EBCC Ethiopia

Last summer I spent a month in the southern capital Awassa in Ethiopia. I volunteered with a grassroots non-profit Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) called EBCC (Edget Baandnet Children Center). Edget Baandnet meaning- Growth Together.

EBCC aims to help disadvantaged children, mainly HIV-AIDS orphans in Ethiopia- one of the poorest countries in the world. The mission is to empower children by integrating them into schools, labour markets and most importantly into a stable home surrounded by love and hope. The overall aim is to prevent children from a life on the street with physical and emotional abuse.

We were a group of 14 volunteers (6 from overseas and eight local volunteers) who co-ordinated a summer camp programme through EBCC. A total of 250 children were registered four our camp. We arranged nine different classes for the kids to attend: Cooking, English, Basketball, Photography, Aikido, Circus, Football, Music and Art.
Prior to our departure to Ethiopia we arranged a fundraising event in the UEL SU Bar, to raise money directly to the NGO and spread information about the work of EBCC and the need for monthly donors.

My NGO placement in Awassa, Ethiopia enhanced my knowledge and character in many ways. I gained a broader understanding of the foundations of civil society and management of third-sector organisations. As most small NGOs, EBCC faces the challenges of being a non-profit organisation in a developing country, thus meaning existing within limited resources. The NGO is thriving, although still struggles to generate a sustainable income to cover all its expenses and develop its projects.

Working with children that have experienced destitution to an unimaginable extent, I reflected and evaluated my presence there, considering the short-/and long term effects our work would have. We wanted to do the summer camp as a way of diversifying our volunteer work, and being able to put our own curriculum into practice, to be innovative and contribute to the development of EBCC. Our goal was to try and give adolescents a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to experience different activities and develop/explore their talents. By teaching different courses, we wanted to strengthen their self-esteem and inspire them to believe and perceive a dream, which they feel responsible to achieve. The aim was that the different activities would offer a broader dimension of teachings and aspire to the kids in different ways.

It was a great opportunity to work with an NGO that invests in the lives of the children of Awassa, since they are the future of Ehtiopia, a nation challenged in so many ways.