Current Projects

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In order to have water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and other necessary tasks, villagers must walk about two miles, and then they must pay to fill their empty containers. However, mechanical issues at the pump or often a low supply of water can make their long walk unsuccessful. Because of the lack of clean water resulting in hygeine related diseases in the area, the Ethiopian government is now mass distributing deworming medications for intestinal parasites. Our desire is to show the love of God to these people by providing a well in their village. 

Update (12/18/2025)

We have received the complete construction quote for the water project. Rather than digging a new well, the plan is to tap into an existing water source and use 1500 meters of water line that will bring water to a four faucet fill station. This will be much closer to the villagers in and around Abela Ferracho Shoma. 

According to our in-country director, 

"The community currently walks about 6 kilometers, taking approximately one hour to reach the water point and return home. This effort is repeated daily. In addition, there is a long queue at the existing water supply, as it serves a large population, including residents from the nearby town. This further increases the waiting time for community members. The new water point will reduce the walking distance by 4 kilometers for those who previously traveled 6 kilometers. Moreover  it will help to ease congestion and significantly reduce waiting time for water collection." 

The projected site for the new water fill station has been chosen. Praise God, He has provided the resources through generous donors so that construction on the water project will begin in August or September of 2026!

Public education is free in Ethiopia if you have a uniform and/or school supplies. The children who live in this southern Ethiopian village do not have these necessary supplies to go to school. It costs $65 US dollars per child to purchase one uniform, socks, shoes, a backpack, water bottle, umbrella, textbooks, pens, pencils and paper in order to attend one year (10 months) of school. We hope to make this dream of going to school a reality for these children.

A Newthings team went to Ethiopia in July of 2025 with the funding from generous donors for fifty-three children to have uniforms and supplies in order to go to school. When we visited the village to share this good news, we discovered there were at least double that number of children who were in need of these resources. Word quickly spread via social media and in three days, we had enough additional funding for another fifty-three, bringing the total of children able to attend school next year to 106! 

While celebrating the end of the school year with these students in July of 2026, our Newthings team again observed the need to supply additional students with uniforms and needed materials. We will be adding 342 students to our support program for the 2026-27 school year. This will bring the total number of students we serve to 448! That is 185 families. Praise God!

Hunger is a reality for many children in this village. Having a uniform and school supplies takes care of the first hurdle that is keeping them from getting an education. Going to school on an empty stomach, however, is another issue for these children. For $300 a week (.40 daily per child), we can provide 1 kg of ground corn, or 1 liter of cooking oil, or 3 heads of cabbage for each of these children. This will give them a very basic source of food to help the families ensure the children have something to eat while in school each day.  That averages out to $155 a year per child to receive food weekly. 

 Thanks to donors, every child who received school supplies from Newthings and is attending school is receiving corn meal, cooking oil or cabbage weekly. See photos below.

Even with such a basic and less than optimal learning environment, the children of Abele Ferracho Shoma consider it an incredible privilege to get to go to school. The local school is in much need of repair. Walls and floors are deteriorating, doors and windows are missing, desks and chalkboards are falling apart. We are hoping to provide new materials so that these children and teachers can receive a better quality education. 

Thanks to generous donors, Newthings has been able to provide funding for repairs at the local school where our students attend.  With this money we were also able to purchase a Bible for each of the teachers in the school. Photos below show the teachers with Bibles and the new desks that are being made. 

This is Etagegn. Her father approached our team when we were at the school hosting a vision clinic. He wanted to ask if we could help his daughter. Her leg had been crushed by a large rock as a young child and doctors told him it needed to be amputated. Trusting their advice, he moved forward with the prognosis but was disappointed when due to lack of funds there was no follow through. 

Etagegn learned to walk with the injury but growth of her leg was hindered and the pain increased. Our team agreed to take her to Sodo Christian Hospital where she received X-rays and a recommendation to a rehabilitation clinic in the area. At this clinic, she received a brace to enable her to walk more easily and hopefully lessen the pain caused by walking without support.