Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Child and Family Affairs Organization

(EOC-CFAO)

Annual Report 2011

Submitted to Kindernothilfe(KNH)

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church-Child and Family Affairs Organization (EOC-CFAO)

P.O.Box 30269, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251-11 1 23 27 50

+251-11 1 23 27 54

Fax: +251-11 1 23 27 55

E-mail: eoc-cfao@ethionet.et

Web: www.eoc-cfao.org

May, 2012

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia EOC-CFAO

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Table of Contents

Page

i. General Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2. Overview of implementation Status of KNH Funded Projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2.1 Institutional Care and Support Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2.2 Scholarship Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2.3 Community-based Child Development Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3. Main Achievements of the programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3.1 Foster ship program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3.2 Educational Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3.3 Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4. Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

5. Challenges Encountered and actions taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

6. Key Lessons Learned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

ii. Specific Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

7. Organizational Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

8. Program/ Project Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

9. Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

10. Monitoring and Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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i. General Report

1. Introduction

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church- Child and Family Affairs Organization (EOC-CFAO) was

founded by some compassionate and high ranking religious leaders of the Ethiopian

Orthodox Church in 1973 with the objective of helping out drought stricken compatriots

in the northern parts of the country. During all these years Kindernothilfe (KNH) has

injected, as a major funding and developmental partner, enormous amount of resources

to that effect. Likewise, tens of thousands of Orphan and other Vulnerable Children

(OVC) have directly or indirectly benefited from the intervention.

In the year 2011, the EOC-CFAO has, in collaboration with KNH, implemented a range of

activities and provided direct support to 1,915 OVC at 16 Child Care Centers (CCCs)

situated across the country out of whom 124 OVC received support through institutional

care program and 1,791 OVC received assistance through scholarship program.

Additionally, we were able to provide a range of services to the local community using

480 OVC as an entry point through Community-based Child Development project in

Mojana Wadera Woreda of the Amhara Regional State.

This report highlights major accomplishments of the various projects which are

exclusively funded by KNH, challenges encountered and lessons learned during the

reporting period.

2. Overview of Implementation Status of KNH Funded Projects

During the reporting period, the EOC-CFAO has exerted the greatest effort to ensure the

provision of appropriate services to deprived children and their caregivers through the

following three programs.

2.1 Institutional Care and Support Program

Under this program 124 children were provided with food, accommodation, clothing,

educational materials, medical care and treatment, psychosocial and other types of

support during the reporting period.

2.2 Scholarship Program

All beneficiary children and adolescents ( Youths) who live with their biological parents

or/ and members of the extended family as well as those who live alone or in group are

all included under the scholarship program. Also included under the above program are

children under the extended foster ship program i.e. children enrolled in higher

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institutions of learning and those attending Technical and Vocational schools. Likewise

during the reporting period 1,791 children in 16 CCCs have been assisted under the

scholarship program out of whom 1,584 of them each received birr 275.00 and each of

the remaining child (207) who lives alone or in group received birr 350.00 on monthly

basis to meet his / her basic necessities of life such as food, house rent, clothing and

educational materials. The children have as well received psychosocial support and

medical care and treatment.

Table 1: Number of KNH sponsored Children in the year 2011

2.3 Community-based Child Development Pilot Project

Community-based Child Development Project at Mojana Wodera Woreda of the Amhara

Regional state was initiated in 2010 as a pilot project with a principal objective of

supporting the entire community members using as an entry point 480 deprived

children in the project area. The objectives of the project are:

To improve access to and control over of basic socio- economic services for poor and

marginalized community members

Se. No.

Project

Number

Name of Child

Care Center

Location

(town/city)

Program Type Total

Re

ma

rk Scholarship Scheme

Institutional Care

Community Based Child Development

1 60001 St. Yared Axum 138 - - 138

2 60007 Mekelle Mekelle 335 64 - 399

3 60052 Apostle Paul Gondar 95 - - 95

4 60062 Debretabor Debretabor 136 - - 136

5 60086 Abune Petros Dessie 67 - - 67

6 60091 Genet Woldia 71 - - 71

7 60095 Korem Korem 97 - - 97

8 60102 Kombolcha Kombolcha 95 - - 95

9 60126/7 Bahirdar Bahirdar 164 20 - 184

10 60131 Felege Arz Debre Markos 43 - - 43

11 60156 Meal Meda Mehal Meda 55 - - 55

12 60171/2 Gethesemani Sebeta 20 40 - 60

13 60173/4 Genete Eyesus Addis Ababa 290 - - 290

14 60197 Hohite Mesrak Harar 91 - - 91

15 60215 Soar Metu 42 - - 42

16 60247 Goba Goba 52 - - 52

17 60198 Mojana Wodera Seladengay - - 480 480

Total 1,791 124 480 2,395

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Case Story 1

My name is Merhawit Tafere Seyoum

(60174/1431). I was born in 1989 in Addis Ababa.

