Artist Presents Trispective on Ethiopian Projects Giving Hope

Milton Keynes artist, Amanda Hottinger, exhibits a passionate, inspiring and emotive set of works through her perspective of three Ethiopian projects at the UCMK gallery Milton Keynes in November and December.

 

Born out of her deep emotional reactions to meeting with a number of inspired and inspiring individuals who are working in the context of remarkable poverty, she expresses their lively and hopeful personalities through her narrative portraits. These are introduced through some interpretive images of Ethiopia following visits to the north and south of the country and Addis Ababa.

 

The works focus on a large urban development project, an ex-street child’s initiative to help orphans of HIV/AIDS and churches helping mining labourers. 

 

Dr Jember, a relative of the former Emperor Haile Selassie, who will be visiting the exhibition, started the urban project among the poorest of the poor in the capital after being released from four years in prison under the Mengistu dictatorship. 

 

Tesfahaun Dendena, orphan and former street child helped through IHAUDP, with little formal education but huge amounts of passion and inspiration to help others, gathered volunteers around him and now over 200 children receive education, a meal a day, clothes and a mentor/befriender.

 

In the south of the country, the Ethiopian Addis Kidan church is in partnership with a British based christian mission. Amanda, conveys the joy and positiveness in her art that she found exuded from the miners, church workers and families.

 

“Meeting the individuals was very humbling and inspiring,” says Amanda, “It was amazing to see the passion, kindness and determination in people’s eyes. They are, through their hard work, achieving so much with so little. I was impressed that it took four hours walking for some of them to meet me. What they are doing is so important to them.”

 

Using a variety of media, including oil, acrylic, inks and the use of simple fabrics, notations and photographs, which contextualise the paintings, Amanda says that she hopes people will be encouraged by what they see and inspired to support the projects. 

The gallery is located on the ground floor, next to the coffee shop at the University Centre Milton Keynes, 200 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 1LT.

Opening times are 0800 – 2100 for the gallery located on the ground floor, next to the coffee shop.

For further information contact

Amanda on  07951 062473          amandarty@hotmail.co.uk

Gino, Milton Keynes College      gino.ballantyne@mkcollege.ac.uk

Visit: www.ucmk.ac.uk/facilities/ucmk-galleries

 

UK supporters meeting 2011

10.00 am     Arrival: registration, displays and coffee

A total of 32 supporters attended the meeting although at least another dozen sent apologies due to prior commitments. It was a glorious sunny day!

10.30 am     Welcome and opening prayer – Revd Arthur Champion

Sister Jember was accompanied by David (her brother), Workneh and Tata with their daughter Jemima. Later in the day Lelo arrived from Manchester. After an opening prayer, everyone read out one of Jember’s favourite Bible passages Isaiah 58: 9-12.

10.35 am     Ethiopia in the news during the past 12 months

Arthur showed slides of some newspaper articles about Ethiopia over the past year and Jember added some helpful comments:

• “China-Africa trade set to keep on booming in 2011” – Addis Ababa is expanding fast thanks to Chinese hands and cash. The Chinese are also in the farming sector.
• “Swedish journalists trial begins in Ethiopia”
• “Questions over Ethiopia’s coffee crop” – survival rations, missing development, herdsmen struggling, refugee crisis, limited access for aid organisations, violent conflicts.

11.00 pm     Jember’s 2011 report

The slide show continued with photos taken from the IHA-UDP’s newsletters in March and September. Jember explained the background and current status of each picture”

• Institute of Urban Workers (IUW) at an exhibition
• Thank you letter from a graduate of the IUW
• Footing column casted for new condo block
• Building work
• Inside a completed condo living rom and bedroom
• Thank you letter from a sponsored child who has now gone to university
• Wayne Gordon at ICUC conference
• Delegates at the ICUC conference
• IUW library stocked with books; including some provided by Keith Holland off Glenfall,
• Children in sponsored run.

