Adoption ARK is very excited to expand our humanitarian efforts to Africa. Please consider donating to one of the projects below.
Latchi Feeding Program
Daughters of Charity Sisters
Mekelle, Tigray
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, with an estimated population of over 75 million, is a country with over whelming poverty, cyclical droughts, recurrent wars and a lack of a conductive operating environment. Add to this gender inequalities, low agricultural production and a small industrial base and you end up with one of the lowest demographic and health indicators in the world.
The Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia has been especially hard hit with only half of the population having access to basic health care. According to the 2000 health survey data Tigray has an infant mortality rate of 97/1000, an under five mortality rate of 166/1000 and a neonatal rate of 49/1000.Compounding this excessive child mortality rate of the fact that Tigray region has one of the highest child malnutrition rates in the world.
The Daughters of Charity, founded in France by St. Vincent DePaul and St. Louise De Marillac in 1633, is one of the religious congregations that are actively working out of the Diocese of Adigrat, Tigray, Ethiopia. The Daughter of Charity Sisters are currently operating four clinics in Tigray. Three are located in Mekelle and are the Adihaki General Clinic, the Adihaki Ophthalmic Clinic and the Latchi Clinic. They also operate a general clinic in Alitena. The goal of these clinics is to address the prevailing health problems in Tigray Region and offer medical care to the general population from all denominations.
However, currently the Daughters of Charity clinic in Latchi district has a problem rendering effective and quality services to their Mother and Child Health program, specifically the child feeding program. The source of these problems are inadequate funding to finance all of the marginalized and destitute families currently enrolled. With a general objective of reducing child morbidity and mortality within the families in this program an estimated annual budget of $18,000USD will be needed to assist these 64 families.
Adoption Ark is seeking people in the US to assist families in Tigray by sponsoring a child through the Latchi Feeding Program. Sponsoring a child in this program will not only benefit the child but their entire family. The conditions we are placing on the family is that all children in the family must attend school and the family will come to the clinic monthly to be weighed and measured. The sponsor will receive annual reports and photos. Those wishing would be welcome to travel to Ethiopia to meet “their” child and his/her family.
Cost: $350 per child annually
School Sponsorship Program
Meki, Oremo, Ethiopia
The Meki Catholic School provides 1500 community children with an equal education regardless of the family’s ability to pay. Support is needed for the poorest students to help provide school uniforms, text books and supplies. Sponsors will receive their child’s report card and pictures annually. Sponsors would be welcome to travel to Ethiopia to visit the school and meet their sponsored children and their families.
Cost: $175 per child annually