I have one brother. I lost both of my parents

when I was a small child. Following the death of

my biological parents my uncle had taken the

responsibility of taking care of me. However, with

a small income and a large family to support, my

uncle could not afford the expenses of helping me

for quite a longer period of time. For this reason

at the age of seven I was enrolled at Genete

Eyesus KNH sponsored scholarship program in

1996. During my stay at the project I was

provided with financial, educational, medical,

psychosocial and similar types of support. After

having successfully completed my high school

education, In 2008 I joined the Addis Ababa

University and graduated with Bachelor of Arts

Degree in Sociology in 2011. I am now employed

and working for a Non-Governmental

Organization (NGO) in Jinka town of South Omo

zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and

Peoples Regional State. I would like to express my

deepest gratitude to all individuals and

organizations who have contributed to my

achievements. I also would like to thank the

entire staff of KNH, and that of EOC-CFAO’s staff.

Special thanks goes to my foster parents without

their wholehearted support my success would not

be true. Thank you all! God bless you all!

To increase & diversify households’

income through crop & livestock

production and productivity

enhancement , marketing , and facilitating

other income generating activities ;

To bring change on the knowledge,

attitude and practice of the community

about physical, mental, and spiritual

development of children

To strengthen institutional capacity of

CFAO, Community Based Organizations

(CBO), and other relevant stakeholders

To improve educational performance of

sponsored children in their education

To create awareness and bring behavioral

change of community members on

HIV/AIDS, HTPs, and Health.

In the reporting period the project office

has implemented a lot of activities In order

to achieve the desired objectives. Food

security, access to clean water, education,

HIV/AIDS and Harmful Traditional Practices

were the major thematic areas of the

project office. (Detail accomplishment

report of the Project is submitted to KNH)

3. Main Achievements of the programs

The following are the main achievements

attained by each of the programmatic

activity during the reporting period;

3.1 Foster ship program

Under institutional care 124 children

were provided with lodging, food,

educational materials and clothing;

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under scholarship program each of the 1,791 children was provided with monthly

allowance of birr 275.00 to meet his/her basic needs;

Program Directors and Project Leaders (Social Workers ) have conducted home

visit on monthly basis in order to learn the wellbeing of the children under the

scholarship program;

All the children were provided with psychological and psychosocial support by

pertinent staff members and other professionals on how to develop self-esteem,

positive attitude towards life, constructive behavior towards societal norms and

tackle challenges they may come across,

The children have taken part in the celebration of the Ethiopian new year,

Christmas, Easter and the African Child Day during which important and

educative messages were conveyed;

Tutorial Class

3.2 Educational Support

124 children under institutional care program were given out School uniforms

and scholastic materials;

Project staff of the respective Child Care Centers conducted a visit to schools,

Technical and Vocational institutions and universities on regular basis during

which time they oversaw school attendance and academic performance of 1,791

children;

Tutorial classes were arranged for a number of children on core subjects such as

Mathematics, Natural Sciences and English language to help them improve their

academic performance and curiosity;

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A range of meetings, conferences and pleasure trips have been organized by the

respective Child Care Center in order to get the children refreshed and perform

better academically;

At the end of their school year sponsored children who performed well

academically were offered different types of prizes;

The sponsored children were counseled by external mentors on how to perform

better academically;

677 sponsored children have attended technical and vocational schools;

Educational materials, training clothes and other essential items were procured

and distributed to the children who have taken part in technical and vocational

training programs;

Some of KNH sponsored University graduates of the year2011

Each of the trainee was provided with transportation stipend;

411 sponsored children have graduated from the various technical and vocational

schools / training institutions after they have successfully completed their

trainings;

All graduates of the technical and vocational schools were given out seed money

and essential objects to help them initiate profitable business enterprise,

Foster ship grant was paid out on quarterly basis to 312 sponsored children who

have been pursuing their studies at various public universities across the country;

60 sponsored children have successfully completed their studies and graduated

from various public universities across the country;

Each of the 60 children who has successfully completed his/ her studies in various

public universities across the country was given out birr 9,00.00 to buy clothes

and writing up of his/ her thesis;

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Each of the 60 children who has

successfully completed his/ her

studies and graduated from the

various public universities across the

country was provided with birr 800.00

to meet his/her basic needs until

he/she finds a job.

The majority of Child Care Centers

(CCCs) have organized ceremonies for

their respective graduating students

during which time they handed out to

same different awards;

3.3 Health Care

All the sponsored children received

medical care and treatment whenever

they got sick and sought the service.

