More photos from the Holiday Project in Ethiopia!

Thanks to AAI parent and volunteer extraordinaire Mandie Doak for these photos.  Mandie traveled to Ethiopia and organized the holiday celebrations for Layla House and our partner orphanages.  We couldn't do it without her dedicated efforts!

All the older children received a new toy and a traditional outfit as gifts from Santa.

New fancy cars for the KG boys were very popular items!

 

 Mary, Joseph and Jesus coming "on stage" for the annual Christmas pageant.

 The drama "chorus"

 Kindergartners enjoying their new clothes and toys

 Here comes Santa!

 The little girls loved their new dolls!

Images from the Holiday Project at Layla House

Our 2009 Holiday Project was a great success!  Thanks so much to our tireless volunteer Mandie Doak who spearheaded this effort from helping to fundraise to purchasing, wrapping and delivering all the gifts.  Our Santa was Jeff Goldenberg who was in Addis with his wife Naomi Kirtner to pick up their two new children that week.  He was a great sport to spend hours in the red suit under a hot sun giving every single child at Layla a gift. 

The babies participated in their traditional clothing!

A group of the older children even put on a drama for the young ones about the Biblical story of Joseph, Mary and the birth of Jesus.  

Christmas celebration in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Hi all, We just received this short report about the Holiday Celebration in Dire Dawa funded by contributions to the AAI Holiday Project. Thanks again everyone for making our Holiday Project the most successful ever. We should be getting a description and photos from the Layla celebrations soon.

**************

(group of sponsored children in their new clothes)


SHORT STATEMENT ABOUT CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION HELD IN
DIRE DAWA WITH THE SPONSORED KIDS

Adoption advocate international works in partnership with the Dire Dawa Administration women’s affair bureau and 41 children are included in our sponsorship program. Mainly those selected children are orphan and vulnerable who really needs our help and assistance. They have different backgrounds and passed through different misery in their life. Thus, the women’s affair bureau examined the problem and finally settles on working together with AAI to lessen the problem and brighten their future. We have been working jointly for three year and still AAI is supporting the needy ones.

(staff distributing the clothing to the sponsored students)

Currently the selected 41 disadvantaged children are being able to follow their schooling and lining up their future. Moreover by the money given from our office the children are pleasing their needs and making big efforts to get in touch with their long-term valued and esteemed ambitions. All of the sponsored children are very bright in their schooling. They are children with potential to see a better tomorrow. To keep the children move forward and at the bright spark A.A.I had a little gathering for Christmas with all our sponsored kids. Presents were given for the holiday and the children were thrilled to get their presents. We tried to make the present useful for the children thus; we enclosed clothing that will help them all through the year. There were also soft drinks, cookies and Christmas cake for the celebration and the children were eating, dancing & having a magnificent time. The ecstasies of the children were very pleasing too see and all of them were passing their appreciation to their sponsor families for the gift.

(top performing student cutting the celebration cake)

The program celebrated in the company of invited guests like community members, police officers, different government and non governmental organizations were at the program. We had also media coverage (Dire Television program).

In the mean time discussion was held about child trafficking in Dire Dawa city and how different concerning bodies have to play their part by focusing on the problem and get to the bottom of the crisis together in harmony. Since the issue was very concerning and broad the respected guests agreed to discuss the topic some other time.

Reported by: - Eyerusalem Tesfay
January 6, 2010

Holiday Celebrations in Ghana

In Ghana, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. In addition to our own children residing at Eban House, many more children benefitted from this year's Holiday Project donations. Anita Gillispie, AAI Ghana coordinator, sent in the description and accompanying photos of the celebrations that took place last week.



Mema Mo Afe Nhyia Pa!!!

"Merry Christmas, and May You Have a Blessed New Year!" This is the traditional greeting in Ghana this time of year. Christmas and New Year's are the two most significant holidays of the year in Ghana--both considered "religious festivals."

This year, through the generous donations to the AAI Holiday Project, four groups of children in Ghana had a very special holiday.

