The local government identifies the neediest and most destitute children in an area, and provides the opportunity to attend a care-point to meet their basic needs. Originally, 84 orphaned and destitute children were assigned to "Trees of Glory" as the sponsor program was first developed in 2010. Today, Trees of Glory care-point serves nearly 150 kids with a vision to serve 300 children in the future!
Most of these children are orphans, and are living with a relative or guardian that is barely able to provide for their basic needs. As a result, many of the children are severaly malnourished, and are vulnerable to illnesses like malaria and pneumonia. Local livestock owners employ many of the children as herders, and pay the child's guardian a meager wage of about $12 per year.
Your sponsorship will provide your sponsor child with nutritious meals every day, along with clothing, medical care, Christian discipleship and EDUCATION. Without a sponsor, these kids will never have the opportunity to go to school and they will continue "working" to pay for the roof over their head.
Ginia, with Children's Hopechest, spent a day with the kids at "Trees of Glory" in May 2010 and she emailed me: "Trees of Glory is WONDERFUL. It's a 2 hour drive into the mountains from Addis. We gave kids bread and bananas today. Most of the kids are orphans and are living with relatives or on the streets. They work as "herdsmen" of sheep and cattle. The relative is paid 120 ETB (equivalent of about $12 dollars) for year by livestock owners for the kids to work. It's very sad. Simret's (the director) vision is very big. She is a beautiful Godly woman. Very sweet and you can feel the presence of God in this place. There are few Christians living in the area and there is superstitions and witchcraft prevalent in the area." A sponsor program will make a dramatic and lasting impact for the kids at "Trees of Glory"!!
If you are interested in sponsoring a child at "Trees of Glory", please contact me at kjwistrom@yahoo.com and let me know if you have a preference for a boy or girl, one child or a sibling group of 2. I will email you with a child's photograph and biographical information and instructions on how to register as that child's sponsor. I personally travel to Ethiopia each year to work with the kids and the staff, and during that trip, I would be happy to deliver a care-package from you to your child!
The group of kids gather for a photo, excited to find out about their new sponsor family!
Sebele is 5 and lives with her grand-mother. She attends "Trees of Glory" care-point in Ethiopia.
Getu is 7 and attends "Trees of Glory" care-point in Ethiopia.
