Why 26 should have been 24 and will become 36

I recently got an email from Desalegn about his orphans in Shanto. He says:

Hi Aneata,

Thank you so much for your email. Everything is going on very well. We have currently 24 orphans supported by FOVC and we have also many orphans in our waiting list. We are thinking of adding 12 more orphans in the coming new Ethiopian Year. So we will have 30 to 36 orphans being supported by FOVC when you come to visit us on Dec. We will have also 14 up to 20 vulnerable children who are being supported by FOVC in Dec.
Thank you,
Desalegn

So, when we travel in December we will be working with about 36 orphans. Our group is now officially called Team Tasfa ~ Tasfa means Hope in Amharic. Tasfa is up to 23 travelers ~ among us a doctor, a nurse, a trauma surgeon, a social worker, 2 artists, an architect and alot of caring compassionate others who have huge hearts for Ethiopia and it's children. We still have 4 months before travel but there is lots to do and prepare. We have so many people out there making pillowcase dresses for the girls and  I am working on making new shirts for the boys ~ anxious to see the faces of these kids who will get to pick out something brand new to wear for the very first time.
As always please visit FOVC to learn more about this incredible organization and visit somewhere in colorado to help donate to this amazing cause (and get some great jewelry)..

Shoes

We need shoes. Shoes are a big commotity in Ethiopia. You just cannot get them cheaply. So if you would like to donate shoes we need all sizes - girls and boys. Size 4 and up to teens sizes. If you would like to donate shoes, email me at akoobrien@msn.com

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why Ethiopia? (part 2)

Why Ethiopia? (part 1)

~ One in six children die before their fifth birthday
~ 44% of the population of Ethiopia is under 15 years old
~ 60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition
~The median age in Ethiopia is 17.8 years
~ 1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world)
~ 720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone, and there are 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia (this number varies, some say there is as many as 6 million orphans).
~ Per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa
~ Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88% will never attend secondary school.
~ Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000.