2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Dear Inspire Ethiopia Supporter
For our young organization, Inspire Ethiopia (IE), 2019 has been a remarkable year to remember! Thanks to the dedication and generosity of our donors, IE has already started making a difference in peoples’ lives and has laid the groundwork towards achieving its larger mission during the year. We highlight some of its accomplishments so far.
Phase I of the Wadeye school rehabilitation and expansion project has been completed. Now 370 primary school students are able to pursue their education in a brand new school building.
IE has initiated professional development and training for the teachers and school administrators in a bid to build capacity and improve the quality of education.
During summer 2019, the IE founders traveled to Ethiopia and visited the Yekmene Primary School located about 10 miles south of Wadeye. To help address the dire shortage of books in the school, they purchased 250 new reference books for the school library.
The IE team also visited Yaberus High School in Wolkite and met with students from Unity for Success Youth Group which comprises a select group of high achieving students (similar to the “Gifted and Talented” program in the USA). The group has peer-to-peer tutoring and mentorship programs. The IE team provided over 300 reference books to the school library and is committed to continue working with the Unity for Success Youth Group by supporting their mentorship program.
In July 2019, the team participated in the Green Legacy Initiation of Reforestation Campaign in Ethiopia by joining a group that planted 15,000 trees in Neshe Village near Aghenna in Gurage Zone.
IE has sent volunteers to Ethiopia for 5 weeks to work at ABET Trauma Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with an American physician, Dr. Rick Hodes. IE volunteers assisted Dr. Hodes as he treated patients with spinal deformities and heart disease, as well as a variety of other rare medical issues. Most of these patients are impoverished children from rural areas. In 2007, Dr. Rick Hodes was recognized as a CNN Hero for his outstanding service in Ethiopia.
In September, IE raised funds and purchased an electric Wheelchair for Habtamu, a 22 years old paraplegic man who had limited mobility. Since he received his new wheelchair, his mobility has improved significantly. Habtamu attended a vocational school as a mobile phone repair technician and earned his Mobile Phone Maintenance and Repair Certification. He has now opened a small mobile phone repair shop in Addis Ababa and has become economically independent.
IE also helped three young boys ages 9, 11, and 14 who had dropped out of school and went to Wolkite City from rural areas to earn a living shining shoe. Now, with the support of IE, these children are enrolled in primary school. IE has also assigned mentors to guide them with their day-to-day challenges.
It is only with your help that it has been possible for IE to provide the above -listed services. We deeply appreciate your support and commitment to advance our organization's mission of helping the underserved population of our world. Education is the only chance to break the vicious cycle of poverty and the opportunities for a better future.We are energized and inspired to continue our journey of making a difference in peoples’ lives one project at a time!
Thank you. All those who have benefited by your generosity and support thank you.Stay safe!
Sincerely,
Hibst Melesse Nitkin
Chairperson, Inspire Ethiopia Board of Directors