EMMANUEL ORPHANS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (EODA)
and
CHILDREN OF THE WORLD (CTW)

Since arriving in Ethiopia on the 21st of June, I have been working with founder/director of Emmanuel Orphans Development Association and Children of the World non-profit, Catherine Miller, on various projects. Some of the projects I am working on or have already completed are; compiling information for the upcoming newsletter by taking photos of children who live in the Emmanuel orphanage, as well as interviewing and writing up their biographies to be published in the newsletter, writing up letters for different organizations on behalf of EODA, creating a formal brochure for both EODA and Children of the World, creating new intake documents including:

• parent/family history forms
• personal history forms
• child growth and immunization chart forms
• health history forms
• inheritance forms
• child school progress forms
• book reading progress charts

Catherine and I have spent two weekends in Wolliso, Ethiopia, a two hour drive from Addis Ababa where the orphanage is located. Here we visited with the children (took a lot of photos!) and worked on many various projects. In order to gain a better understanding of these programs I will provide you with some background information:

Emmanuel Orphans Development Association obtained its national certification from the Ministry of Justice as a relief and development association in 2005. The Emmanuel Orphans Development Association is primarily funded through the non-profit organization, Children of the World, as well as assistance from individual donors. EODA currently has 43 orphans that are living in the orphan village. EODA’s program provides love, shelter, food, clothing, public school education, after school tutoring, health care, HIV testing and treatment, life skills training, legal protection and advocacy, child rights and gender awareness, computer skills, animal husbandry and agricultural training.

In 2005, EODA expanded their after school program to include an additional 77 vulnerable children within Wolliso town, providing after-school tutoring, payment of school fees, school supplies, and uniforms.

EODA has clear and transparent financial accounting; a strong monitor and evaluation program. EODA currently works with the international NGO – Children of the World, governmental organizations, community leaders, schools, parents, and international and local volunteers, to strengthen their capacity to deliver quality service to the orphans and vulnerable children of the Wolliso, Ethiopia district.

We are currently working on a project proposal that will provide funding for the next five years to provide these services to an additional 100 children.