selam was a former street child, but is now living with her mother and is in school.  Her future is brighter because of ANHO.

On another day, I visited two of the ANHO children in their homes. My first stop was Hana. In 2008 Hana was six years old. With both parents gone, and her grandmother unable to support her, she was living alone on the streets of Addis Ababa. After ANHO heard her story, they offered her grandmother practical support that enabled her to look after Hana. Just $15 a month from Eliza in the UK has allowed Hana to return to school and has given her a stable, happy home and a brighter future. Eliza sent Hana a gift from the UK, and I had the opportunity to give it to Hana. She was very happy, and I was honored to do it. Eliza, you are changing the life of this little girl.

My next stop was Selam’s house. Her house is a very small, humble abode. It was wall papered with newspaper so neatly glued up. It was very tidy and comfortable. Due to the Meskel Holiday, fresh flowers and grass were laid on the floor. Selam also received gifts and she sends her greetings and thanks to Eliza in the UK. She tried the new clothes on and they fit perfect. Another happy little girl!

Just $15 a month is enough to sponsor a child’s educational, financial and healthcare needs. ANHO is totally reliant on voluntary funds from individuals and organizations. They need your kind and generous support to achieve their goal of giving 250 young street kids a chance at a better life. This is truly a genuine organization that I have personally become involved in and I give my seal of approval! If you want to help the street children of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia find their way home, visit www.anhoe.org to donate, support or find out more about their work.

Meskel celebration iin the street. 

Meskel is the celebration of "finding the cross".  A very big day of singing, dancing and celebrating all over Ethiopia.

Treated Like Royalty in Asella, Ethiopia

Helen, Tony, Abiy and I playing cards at Lake Hora on the way to Asella. 

Lake Hora

Abiy Negussie originates from Asella, Ethiopia, about a 3 hour drive South of Addis. Asella is home to great Ethiopian runners Haile Gebreselase and Derartu Tulu among others. Abiy wanted to introduce us to his dear family and city. Asella is very proud of their son, Abiy Negussie, whose humanitarian efforts have helped so many street children of Addis Ababa find safe homes through his NGO, Abiy Negussie Humanitarian Organization (ANHO). UK Rotarians Tony Sharma and Helen Johnson (Rotary Club of Tower Hamlets, UK), and I set out with Abiy for Asella on Sunday morning. Helen is Mayoress of Redbridge, so a gift exchange and ceremony with the Mayor of Asella was arranged for Monday morning. We had no idea what greatness lay ahead of us.

Redbridge, UK Mayoress Helen Johnson of Rotary Club of Tower Hamlets is exchanging gifts with the Mayor of Asella, Ethiopia 

The Mayor of Asella welcomes me and gives me a gift.

Getting to Asella should have been a 3 hour drive, but when you stop at Lake Hora for a walk, coffee and to play cards, and stop for lunch in Nazreth, make a fruit stop and a second coffee stop to visit friends, it becomes a good 5 hour drive. Abiy’s mother had a wonderful dinner waiting for us in her home. Her hospitality is hard to put into words. I am just so touched by his family’s love and kindness.

These beautiful ladies dressed me in the traditional Oromo clothes and jewelry. The Mayor of Asella is on the far left. 

The four of us were also given these beautiful traditional beaded gourds. 

Here is Tony, Helen and I with our new friends and family.  The man on the right is one of the Holy Men that blessed us at the meeting.

I know I won’t be able to express in words the emotions of our day in Asella. It’s one of those days that change your life. The day started with a greeting by traditional dancers at the Mayor’s office. The Mayor, all of his cabinet members and staff, and several holy men attended the meeting. Greetings and gifts were exchanged and blessings by the Holy Men were received. We were gifted the very beautiful traditional Oromo dress, jewelry and beaded gourds. I was amazed by their generosity.

A rock quarry where Asella has employed many unemployed citizens for a fair wage. The child stays near her mother. 

One of the beautiful cobblestone roads in Asella.  Cobblestone roads cost half as much as asphalt and require much less maintenance.

This visit was different than any other place I have visited. The Asella leaders wanted to show us how they are tackling their poverty and unemployment issues. I saw a progressive city doing great things for its citizens. We first went to a rock quarry where they have employed many previously unemployed citizens cutting rock for cobblestone roads. Cobblestone roads are much cheaper to build than asphalt roads and they last much longer. They also pay a fair wage. We visited a chicken farm run by university students, a biscuit factory almost ready to start production, and a bio-farm. They took us to the future cobblestone road they are naming “Rotary International Road” (4.5K) and another road, in honor of Mayoress Helen, “Redbridge Road” (3.5K). What a great honor that is.

Me with UK RotariansTony Sharma, Helen Johnson and Abiy Negussie standing on the future 4.5K Rotary International Cobblestone Road.

This is the future Redbridge Road, in honor of Redbridge, UK.  It will also be cobblestone.