1. CBISDO and the city council – A very serious situation has arisen when without any warning the head of the local authority has closed down the income-generating unit (weaving, garment making, basketry making and food processing) making 80 women unemployed (as well as harming 400+ family dependants). Ten days later there was another assault; this time at the Youth Center, which serves 7,000 young people annd children. Jember has still not received any explanation or written warrant. Jember and those whose livelihoods have been destroyed as well as youth leaders have tried everywhere without receiving any explanation or justification.
2. ICUC – a short conference was held which has helped to cross the denominational divides for the sake of the poor.
3. Institute for Urban Workers (IUW) – Institute Urban Workers (IUW) academic activities are going well. 54 students (28 female and 26 male) are currently studying in the Institute
4. AHISDO and extension project – the condo buildings programme has run into delays caused by inflation whilst the unavailability of building materials has more than doubled the cost of the second condominium thereby causing a shortfall in the PUG budget.
5. Future funding and sustainability – Prayer is needed about the funding shortfall in the present extension programme for administration, health and PUG.

 

12 noon        Praying in small groups

The current situation is on a par with the crisis in 2000 (Adorna Alfa) and 2004 (The spiritual battle behind the scenes is intense.

12.30pm      LUNCH – soup, sandwiches and fruit provided by friends of IHA-UDP in Cheltenham

1.30 pm       Update on the IHA-UDP website – Ben Booth

Ben spoke about the educational benefits of the website irrespective of the fund-raising opportunities.

2.00 pm       Financial report 2010/11 – Chris Hughes

Chris explained the balance sheet; showing an income of £21k and expenditure of £12k with £12k having been transferred to IHA-UDP during the past year.

2.30 pm       Child Sponsorship – Paul Wilson

Paul’s timeline began in 1999 and this September a landmark was reached with £250k having been raised in total and 195 children being sponsored. Someone asked about sponsoring retired people and Jember said this has been possible via CBISDO for several years.

3.00 pm     Family news – Workneh Haile-Giorgis mentioned that he has recently changed jobs. Memmenasha – Is doing well mothering little baby Meba who just turned one year old, and Menna will be 6 in October. Pupi (Lelo) still enjoys her mentoring job and she is expecting to soon complete / graduate with a Masters degree from Manchester University. 

 

3.15 pm       Group photograph outside on the grass

Unfortunately, we missed this opportunity so hopefully next year!

3.30 pm       The Grace – after prayer centred on Jember and her family

Institute for Urban Workers – news roundup

• The Institute for Urban Workers (IUW) academic activities are going well. 54 students (28 female and 26 male) are currently studying in the Institute. Since the opening of the Institute 138 (103 Female and 35 Male) acquired a formal certificate in Urban Development Work and 35 students on the diploma in Social Development work graduated from the Institute.

• The IUW staff are working very hard in promotional work to introduce the courses offered at the Institute through media and distributing flyers promoting available courses.

• The IUW also received relevant and recent books donated through an appeal organised by Mr. Keith Holland, Glenfall Fellowship, U.K. and Professor Alice K, USA. The books are appropriate especially for the revised curriculum.
• 3 new staff filled vacancies recently: Academic Dean, Admin and Finance Head, and a Secretary.

New books on the shelves of the IUW library

Report on 2011 ICUC Conference

Inter Church Urban Concern (ICUC)

The Inter-Church-Urban-Concern (ICUC) held its Congress on August 27, 2011 with the presentation of Dr. Wayne “Coach” Gordon, President of Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), Chicago, USA. CCDA is an ICUC partner. The major objective of the congress was to hear “Churches response for the Homelessness”. During the Congress after different denominational groups (Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic Churches) represented their churches by leading the programmes with worship and prayers. ICUC’s background history, and the challenges faced in the 17 years of ICUC were presented. When focusing on the homelessness issue it was relevant to give background facts and figures of present socio-economic status of Addis Abeba – that was done by Professor Tegene G/Egizabher, Chairman of IHA-UDP Board of Directors.

Dr. Wayne Gordon, as a key note speaker, gave a talk basing his subject on “Who is my neighbor?” from Our Lord’s important parable of the Good Samaritan. A short film was presented to give some ideas of the hardship of the life of the homeless in Addis Abeba. A very interesting session followed with interactive discussions which ended by closing the conference with an appeal to all the Trinitarian church representatives to contribute towards the maintenance of the Empress Zewditu’s tomb which is offered by the Orthodox Church as the first exemplary transitional shelter for the homeless. It is hoped to house upto 60 beneficiaries. Around 70 people participated in the congress. Dr. Wayne Gordon closed the half day conference with prayers.

