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.
- 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.
- ICUC – a short conference was held which has helped to cross the denominational divides for the sake of the poor.
- 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
- 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.
- 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
