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We learned last week that two directors from YMCA Ethiopia were going to visit our preschool today. They are touring BC YMCAs as part of a leadership exchange with YMCA Canada. Another Ethiopian mom and I volunteered/were asked to help organize some welcoming activites, and it was our pleasure to do so.

Today M brought all the stuff for coffee ceremony. We roasted coffee beans in the classroom to a group of rapt 3 and 4 year olds, while reading them an Amharic ABC story book. The kids feasted on ambasha, a Tigrean bread made by one of M’s friends. Then the kids (orchestrated by yours truly) tapped sticks and banged drums to a Ethiopian song. Funny, it was Hole Hole on the Sorene CD. I didn’t know what it meant (just that it was a kids song) but by pure coincidence, M told me that the song is all about being appreciative of going to school. How appropriate! Then we had coffee ceremony for the adults while the kids played outside.

It was great to meet these gentlemen who are obviously devoted to their programs and the Y in Ethiopia.  They have young children programs, but also lots to do with physical fitness, spiritual development, etc. I really like their program for young orphans, which gives subsidies to relatives and fmaily friends to keep the kids in homes they know, while paying for school fees, uniforms, etc. A lot like CHOIR’s program. They also have a big AIDS/HIV awareness program for teens, which 10,000 young people have gone through. Awesome!

We also had an interesting discussion (prompted by one of the directors) too, about the health of children in orphanages. He commented on how the Ethiopian government, from his perspective, doesn’t want kids growing up in orphanages, specifically because of attachment issues (ie: not learning to love or relate to others.) So they are more in favor of kids staying in familial units or being adopted.Very interesting perspective!

YMCA Ethiopia is subsidized by YMCA Canada and YMCA US, so if you would like to contribute to their awesome programs, please contact your local YMCA director and see if they can hook you up!