Abiy Negussie is to my left and his mother (in white) is on my right.

Our afternoon ended with a large lunch on the shores of a beautiful lake. More gifts were exchanged, thankfulness and love was expressed, and then we headed back to Addis. Many new friends and family were made this day. It will go down in my history as one of the most wonderful days I have experienced; a day I received so much love and kindness; a day of many new friends and family. Yes, I am part of Abiy’s family now; thank you Abiy, Tony and Helen for bringing me into ANHO and into your circle of life. It was a gentle reminder from God that He is with me; guiding me and helping me and letting me know that I am on the right path….

A large pan of cooking goat meat for lunch.... 

Abiy, Tony Sharma, Helen Johnson, Abiy's Mother, and I at the luncheon by the Lake. 

Tony with his police escort :)

Help Ethiopia's Street Children

ABIY NEGUSSIE HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION (ANHO)

Calkinde and I.  Her photo is on the ANHO flyer in my hand. 

UK Rotarians Abiy Negussie, Helen Johnson, Tony Sharma and I with Abiy's mother. 

Abiy Negussie, founder of ANHO that helps Ethiopia's Street Children find their way home.

I have been Swept Away! When I run into the same people several times in a foreign country, I know that we are meant to share something with each other. This is how I met my new friends from the UK. We were all attending the same circuit of Rotary Meetings. We were destined to work together.

Rotarians Tony, Abiy and I near the Rotary Banner 

Posing by the Subway Banner with some of the former Street kids. 

Tony and I with the ANHO Kids

Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all professions, and help build goodwill and peace throughout the world. It is the largest humanitarian organization for professional men and women who want to make a better world, and who are dedicated to providing friendly help to local and international communities. I am proud to be a Rotarian. I have been swept away in someone’s amazing cause, and it has now become my cause too.

Helen, I and Aidy 

As I said, I met UK Rotarians Abiy Negussie, Tony Sharma and Helen Johnson. They were here to see with their own eyes the work of an NGO that helps Ethiopia’s street children find their way home. The Abiy Negussie Humanitarian Organization (ANHO) was founded in 2007 in order to try to make a difference in the lives of Addis Ababa’s street children. They attempt to reunite the street children with their biological families, or relocate them to supportive foster families and provide them with educational, health care and financial support. Abiy, the founder, grew up in a poor Ethiopian family and knows hunger and poverty first hand. His NGO is supporting 95 children and their families and plan, over the next three years to expand the work of ANHO to assist up to 250 children!

Tony Sharma and one of the ANHO Children 

ANHO firmly believes that the plight of street children in Ethiopia cannot be solved without the involvement of the family unit. Children need a stable, caring environment if they are to recover from street life and the abuses and violence that it can involve. ANHO provides the family with financial support to cover the children’s education, health and clothing needs. But even more important, the child has security, sometimes for the first time. Protected and supported, they can forge a better life and will go on to have a happier and healthier family of their own.

We had dinner at Abiy's brother's house. 

Abiy is a SUBWAY franchise owner. SUBWAY UK is a major donor to his organization. ANHO is totally reliant on voluntary funds from individuals and organizations. It takes just $15/month to provide all that a child needs to live a comfortable live in Ethiopia. Visit www.anhoe.org to donate, sponsor or find out more about this organization. I look forward to getting involved with this amazing organization that changes the lives of children. Today I met many of the children in this program. I kissed their cheeks, and held their hand. I saw with my own eyes how happy they are today. Check ANHO out today and sponsor a child!

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

Traveling can be dangerous...

Traveling to any foreign country has its dangers. I ran into one yesterday. I thank God for getting me back to safety and getting me out of a situation I shouldn't have gotten into. I am a different person today than yesterday. My brush with danger was too close. Here is my story:


Yesterday I got into some trouble. I should have known better. I have traveled too much for something like this to happen. It was VERY stupid of me. I was walking down a main street toward the Hilton and a man kept pace with me and starting a conversation. He asked if I had seen the free National Dancing show right behind the Hilton? He said it was beautiful, and I would see the many different dances of Ethiopia all in one show. Since it was free, I said I would like to see it. Before I knew it, I was whisked away to a part of town I don’t know (not anywhere near the Hilton), and I was ushered into a building (with no identification marks or sign like a bar or restaurant) AND a room (with bars on the door and window) with no one else but the man, and four dancers. Every cell in my body screamed RUN! GET OUT OF THERE! If the door was shut, I knew I would have been locked in. I immediately said I was no longer interested and RAN out of the building, out of the gate and into the street. I had to ask directions from strangers how to get back to the Hilton. I knew I had escaped something terrible. I was really upset. When I review the situation, I ask myself at what point did I lose control of the situation? Why did I walk to a strange place with a stranger? Why did I go through that unmarked gate at his insistence when I wasn't comfortable? I didn't want to hurt his feelings! I want to trust people. I didn't want to be paranoid. I am too nice! I thought there would be a crowd of people watching a show; I was alone, and I don’t think there was going to be a show. They kept insisting that I drink my coffee, but I kept saying I didn’t want it. What if I had drank the coffee? I might have woken up in big trouble. I learned a very hard lesson yesterday. I can no longer be nice to strangers. On the walk home from the Hilton, another man tried to walk with me asking me if I had yet experienced the nightlife of Ethiopia? I stopped him and said, "If I want to see the night life of Ethiopia, I will see it with my friends." He said he was my friend! I said, "You are not my friend. We have never met: now leave me alone right now!" There has to be a middle ground between being too nice and being too mean. I have yet to find it.....This could happen anywhere....I will be more careful

