Dear Donor Partners of Addis Hope,
As you can see this is a form letter done for the most part alphabetically, but you are in good company because, except for a few ringers, everyone listed is a donor partner of Addis Hope. Because I wanted to wish you and yours a Happy Easter on time, there is no way I could do so individually. As you have done so often in the past, I hope you will pardon this lack of personalization.
Recently, Addis Ababa has seen extraordinary infrastructure improvement in the construction of new roads and buildings, particularly condominiums. To construct these condominiums many of the crumbling houses in which our families live have been torn down. Some have managed to find temporary shelter with relatives while many others, as much as fifty percent, are now living in appalling conditions on the streets under plastic sheeting. Many of the tuition charging small schools in the area have closed because the families have been forced to leave but our displaced families now travel longer distances to keep their children in Addis Hope.
When the local authorities investigated this particular center they found a building in great disrepair, actually beyond decrepit, because it was all the rent we could afford. It would have suffered a similar fate as the others except that the students’ families staged their own little revolution. I mention this to show that the Addis Hope program is a lifeline for our children and their families, something the local authorities realized when they questioned the families and also saw the excellent school scholastic results. The center remains, This is a temporary relief to my colleague Ruth Girmay, myself and, of course, the extremely poor families.
The cost of running the Addis Hope program has now increased by 53% and when some long standing donor partners can no longer assist at the same funding level, I am extremely worried about the future of this much needed program. Your desperately needed financial support obviously continues to be our vital life line. The 150 Ethiopian dollars – the equivalent today of USA $9.00 we have been asking for the last ten years of the program to sponsor a child for a year makes it very difficult to keep the program operational in light of the huge increase in the cost of living.
As many of you have responded very generously to our Christmas appeal, I’m now asking if it would be possible for even more of you to do the same this Easter season by going to our web site (http://www.addis-hope.com/) to locate any additional “disposable income” for the program.
For the children of Addis Hope the program is intended to grow their minds to feed their future in a country where malnourishment of both the intellect and body is very evident.
Again, many thanks and may the risen Lord continue to bless you.
Brother Gregory Flynn (Jack)
Ruth Girmay
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Flynn, Bro. Gregory (MC1967)
[JR: I prefer charities that I can "see". In this case, I trust my fellow Jasper. Seems like a good "sacrifice" to make -- 9 bucks. Little more than a "designer" beer at any place other than a dive. For a year! Seems like a "good buy".]
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