Help and True Hope in Action

The Adera Feeding program begins with food but goes way beyond that; it is an onramp into the lives of children and their families to bring help and true hope. Derartu joined the feeding program in the fall. She is in grade one although she is a young teen. She came from the countryside, and often they do not know their birth date or age. She came to Addis Ababa to live with her aunt, to help her in her home, and to be given the opportunity to attend school.

One day Derartu was helping her aunt by chopping wood for the fire. As she shared her story, tears filled her eyes, and in her broken Amharic, she told how previously a chip of wood had flown into her eye. She was rushed to a nearby health clinic, but they knew it was beyond their care, and they quickly moved her to the local hospital. There she received treatment, but sadly the doctor was not able to save her eye. Derartu was devastated. She was blind in one eye and became very self-conscious of how people viewed her. The physician recommended eyeglasses to protect the eye from bright lights and to help offset others’ perception of her abilities. Derartu’s aunt contacted Adera to see if there was a chance that we could provide the recommended glasses. Adera purchased the glasses which made Derartu so excited and feel as though her eye were back to normal. She now has confidence about her eye, and her friends do not even notice the injury but only her stylish eye wear.  

Derartu and her aunt are very grateful for Adera’s program. It provides Derartu daily lunch, but even

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel

you with my eye upon you.”

Psalm 32:8