Wayne Gordon presenting at ICUC

Details for 2011 UK Supporters Day

A message from Keith Holland of Glenfall Fellowship:

This years meeting will take place on Saturday 22nd October, and will be held at Holy Apostles Hall, Cheltenham between 10.30 a.m. and 3.00 p.m (coffee will be available from 10.30).  As usual, Jember will be joining us for the day, along with members of her family, and telling us more about   events in Addis Ababa, and giving us information for prayer. Lunch and refreshments will  be provided by folk from Glenfall Fellowship, and there may be an opportunity to buy products from the workshops in Addis – just right for early Christmas presents.

Please could I ask you to let me know if you are able to attend, to help with catering and planning? You can either e-mail me at keithholland@keithholland.co.uk or drop me a line at this above address:  

1, Carisbrooke Drive, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL52 6YA

If you have any information regarding trips to Addis during the past year, do please also let me know – and bring any images with you as well that you might like to share with others!

 

Holy Apostles Hall is very easy to find, being located on the A40 just past Charlton Kings, on the way from the East side into Cheltenham centre, and on the junction with the A417 (Cirencester Road). There is plenty of parking on site.

I very much look forward to meeting you in October, and catching up with the news from Ethiopia

best wishes

Keith Holland

Shoe-shine Boy Creates Charity for Orphans

By John Massink

Shoe-shine boy, Tesfahun, living in the poorest area of Addis Ababa, is running a charity supporting children orphaned through HIV/AIDS after being inspired by the IHA-UDP project.

Tesfahun’s mother died when he was 12, he never met his father and he was only formally educated to a primary level.

Of that time he says, “My life was very disturbed. I cried. I had no family, no one to help me, no future, school, food or clothes . . . then God gave me Sister Jember”.

Sister Jember, and the IHA-UDP project she established, had an important impact on Tesfahun. Her roots, background and social status could not have been more different than Tesfahun’s but her values and the aims of the project staff, working in close partnership with his community, meant that his attitude towards his future and his potential would change.

The project, “gave me a box for shoe shining after my mother died and whenever I did Jember’s shoes she paid well and encouraged me”. Of that time, he explains, “I began to understand that God is my father and mother and my mind was changed. I asked God to change my life and I wanted to tell other people who felt they were destroyed and bad.”

“I want to help others and with the work and the support of others in the family of Jesus, I can do more,” he said enthusiastically in 2003.

Tesfahun was formally educated to the equivalent UK stage of Year 6. He has no qualifications, no paid employment, lives in a single roomed, corrugated house. He was inspired and encouraged by the project which enables the local community to construct housing, provide education and health care and develop social support networks for all ages.

As a consequence Tesfahun became determined to make a difference for others. In 2006 he gathered together volunteers, who had skills in social work, medicine, accountancy and management to help children orphaned through HIV/AIDS. After going through the necessary administrative cooperation with the local authorities he set up a project known as Growth for AIDS Orphans (AfGAO).

This project is now helping nearly 200 orphaned children with education, food, clothing, mentors and health care.

Tesfahun continues to live where he grew up. He is now furthering his education and skills through a course at the Institute for Urban Studies established through IHA-UDP to promote urban development work. A UK charity, HandinHand (www.handinhandethiopia.org), is focused on specifically supporting AfGAO.

CRED team visit project

For a number of years, Cred Foundation (www.cred.org.uk) has taken teams of UK young people and youth workers to serve IHA-UDP in their work with children and young people in the slums of Addis Ababa. This video is from October 2009, where a team of 27 delivered an amazing week of activities for children and young people with special needs – it focuses on the experience of team members as they make a difference one person at a time.

A report on the 2010 UK Supporters Day

A report on the 2010 IHA-UDP annual supporters meeting

2^nd October, hosted by Glenfall Church at Cheltenham

By Arthur Champion

About 40 friends gathered from all over the UK on a glorious autumn day to hear news directly from Jember, pray together and strengthen the supporters’ network.