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

View from my window in Addis Ababa 

I have arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia a month before I had planned. I will be meeting the large group of Rotarians from the US and Canada and Hawaii on October 16th where we will engage in humanitarian projects and polio immunizations, hopefully among or near the Somalia refugees in Ethiopia. Until then, I am staying with my friend Zemi Yenus and her son.

 Zemi owns and operates a successful school for autistic kids called The Joy Center. I volunteered there two years ago. It is a wonderful place and the children there are so very fortunate. Zemi started this school on her own many years ago because there was no facility in Ethiopia for Autistic kids. Now the Joy Center is the best center in all of Ethiopia. After the New Year holidays are over and when Zemi returns, I will work at the school every day. I look forward to seeing some of the same kids.

Zemi has been unexpectedly held up in the US, so I am hanging out at her house for the time being. I am attending the local Rotary Club meetings, making new friends, and waiting for her return. Her sister keeps me company as well as other Rotarians. The pictures I have posted are from my last visit. I just haven't been taking new pictures yet.

Lovely Zemi! 

A sample of the wonderful food here!

I love Addis Ababa so much. The music is upbeat and cultural. There are many goats on the road being herded to their next feeding spot. Going to a foreign country is a bit like entering an alien world. All of my senses are experiencing new sites and sounds and smells. And the food is WONDERFUL; fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and lentils, and salads are always served with the local high-protein flat bread called Injera. Living in Ethiopia is very exciting! I am looking forward to a wonderful month....

My Last Days in India

The foothills of the Himalaya Mountains near the Ganga River.

Saket, Megha, Anila and Ashok Ahuja 

At the Ganga River

My last days in India were packed with activity. It helped keep my mind off the fact that I was sad to be leaving. I was supposed to have been in India until Oct 16th, but I changed my flight after a rocky, solitary month in India. Once I moved in August to a different place, my experience was much better. But, alas, the change was made and I head to Ethiopia for a month.

The Ganga River 

Saket, Megha and I

I visited the Ganga River with the Ahuja family. The Ganga River, although polluted, is a blessed river. No person has ever gotten sick from drinking or bathing in its waters. It is situated in the very beautiful foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. After a great, last weekend with my new family, I headed back to Delhi via train for my flight to Ethiopia.

The beautiful Singh Temple in Delhi, India 

Reading of the Sacred Book in the Temple. 

EVERYONE had to wear a hair covering...not just me!!!

Since I had over 12 hours in Delhi, I arranged a small tour of Delhi. I saw Old Delhi, New Delhi, and the government offices. The day after I left, those very government offices were bombed by terrorists! I toured a Singh Temple and had an amazing lunch experience! This Singh Temple feeds 1,000s of people every day in a very unique way. About 1,000 people are feed at once in about 30 minutes, then another 1,000, etc. They open the doors and we all filter into the large hall, sitting back to back in long rows. Young volunteers move up and down the rows VERY quickly handing us a tray and silverware. Then the food (Curry, rice and chapatti) come in huge buckets and it is QUICKLY slopped onto your plate as they hurry down the row. You have about 20 minutes to eat before the next set of 1,000 people comes to replace you! I have never seen such efficiency. This is done all day everyday at no cost to the people. It is totally funded by donations.

These are the huge pots the food for 10,000 people is cooked in! 

1,000 people sit in rows, back to back, waiting for their food. 

We have been served rice and curry, but we wait until everyone has food before we eat.

After touring the temple, they put a small ball of sweet mush in my hand. I had an opportunity to buy more, so I paid a small amount of money for a bowl of sweet mush, and then I took it over to another place that takes 10% of my mush to give to the poor. Singh's believe in giving 10% of everything they have to the poor. It was a very wonderful experience.

The Old Entrance Gate to Delhi

As usual, I made life-time friends in Dehradun, India. The Rotary Club was active and doing wonderful projects. I volunteered at Karuna Vihar School for handicapped kids, and a very small poor country school. I also learned yoga, meditation, and got in touch with my spiritual side again. India was everything I knew it would be and more....Thank you to all my new friends and family. I hope to return soon. I love you all so much.