The Hippo in the Room

If you wake up really early, say about 5:30am, and head out to "the beach" at Lake Langano you'll see one the most amazing/scariest thing you'll ever see up close, Hippos. The crazy part is that there is no fence between you and this behemoth. You just have to hope that if they charge, you can run faster than whoever else is with you (just kidding). The hippo, found today throughout sub-Saharan Africa, is considered by many experts, explorers and Africans to be the most dangerous animal in Africa (not counting the mosquito). The hippo has killed many more people than Africa's lions have.

When we talk about orphans in Africa there is a hippo in the room...and that hippo is... AIDS. Worldwide, there are an estimated 16 million AIDS Orphans. Of that number, 11.6 million live in sub-saharan Africa (that’s over 77%).

The House of Hope in Langano Ethiopia is interfacing with the Orphan problem in sub-saharam Africa. This is a place where Ethiopian babies who have lost their mothers are taken care of. This is the way it works: The baby’s father goes to the House of Hope along with a female relative who will be willing to raise the baby after he/she (<--baby) leaves House of Hope. The House of Hope will care for the babies until they are around 7-8 months old when they can survive solid food, they return them to their families.

And then there is HOPE.

That's almost twice the population of Jamaica, my home country. According to UNICEF these orphans will eventually learn to live on the streets. They won't have access to basic rights such as proper care, education, psychological support and supervision. Often, orphans and other vulnerable children are forced to work to earn an income. They are exposed to various forms of exploitation, including sexual exploitation.

Last year I went to Langano, an area in Southern Ethiopia with a medical and construction crew and was introduced to the House of Hope Orphanage. They are working to help stop this cycle at infancy. They provide food and health care for babies after their mothers have passed away. The compound itself includes a school, farm, campsite for young children and a medical clinic. Of these projects one of the biggest needs is the House of Hope Orphanage. 

One of their greatest needs today is funds to purchase baby formula whose price has skyrocketed over the last year. An average baby needs around 3-4 tins of formula a week. This adds up in a hurry. To supply a baby with formula for a week they need $40 dollars. For a month they need $160 per baby.

We are determined to help. Keep in contact with us or check out our shop on ...