Welcome	Keith Holland
A recent trip	John Massink	John told how Tesfahun (born in 1981 and who grew up in CBISDO area and who was a shoe shiner (street boy). He was a beneficiary of IHA-UDP sponsorship programme. He completed high school, and recently he has been inspired to bring together various professionals who are now caring for some of the city’s thousands HIV/AIDS orphans. John showed a slide inside the boy’s home and this quote: “One day I hope to have a chair so people can sit and we can talk about Jesus and read the Bible together. Tesfahun’s “Hand in Hand” project gives practical support for the social and medical needs of about 100 HIV/AIDS orphaned children.
CRED	Simon Paylor	Since starting at CRED about six years ago Simon has become Director. He is running trips for young people to Kenya and India and Ethiopia. Simon showed a lively video of 27 children visiting the project and caring for CBISDO (Ex-IHA-UDP) children with mental disabilities.
Jember’s update	Dr Jember Teferra	Points for prayer: IHA-UDP has built over 2000 houses in the past 20 years. IHA-UDP is the only NGO committed to building condominiums despite difficulty in planning and other practical issues eg. The poorest of the poor now live in better conditions, in homes fit enough for human habitation, than some of the slightly better off community members. CBISDO Clinic is currently run by a part time Health Officer who has replaced Dr. Getachew. HIV/AIDS programme is struggling with financial shortfall – please pray for concerned donors. Sponsored children only get one meal a day and many children who feel that their younger brothers and sisters even get less are bringing them to the feeding center to share their lunches – if this continues, sadly they will unfortunately be under fed. Substantial funding via Comic Relief needs a new partner since they do not fund directly (only through British Partners Channeling) Christian partners have been contacted – although Glenfall offered, but the new head of the People Living in Urban slums funding desk has made it very difficult. Requested the supporters to pray for wisdom to handle sponsorship issues in the future.
Lunch	Annie Green and friends	Technicolour soup which tasted very nice! Group photo outside the hall.
Family news	Workneh	Workneh has a new job with a big law firm. Father’s autobiography is due for publication in English version hopefully in 2011. Tata is in full remission and runs Koochu handbag business http://koochu.com/ Jemima has started nursery and Nikkita is going to study at John Moore University in Liverpool and the girls are doing well. Dr. Memmenasha and Joseph have a new baby boy, Meba, born on 31/8/10 in London-Praise God, they are doing well. Sister “Puppy” is caring for refugees and ethnic minorities in Manchester whilest finalizing her Masters at Manchester University next year.
Financial report	Chris Hughes	Reported that there is £28,000 in an endowment fund and £13,500 in a saving account.
Library books	Keith Holland	Keith has used Amazon Marketplace to purchase £25k worth of books for one tenth the cost! DHL are shipping them next week for the Institute of Urban Workers.
Light for our Path	Kate Hughes	Kate edits this book of Bible notes: International Bible Reading Association (IBRA) with contributors from 45 countries including Jember whose contribution, next year, is in the last week of January 2011. The book costs £8.50 per copy. http://www.eden.co.uk/shop/light-for-our-path-2546079.html
Prayer	Small groups	A special time.
Liz Scotland – a tribute	Jember Teferra	Jember spoke movingly about her dear and special long time school friend Liz Scotland, from Clarenden school who passed away in June. She paid tribute as well as thanking her very much for many many different issues as well as her role in making Glenfall Church Support to IHA-UDP, at first, though her husband Nigel who was a Pastor.
The Grace	Everyone	A nice evening to travel home

People move into new condominiums

The Project has now completed its first condominium block, providing new homes for people in the current project area.  The block includes 40 apartments, which can accommodate individuals and families – including people with physical needs, the elderly, and large families.

The block has now been connected to the city’s utility services, and the beneficiaries are moving in, ready to begin a new stage in their lives.  Until now they have been living in ‘transit housing’, following the demolition of their previous sub-standard homes.

Each apartment includes kitchen and bathroom facilities, if the occupants wish to pay for water and power.  The block also includes more traditional communal facilities – such as clothes washing stands, latrines, and a wood-fire cooking area.  This means that the residents can also choose to live in a more traditional (and lower-cost) way if they wish.

You can see for yourself in the short video below, and share the sense of celebration!

Short video now on DVD

The short film, ‘An Introduction to IHAUDP’, is now available on DVD.

The film was produced several years ago by Glenfall Fellowship, and is a great way to introduce the project and its work to schools, churches, or other groups.  In a simple way, it explains how the project works and how YOU can make a difference.

If you would like a copy, just email Ben Booth: b_r_booth@hotmail.com

The film has also been released through YouTube.  You can see it right here!