About 50 friends of IHA-UDP found their way to the new venue at Holy Apostles Church Hall in Charlton Kings for the annual UK Christian Supporters’ Day. Glenfall Church hosted the event on 10th October 2009.

Supporters pay attention to a presentation
On arrival, name badges were provided and people chatted whilst browsing tables of CBISDO craft goods. Jember and several members of her family had arrived late on Friday night and stayed with Revd Dr Nigel and Liz Scotland. David and two of Jember’s nieces attended the supporters meeting; one from the USA who now lives in the UK.
10.40am Welcome and opening prayer
Keith Holland has kindly taken over organising the meeting from Arthur Champion (since 1995) and Keith welcomed everyone then opened with a brief prayer. By now we were running late but he joked that our agenda was based on Ethiopian time!
10.45am VIDEO: “Remember the Poor”
Jember was keen to show the video (2006), which gives a great overview of all the main projects. It certainly helped to set the scene for the rest of the day. The DVD is a high quality production and is available at £10 including P&P directly from Jeremy Thornton (0114 258 3887) at www.jftvideoproductions.co.uk. Bulk orders may qualify for a discount!
11.00am Jember Terferra – Current situation in Addis Ababa and an update on IHA-UDP
Single storey houses have been built for the past 20 years but the City administration’s new policy requires multiple levels many NGOs have decided to withdraw from house building. However, IHA-UDP has achieved the distinction of being the only NGO in Addis Ababa to have successfully built new homes with multiple levels! One of the highlights of this past year was the completion of IHA-UDP’s first condominium of 40 apartments, which are soon to be occupied by very poor families. However, these apartments are perceived as less than ideal for low-income families. Critics have mischievously called this a “slum in the sky” which has hindered receiving donations from Habitat for Humanity and others who have in the past given funds for house building. Jember showed slides of the official opening ceremony on 8th August. The task ahead is daunting since 500 new houses are needed in this one area alone! Jember described the battle she was having over the new legislation, which means that if more than 10% of funding comes from overseas then the NGO cannot get involved with Human Rights issues. However, from a Christian perspective poverty is justice issue. If Jember looses, this will have serious consequences for 2,000 school children, 500 old people and 150 children as well as adults with disabilities. So far about the legislation has not begun but when to time comes IHA-UDP is committed to keep to the original vision, mission and objectives (please pray for a softening of Govt hearts). The Eritrean Govt kicked out all the NGOs a couple of years ago. Ethiopia’s income from NGOs exceeds income from coffee exports so the new legislation could have adverse impact in many ways. (Similar laws are coming into other African countries and they all seem to be based on something called the “Paris Declaration”). At least the Institute for Urban Workers will not be affected as this comes under the Ministry of Education.
11.35am Coffee break
12.00 noon Steve Cahill – “The Spirit of the Poor” (new book)
This book presents Steve’s best pictures taken in Addis Ababa on several visits over the past 20 years with words and design by Ben Booth. Copies are available via the IHA-UDP website: http://www.ihaudp.org/
12.05pm Jane Hunt (PJ) – A personal reflection
Jane is one of Jember’s school friends from Clarendon (the name lives on at Monkton Coombe). She has made several trips to Addis Ababa including 1969 and 1983. She spoke movingly about her visit at Epiphany 2009 to the world famous rock churches at Lallibela. Jane has learnt much from the Coptic Church. Her love for children with disabilities was very evident eg. taking out gifts of puppets and masks.
12.35pm Prayer
Keith organised us into three groups and Jember offered some pointers for prayer.
1.10pm Lunch
During our informal discussions Mike Bennett kindly offered to coordinate a London-based supporters group. In the same way Paul Buxton is interested in starting up a similar group for the South Coast. If anyone in these areas has any objections to their e-mail address to Mike and/or Paul please let Arthur Champion know by 22nd November.
2.15pm Ben Booth – News about the website
The look and feel of the website has been enhanced: http://www.ihaudp.org/
Further details are available from: b_r_booth@hotmail.com
2.30pm Chris Hughes – Financial report
This year some £41,000 has been sent out to IHA-UDP via Glenfall Church which includes £4,500 for a medical autoclave.
2.45pm Paul Wilson – an update on the child sponsorship scheme
2009 is the 20th anniversary of starting child sponsorship. Highlights with Life Church (Paul Wilson) over the past 10 years include:
2004 – 100th child sponsored
2006 – AHISDO scheme started by Debbie Lucas
2008 – first sponsored child graduated from university!
There is currently a need for sponsors for AIDS orphans. Further details are available from: paul.wilson27@virgin.net
3.00pm Workneh Heilegiorgis – The family
Jember is currently writing three books! Tow of her nieces attended the meeting; one from the USA who now lives in the UK. The family are clustered in London whilst Lelo is living in Manchester. By coincidence Memanasha was due to visit the UK in the next few days. Workneh also reported that his wife’s health had greatly improved.
3.20pm Tea break
3.45pm Simon Paylor – CRED Foundation
Once again Simon was leading a group of young people to Addis Ababa. Further details are available from: http://www.cred.org.uk/
4.00pm Closing prayer




“By going on this trip I have learnt that it’s the simple things in life that matter like family, friends and community and that it’s not all about material possessions. I have seen children that have absolutely nothing but still manage to have a smile on their face and children that get so excited about simple things like bubbles or a parachute. They had never seen things like this before and by being there for that week I may have changed their lives as well as mine. They will never forget me and I will never forget them because I built special relationships with them that are worth more than anything. They are the most kind and caring people in world and are willing to give up everything they have for us…can you imagine someone in England doing that?!
“One memory that I’m going to take away from my experiences in Ethiopia is when one little boy at the youth club offered me his meal when it was the only meal that he got in the day. He was prepared to give that up for me and that really made me think if they’re prepared to give up everything why are people over here so selfish when they have so much more!”