Nevertheless, when the nearby health

care centers could not manage their

ailments, they referred the children to

EOC-CFAO’s hospital in Addis Ababa

for advanced medical care and

treatment;

All the children have received annual

medical check-up during the reporting

period;

Health education sessions have been

organized for the children and their

caretakers by their respective project

offices which mainly focused on

modes of HIV transmission,

environmental sanitation,

Reproductive Health (RH) and

personal Hygiene;

Case Story 2

My name is Dinberu Dessalegn (60174/1603). I

was born in 1988 in Alamata town of the Tigray

Regional State. I have five siblings i.e. 2

brothers and 3 sisters. I lost both of my parents

when I was a small child. Following my parents

death I started to live with my grandmother until

I was enrolled at Korem Child Care Center

(which is one of KNH funded projects) in 1996.

During my stay at Korem CCC, I was provided

with comprehensive support. After having

completed my high school education I was

transferred to Genete Eyesus project (NO.

60174) in 2009 to pursue my university

education. In July 2011, I have graduated with

B.A. degree in English Language. I am already

employed and currently working as a school

teacher in Jima town of the Oromia Regional

State. I am grateful to KNH for its unreserved

support. I also would like to convey special

thanks to my foster parents for their

unconditional supports.

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4. Communications

Relevant responses have been given to the various requests coming from the

sponsors through KNH’s sponsorship department;

Annual activity Implementation report was submitted to KNH on time;

All the sponsored children were able to exchange correspondence with their

sponsors throughout the year;

The sponsored children and the project offices have sent out to their

respective sponsors message of thankfulness for their gifts and donations.

Identity, transfer and leaving forms have been filled out by the relevant

projects and submitted to KNH by the Head Office.

5. Challenges Encountered and actions taken

During the reporting period there has been high staff turnover for better

salary and other benefit packages elsewhere. However, we have tried to

mitigate the problem by recruiting new employees.

The previously planned budgets of the Mojana Wodera Community-based

Child Development pilot Project was highly affected by price increase and

inflation in the country. In consultation with the local community, we have

attempted to apply various handling mechanisms to lighten the problem.

Because of the unprecedented rise in the price of all goods and services in

the country, the Child Care Centers the children who live alone or in group

have been experiencing a real challenge to meet their basic needs. But

thanks to KNH, the increment made to their monthly stipend in 2011 has

contributed a lot to partially ease the financial difficulties the children

have been facing.

6. Key lessons learned

We are able to obtain practical experience from the Community-based Child

Development project at Mojana Wodera that is currently under implementation. The

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project is serving as a demonstration site where the larger community can effectively

involve in all phases of project execution. Thanks to KNH, our long standing

development partner, the community in the project site is now working hard more than

ever to ensure food security, access to clean water, education, HIV/AIDS, conservation

of natural resources, and diversifying its sources of livelihood and dietary habits.

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ii. Specific Aspects

7. Organizational level

The EOC-CFAO has made major changes in its organizational structure during the

reporting period. Likewise, as per the newly enacted Charities and Societies

proclamation, the composition of members of the General Assembly should include not

only members of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church but also other

people who enjoy the respect and confidence of the community and Members of the

Management Board shall be elected from among members of the general assembly.

Accordingly, the General Assembly shall be established shortly in accordance with the

new proclamation.

8. Program / project Management

Staff members both at the head office and project level have taken part in a variety of

capacity building trainings and workshops during the reporting period. Some of these

trainings and workshops have been organized by partner organizations. Some of the

Issues and topics that were dealt with in the trainings and workshops were;

Basics of Child Psychology and Raring

Child Rights Protection

Monitoring and Evaluation ( M&E)

Grant Management

Online Funding Application

Harmful Traditional Practices

Vocational and Basic Business Management Skills

Life Skills

9. Networking

The EOC-CFAO believes that establishing network with like-minded organizations will

have significant contribution for the attainment of long-term strategic objectives. To

that end, the EOC-CFAO has strengthened its connection with existing consortiums and

forums. The EOC-CFAO is a member of the Consortium of Christian Relief and

Development Association (CCRDA), Orphan and Vulnerable Children Network of Civil

Society Organizations of Ethiopia and Interfaith Forum for Development Dialogue and

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Action (EIFDDA). Additionally, relevant staff members of EOC-CFAO have made visits to

a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) during which they acquired vast

and practical experiences on how these entities are operating and deal with challenges

they may encounter in the course of implementing their respective duties.

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

During the reporting period Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) visits have been made

by pertinent EOC-CFAO’s staff members on regular basis in order to assess activities

implementation status. During the visit the monitoring and Evaluation team has

identified some problems which it considered are hindering the successful

implementation of the projects and proposed that the respective Child Care Centers

should take corrective actions for the same.