PLEASE ALWAYS CHECK THE POLITICAL CONFLICT IN EACH COUNTRY BEFORE TRAVELING. Make sure you check several venues, not only one’s own country of origin, at times there is a political agenda (not always). The type of conflict might or not be a deciding factor for traveling.
Addis Ababa is cosmopolitan and you get a taste of it when you hear people from Ethiopia speaking their different languages. It is also an international hub so you will hear a lot of different languages however most foreigners live in the neighborhood called BOLE.
Ethiopia is a wonderful country where learning can go beyond what anybody can dream about. However, due to the financial and social situation of the country, volunteering here can be very challenging. I would highly recommend doing serious research before volunteering here.
Explore and gather information regarding the location or municipality and space where you will be dedicating your time as a volunteer, the nature of the organization you will be affiliated with, its funding sources, any fees they may require from you, and the proportion of those fees that truly benefit the organization. It is astonishing to discover that numerous countries demand exorbitant fees for volunteer opportunities, acting as intermediaries or travel agencies, while only a small portion of those funds actually support local initiatives.
For more on ethics, you can see my posts on Issues in Volunteering
VOLUNTEER ADDIS ABABA
FEKAT CIRCUS
Addis (short for Addis Ababa) is a bustling metropolis with numerous organizations dedicated to addressing the various needs of Ethiopians, particularly in the areas of children and poverty. However, amidst this vast landscape of assistance, there is one exceptional individual effort that deserves special recognition.
Fekat Circus, situated in the heart of Addis Ababa, is not just your ordinary circus school. It is a culturally independent institution that not only showcases breathtaking performances but also imparts valuable skills and actively engages in community work.
Fekat Circus, situated in the heart of Addis Ababa, is not just your ordinary circus school. It is a culturally independent institution that not only showcases breathtaking performances but also imparts valuable skills and actively engages in community work.
One of the highlights of Fekat Circus is the African Circus Arts Festival, a grand event that extends its reach beyond Ethiopia, captivating audiences both domestically and internationally.
Moreover, Fekat Circus places great emphasis on serving the community. Through their SMILE Medicine project, performers visit hospitals to bring joy and provide health education, leaving smiles on the faces of patients.
For those seeking accommodation, Fekat Circus offers a limited number of rooms for a fee. However, it is advisable to conduct thorough research on the surrounding area before making a booking. The Woreda district may not be suitable for everyone, as some individuals prefer a more diverse/international environment until they become accustomed to their surroundings. Nevertheless, Fekat Circus is more than willing to assist in recommending nearby accommodations, ensuring seamless access to their captivating performances.
What can you do there? help with daily tasks, play with the kids, help the management, and assist with tasks needed. You will need to have your own money to pay for housing and your expenses but what you will learn will be invaluable! these folks are great people and I highly recommend them.
VOLUNTEER BAHIR DAR
RISPIN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
These schools are such a treat for anyone serious about volunteering at a place that respects the national curriculum and yet connects the school to the world to be a participant of the world. There is a librarian who makes sure students have access to what is needed and she is also a sportswoman representing the region in basketball. Need I say more?? inspiring to all.
What type of work? from teaching, classroom assistant, tutoring, helping administrators, marketing, online work, you name it. All help is needed nonetheless, the school will let you know what type of work will be needed.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERS AT THE RISPIN SCHOOLS
PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ARE WELCOME TO VOLUNTEER however:
YOu can volunteer as a Teacher if you have completed your degree, an intern if you have not completed a college degree, and an expert. An expert is a highly qualified person in the field who can help consult with the school to assist them in reaching a higher level.
VOLUNTEERS MUST STAY A minimum of 3 months. VOLUNTEERS ARE PREFERABLE WHEN THEY CAN STAY LONGER SUCH ASa 6 months
(their school terms are a semester) and or a year. Since it is a full-time school, the place would like to have volunteers who can be there longer term to have an impact on their work. Being able to stay longer term helps the place not to overload its staff with extra duties; having someone new on board who is not familiar with the language and the culture always takes a toll on a place.