The small but thriving group of children benefiting from Family Preservation sponsorships received new clothes, shoes, socks and underwear, as well as a new toy, cookies, and soda. The families also received rice, oil, and other supplies in order to have a special Christmas dinner. Muna Saeed, administrator of Eban House in Ghana said, "The generosity of donors/parents has enabled AAI to make a difference in the lives of children through the humanitarian projects. Donors/Parents through AAI donated hundreds of dollars to support these less privileged children and their families. The plan of setting up humanitarian projects in Ghana will never go in vain. Rather bring up a smile in a child's face."




The Anaba Foster Home (a foster home that cares for about 10 foster children) received a large donation of everyday food, gifts for the children, and the supplies needed for a feast on Christmas Day. This home did not previously have a table and chairs to eat on. The house father was delighted to receive this special gift. The director of Anaba Foster Home said, "I want to thank you and the sponsors so much for this wonderful donation. The dining chairs are beautiful, as you can also see in the pictures. May our good Lord expand the life of AAI and all of us."

Charity Kingdom Orphanage (a small orphanage with mostly much older children) also received a very generous donation through the Holiday Project. At this home they received basic food items, gifts, and items needed for their Christmas feast. As you can tell from the photos, this is a home exploding with laughter and joy! The director of CKO said, "We really had a nice Christmas by the grace of God and by your help through Eban. We have got some goat, fowl, rice, oil and other things that helped for the Christmas. We have also appreciated the gifts for the kids received from Eban House. Thank you very much and love to you all out there."




And now for the festive holiday celebration at our own Eban House (where AAI currently cares for around 20 children in a semi-foster care environment). At Eban House the children all received new (beautiful!) hand-sewn clothes, new shoes and socks, and a few personal gifts to open. In addition, the staff members each received a large bag of rice for their holiday dinners, and material to make new dresses. The day at Eban consisted of going to church first thing in the morning. That was followed by a feast that included Goat, fufu and light soup, chicken and rice, cookies, sodas, and ice cream. The children decided upon the menu! Of course there was much dancing and game-playing after the Christmas dinner. Muna said, "The staff and children send their Christmas wishes to donors/parents and to you for their contribution towards the Christmas bonuses and parcels."

Holiday Project Update!

Hi friends,

We still have a way to go to reach our 2009 Holiday Project goal. To read more about the project and to contribute online, go to this link:

http://hosted.vresp.com/350477/c7f84c0ec6/617/1522730e18/

Below is an update from Mandie Doak, our Holiday Project coordinator:
*********************************
Hi Everyone!

Its that time again...

This week we raised $1640, bringing our total raised so far
to $9131. We still need to raise $12,499, to meet our goal. We still have a long
way
to go, but its coming along!

This week I have a challenge for you...

Last year, my then nearly 6 year old son, Leyton, searched every nook and cranny
of our home and cars, and came up with a little over $130 in coins that HE
dontated to the project. A few coins doesn't seem like much... until you add it
to the pot. I couldn't believe that he found that much laying around our house!

My challenge is to donate what you can.

Scrounge the couch cushions, empty the ashtray in your car... Turn in that extra
propane tank that's left over from summer... Can you go without your fancy coffee
for a day or two? How bout' a week? Can you pack your lunch this week? What
about having dinner 'in' this Friday, and watching a DVD from your collection
instead of the $15 movie at the theatre? Can you donate what you are doing
without this week, to the project? You'll be surprised how much you save, and
how much good it can do!

This is more than just a few gifts under a wilting Christmas tree on the soccer
field at Layla house... Help me to change lives forever...

Here is the weekly tally, and the updated #'s!

The breakdown is below...

Layla/Wanna/Opportunity House Kids
Goal $5700
Have $3570
Need $2130

L/W/O Caregivers/Staff
Goal $6570
Have $1400
Need $5170

OSP KIDS
Goal $4200
Have $1091
NEED $3109

Nazret Party
Goal $1000
Have $380
NEED $620

Mukatore
Goal $400
Have $280
NEED $120

Sele Enat
Goal $750
Have $390
NEED $360

Kidane Mihret
Goal $1000
Have $700
NEED $300

GHANA KIDS/CAREGIVERS
Goal $2010
Have $1320
NEED $690