EveryChild
4 Bath Place
Rivington Street
London
EC2A 3DR
T +44 (0)20 7749 2468
F +44 (0)20 7729 8339
Ethiopia
Country overview
Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 98% of the population struggling to survive on little more than £ 1 a day. The country is plagued by acute food shortages, poor healthcare and inadequate sanitation systems. A staggering 13% of children are without one or both parents (source: Unicef).
HIV/AIDS is devastating families: nearly one million children have been orphaned. Extended families are struggling to care for more children and the disease has put enormous pressure on an already fragile healthcare system.
The Government is making considerable efforts to apress the needs of vulnerable children; however, these needs simply exceed available resources. There is often little access to education for children, and even those with access may be forced to work to help supplement their families' income. Sometimes children are abandoned because their families simply cannot afford to look after them. The rise in the numbers of children living on the street has led to an increase in child prostitution, trafficking, exploitation and abuse.
What are the key issues?
- Violence and discrimination against street children
- Access to basic services, like education
- HIV/AIDS
What is EveryChild's main focus?
- Non-formal education
- Strengthening the economic security of families
- Protecting street children and children in conflict with the law
How is EveryChild helping?
EveryChild works in partnership with a local organisation, Forum on Street Children-Ethiopia (FSCE), to protect vulnerable children and give them a safe and secure future to look forward to.
In collaboration with the police, we safeguard street children from abuse and exploitation. Before our intervention, children were mistreated on the streets and in police stations, and often locked up with adult offenders. With our support, FSCE began an awareness-raising programme with the police, using their radio stations and magazines. Child Protection Units now operate in police stations to ensure that all cases involving children are dealt with separately.
We also provide alternative, flexible education for working and street children who have left or never attended school (and tutorial support to those who need extra help who are not benefiting from a formal education). For adults, we offer practical support, too: savings and credit schemes for female-headed households and income generating activities help families lift themselves out of poverty.
As part of a drive to reduce infection rates of sexually transmitted diseases, we provide health education and counselling for students in a number of schools. We are also looking to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by building strong networks with organisations directly involved with HIV/AIDS prevention.