Sekota Orphans & Widows Project
Sekota Orphans & Widows Project
by Life Center Ethiopia (LCE)
Life Center Ethiopia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves orphans, widows, and vulnerable women and children in Ethiopia. They are dedicated to regenerating hope, establishing freedom, creating sustainable self-reliance, and ensuring self-esteem by supporting and empowering this sector of society.
In addition to direct need-based support, Life Center is engaged in developmental initiatives such as, construction of schools and water wells, development of privately owned small-scale businesses and agriculture.
1. Statement of the Problem
Sekota is one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the Northern region of Ethiopia. With a population of 50,316 people, 35 percent live below the poverty line. As a result, people in Sekota are chronically food insecure. The informal business sector and micro-scale retail are the major livelihoods that provide a source of income and jobs for many people – particularly for poor single mothers (widows) in the towns. Additionally, the two-year civil war in 2020-2022 caused many women to be raped and widowed, increasing their need.
2. General Objective of the Project
To contribute towards the life improvement of orphaned children and poor single mothers/widows through a community-based approach in the target areas of Ethiopia to ensure the basic needs of food & nutrition, healthcare, clothing, education, and psycho-social support for 200 orphans in the coming 3 years.
3. Orphan care and support through sponsorship program
LCE provides food and nutrition, clothing, educational material, and medical aid to 58 orphans in collaboration with governmental health institutions. Of these 58 children, 30 are supported by our Global Orphan Relief partnership.
3.1- Monthly Financial & other Support
Emergency support was provided to 250 community members living in difficult situations in Sekota over the past three years.
Psychological support and follow-up evaluations were provided to 58 children.
Tutorial services were provided for 20 academically weak orphans which resulted in improved reading and comprehension skills.
Training on good parenting tactics was organized and delivered to 58 caregivers to benefit the orphan children in their care.
Three staff members are now employed at the Life Center Community Center in Sekota.
3.2- Project Impacts
Improved food security and nutrition within the 58 orphan households.
Improved school enrollment, attendance, performance, and progression due to the scholastic support of the project.
The emotional and mental well-being of the 58 orphans is tracked and monitored through the psychological support program.
An improvement in the parenting and communication skills of the caregivers/foster parents created a supportive and understanding environment for the children.
Increased access to food and higher quality nutrition.
3.3- Measures Taken to Ensure Sustainability
The project requires direct engagement of the local community members as the project design and the implementation process are aimed to bring sustainable changes in the community as a whole.
Nutrition is imperative for succeeding in life and important for sustaining good health overall. Malnutrition remains to be a major public health problem in Ethiopia, especially for children under five years of age. The children that we support with our partnership Life Center Ethiopia are served through our Nutrition Initiative which is the major emphasis of this project.
We serve in Sekota, Ethiopia, in partnership with Life Center Ethiopia (LCE), and have done so since April 2022. With the help of LCE, we target widow-led households where the children are more disadvantaged than the average household in Ethiopia. Today we work together to serve 30 orphan children, and plan to expand this work in 2024.
GO! & Life Center Ethiopia Food Distribution for Orphan Children in Sekota, Ethiopia
LCE helps orphans, vulnerable children, and widows by leveraging a home-based family model. The children that are supported live in a home with extended family or a widow and other orphan children.
Mulu Woldetinsae, Founder & Executive Director, has been serving in this capacity from LCE’s home-base in Colorado for over ten years. Based on her own personal circumstances, Mulu experienced the challenges of not having a husband in her household when living in Ethiopia, as her husband Tamrat Layne was detained as a political prisoner for twelve years in 1996 after serving as Prime Minister of Ethiopia. From this personal tragedy she serves orphans and widows in her country of origin from a place that most of us have not experienced.
Sekota, also spelled Sokota, Sakota, Soqota (in Amharic: ሰቆጣ; formerly ሰቈጣ) is a town in northern Ethiopia. The name is likely from the Agaw word sekut, "fortified village." It was also reported that the Tigray Defence Forces controlled Sekota in Amhara on 16 August 2021. Government forces then retook the town on 22 December 2021, in the most recent conflict in Ethiopia.
Sekota is in the area known as the 10/40 Window. According to the Joshua Project, the 10/40 Window is the area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude. The 10/40 Window is sometimes referred to as "The Resistant Belt" and includes the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.
You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Cir, Parker, CO 80134 or you may also give electronically to support orphan children at Global Orphan Relief.
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