Current Projects

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 (8/12/2025):

During our summer trip, we met with a drilling company and geologist who had conducted a survey of the land. They gave us a quote for digging a well. We are currently discussing the possibility of tapping into another source and using an existing (partly constructed) pipeline to bring water closer to the village rather than digging a well. This option would be much less expensive and could produce similar results. 

Public education is free in Ethiopia if you have a uniform and/or school supplies. The children who live in this southern Ethiopian village have neither. Our desire is to provide the necessary supplies for all of the children in the village to have the opportunity to go to school. It costs about $90 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.

Update (8/12/2025)

We 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! To God be the glory!

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 $190 a week (.35 daily per child), we can provide 1 kg of ground corn for each of the 106 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.  

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.