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

• 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

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

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.

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.

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!

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!