My personality or demeanor is: active, friendly, generous
My favorite toy: ball, dolls, jump rope
My favorite activity: draw-color pictures, group games, jump rope or skipping rope
Chores I do around the house: assisting my parent(s) with their work, running errands, washing dishes
The most important person(s) in my life is: my mother
I am thankful for: God
When I am grown, I want to be: Construction, Engineer
Being part of the Hope Center has changed my life by: giving me confidence, offering me the opportunity to continue my education, providing me with food
The Child Champions at the center are meaningful to me because: they are always happy to see me, they give me hope, they love me
Favorite activity at the Hope Center: being with my Child Champions, being with my friends, playing hide-and-seek
The Kebena Hope Center is located in an area that struggles with HIV/AIDS, unaffordable medical care, and forced child labor. Despite these challenges, area families feel blessed to have a global community of Child Champions who dedicate themselves to seeing the next generation grow and thrive. By listening to the specific needs of local children, these loving adults are equipped to provide them with individualized care, a chance to succeed, and hope for a better future.
Located in eastern Africa, Ethiopia is bordered by Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya. Ethiopia is the second most populated country in Africa and consists of an area almost twice the size of Texas. A mountainous country, the heart of Ethiopia is a high plateau region surrounded by lowland deserts. It is cut by many rivers and valleys, including the Blue Nile, which originates in Ethiopia. Coffee plays a large role in Ethiopian culture; according to local Oromo tradition, Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. Ethiopia has more than 70 ethnic groups and as many tribal languages; the major spoken languages are Amharic, Tigrigna, and Oromo. HIV/AIDS is rampant, contributing to high infant mortality rates.