Bole Bulbula Community Based Children's Project

Children’s House International
Host – Abdissa Benti Leye
Ethiopia Country Representative
chieth@ethionet.et or abdissabenti@yahoo.com

Bole Bulbula Community Based Children’s Project

Bole Bulbula is a small community located just outside of Addis Ababa 5 kilometers from the ring road surrounding the city. The group first visited a community school providing classrooms and teachers for 73 children within walking distance.

The children’s project was initiated two years ago in response to the overwhelming need for educational support in the area. School-aged children and their families in this community were unable to pay the $10/month in school fees or buy uniforms for the Addis public school system. A few literate volunteers began meeting with eager children and created an informal school. With help from the local government and volunteers the community built a small school house (see photo) from metal sheds and donated concrete and equipment. The teachers are all local volunteers who receive some in-kind support from the community.

The income generating activities viewed during this visit were some of the lowest paying available in Addis – collecting and selling grass, wood or dung to sell as fuel. The children and animals were thin and we were informed that many families are only able to eat one meal each day or rotate access to meals. This is also a community affected by HIV/AIDS but gathering that information was very difficult. Jon and I met with the local pastor privately behind his home where he told us that some community members have died of AIDS and left orphaned children. When we asked what happened to these children he explained that extended family members took them in.

The school project was quite obviously receiving less funding than other projects visited during the week. The school is not able to hire trained teachers with lesson plans and so each teaching volunteer creates lesson plans and activities herself. They reported struggling with finding school supplies and are in need of books, pens, pencils, and paper. Limitations on regular attendance include a 2 hour round trip walk for some children, caretaking of younger siblings, distraction created by hunger, and embarrassment over torn or dirty clothes.

The local pastor has moved into the community and appears to be a catalyst for mobilizing community response to children in need. He reported collecting clothes for children in need and has coordinated a children’s choir. He hosted the group in his home/chapel for a small discussion time. The pastor explained that hope is good for education and that the community has hope for funding that could expand the school from its current 2 classrooms as well as build a dedicated chapel on site.


Feel free to share your own thoughts on this visit.

I don't think at the time we realized it would turn out to be one of the poorest projects we would visit. It seemed pretty grim when we were in the classroom looking out at all of those serious faces (so different from other smiling classrooms later.) But later, interacting with the mothers and their children in the play yard I was struck, as I always am, by the power of a mother's love. The women wanted me to take pictures of them with their groups of children or babies and they delighted in each photo. There's nothing that can replace that pride a mother has for her children. It really transformed some of the sadder scenes of torn clothes and hungry stomachs for me. While those physical needs are still there, for some of the children at least, the fullness of love is obviously present.