If you weren't able to follow us on our journey through our Instagram or Facebook, I’m here not only to share a little bit about that with you, but to expand on what we learned. For Katie Weber (photographer) and me (Marcie Blandford - social media coordinator), it was our first time experiencing what the school and those children have to offer. Jamanesh founded the private school, Yididiya, over twenty years ago, and out of all of the schools and children in Ethiopia, in Africa, in the world, we find ourselves asking, why this one? Because Yididiya--because Jamanesh--provides chances for children to make a difference for themselves and to hopefully lift their families out of poverty.
One of the official languages of Ethiopia is Amharic, but there are over 70 more widely used tribal languages. For children who want to pursue their education, they have to take government sanctioned tests; these tests are in Amharic. Many children in government-run schools in rural areas are not taught Amharic, giving them zero opportunity to pursue a future and rise out of poverty. Jamanesh teaches not only Amharic, but English as well. Other courses taught are math, science, music, and even computer science. Jamanesh informed us that since Fuel Their Future has donated generous learning tools to Yididiya over the years -- keyboard, microscope, projector -- it gets the attention of paying families in the area that are further prompted to enroll their children in Yididiya rather than the government schools. This transition brings more revenue and attention into the school, which allows Janamesh to focus her efforts on the 58 students who need a little extra help.
Jamanesh informed us that there are 58 students (out of roughly 400) who are enrolled in our feeding program. She admitted some don’t come to school everyday due to illness or other difficulties, but she ensures they are provided for when they are in attendance. Many of these children Jamanesh sought out. After having grown up witnessing unfairness and inequality of the world she lived in, Jamanesh made it her life’s mission to seek out and offer aid to those who need it most. When she founded Yididiya, she used her community and personal resources to find families who were particularly struggling with poverty--many of whom had multiple children. After speaking with the family, Jamanesh would sponsor one child from that family to attend Yididiya in hopes that that child will be successful and bring a bit of the success back onto the family. These are the 58 kids in our feeding program.
This year Fuel Their Future hopes to raise enough funds to feed 58 of the smiliest children at Yididiya English School, so please spread the word, ask questions, raise conversations, and give to a cause that doesn’t just feed kids but aims to elevate families from poverty.
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