Hi guys, I am volunteering in Ethiopia this summer. I have always been aware of the opportunities that we have been blessed with in our lives. We may complain about them but we have some of the world's best education and health care available to us. In the hope to help provide these opportunities to others, I am volunteering this summer with Vincentian Lay Missionaries (a sub group of SVP). The centres I will be working at, as a teacher and youth worker, are a women's education and development centre in Alitena and Alemachen, a health centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Alemachen is a convalescent home for disabled children who require medical treatment. Children are from different religious backgrounds and between the ages of 5-12yrs olds. These children are mainly from poor families from all areas of Ethiopia and their disabilities range from neglected club foot, congenital limb deformities, limb deformities due to fracture or post poliomyelitis, osteomyelitis and TB.

Alemachen provides temporary shelter, food, clothing, medical and educational support for the children pre and post treatment in specialist hospitals such as ALERT (All Africa Leprosy Rehabilitation Training) hospital, Cheshire (which fits braces and orthopaedic shoes) and CURE.

Alitena is a remote village in the mountainous area of Northern Tigray, Ethiopia. The nearest large town of Adigrat is 55km’s away, getting there can take up to two hours- an uncomfortable journey on a winding road. Alitena may sound familiar to those that watched footage during Live Aid in which the area was heavily affected by famine. Unfortunately, continued drought and political unrest in nearby areas has inhibited the development of agriculture, education and employment in Alitena. VLM supports many health and education projects in the area as well as working to improve the supply of water and electricity to homes and improving land for agriculture. One of the main projects is to provide young people with the skills to gain employment; with the aim of reducing the chances of trafficking should they need to emigrate.

I have been tasked with raising £1800 for the projects, I really appreciate any donation that you can make in helping me reach this goal.

Many Thanks

Pauline

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others"