WHAT THE SCHOOL OFFERS VOLUNTEERS
Assistance with logistics for your arrival, accommodations placement in a home or an apartment or a homestay, and one field trip per semester. The intern needs to cover all transportation costs to and from the site. Please read the volunteer section of this site for more information.
An extended stay as a volunteer, in particular in an education venue, allows the intern to learn much more and to feel more of a resource. As with most international organizations, you will have to support yourself while volunteering paying for your housing and meals. However, there might be some help available but it will be minimal, Ethiopia is a very poor country with low resources.
As a Ph.D. in Administration and Policy International Development Higher Education, I was incredibly happy to see what they do in a progressing nation/country. As I always say, respect and acknowledgment of what a country has to offer is the first step to unity and understanding.
Donations
Donating books, school supplies, clothing, and most importantly shoes are a great help to the schools. The school has a library run by a dedicated librarian
The librarian at the school in Bahir Dar
The place not only is a school but also a place where many get help. There is a much-needed wheelchair workshop where workers fix all types of wheelchairs, walkers, and bicycles for the ones in need. Any bicycle, wheelchair, walker, tools, etc that can contribute to the workshop will be welcome. Please check with them first before sending any type of donation so that they receive what you wish to send.
This is where the workshop got started
Ann Rispin, Director, with the person in charge of the workshop
Donations of money destined for one of their causes will most definitely be welcome. The School at present is run by some folks from the UK who are true gems.
WARNING: when you donate, you directly contact the two school owners and prepare a detailed list of what you have and they will respond on how and what you can donate. Unfortunately, as in many other places in the world, not all donations arrive where it was intended so make sure you are aware of your helpful donations.
THE GRACE CENTER
This amazing place takes a holistic approach to helping impoverished families and underprivileged children. The Center cares for many orphans and children in need. The Grace Center has several programs to help parents and children and it also provides much-needed medical care for people in need.
The center works in programs for orphan prevention. Orphan prevention programs are initiatives aimed at preventing people from abandoning their children. However, most of the children at the center found at the center have been abandoned.
The center offers a feeding program, baby daycare, and other free daycare so that children can be raised with their families and yet have the support needed. There a schools and special needs classes to educate students according to their special differences.
In addition, the center provides business opportunities with small business programs to help find work such as the making of bread so that mothers or fathers in need can sell them. Women empowerrment Here is a clip of
Some of the best ways to support the Center
Donations: money is always needed to cover such extensive work., anytime and any amount.
Buying crafts and jewelry made by Ethiopian women who are in need, deaf of hearing, and with some disabilities. Here are some items I got!!
Supporting the small businesses the center creates to help these women to support themselves. It helps people to live with dignity by staying away from day labor that is very hard such as picking up rocks, etc.
Sponsoring a child: sharing what one has with someone new is a true gift. Sponsoring helps break the cycle of poverty giving opportunities for growth and self-worth.
The Grace Center also offers vocational programs to provide the parents with skills to find a job.
See the wonderful work people do here and see how you can help. Remember; if we don’t confront difficulties, we will not see what is great ahead for more information see here. https://gracecenterfoundation.org/
VOLUNTEER LALIBELA
Due to the popularity of Lalibela, many organizations help with poverty and development in different capacities.
I suggest if you are from the USA or not, The Lalibela Fund. This amazing non-profit organization works with programs in extreme poverty, health, hunger programs, and education among others. One of the highlights here is that they support and welcome retired folks with different levels of expertise. There are limited spots but you can find out more here
Another organization in Lalibela is
Caution: Exercise extreme caution when selecting a volunteering opportunity. Numerous organizations have transformed into profit-driven enterprises under the guise of “volunteering,” demanding exorbitant fees from volunteers. Although overseeing volunteers is a task in itself (refer to my previous posts on volunteering), bear in mind that a worker’s basic salary typically amounts to approximately $60 per month. Therefore, factor in accommodation, meals, and placement costs to determine whether the fee they are charging for placement is reasonable or not. Utilize your funds judiciously to ensure that your contribution reaches those who truly need it, rather than lining the pockets of a “nonprofit” business.
