Ethiopia Adoption Blog, Ethiopia Adoption Blog

01/30/07

Poverty in Ethiopia

Posted by : Mary Owlhaven in Ethiopia Adoption Blog at 11:33 pm , 177 words, 202 views
Categories: How To Help

I've written before about the extreme poverty of the people in Ethiopia, and how difficult it is to see little children begging everywhere. I found the experience of being surrounded by beggars overwhelming at times, and at times refused to give out money for fear of being mobbed. But looking back, I can think of some of the specific people I saw, and wish I had done more. This evening I happened upon this post at No More Counting the Cost. In it Rich shared the link to this post by the Isaacs, a family adopting from Liberia. Both are worth reading.

I would love to hear others' impressions of what they felt when they witnessed the poverty there. Have you thought of what you might do differently next time you go? I've fantasized about handing out meal tickets (there's a feeding mission on Churchill road that sells books of tickets) or granola bars or beef jerky or even flip flops. But it's hard to know how best to make an impact.... Could it even be done?

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Comment from: Rebecca [Member]

I felt completely overwhelmed by the poverty and tragedy everywhere. I knew about it in my head, but everytime I saw these children, i felt like I had been punched in the stomach. I honestly felt SHAME, to be so privaledged while so many suffer. I had brought a ton of granola bars, power bars and snacks, and such, and we handed those out everywhere. Yes, I know that there is controversy about whether this is a good thing to do, but I feel that kindness, caring, and attention. Walking by people like they dont exist and ignoring them doesnt feel natural to my heart. Is it making an impact---probobly not in the big picture of their lives, but maybe it will give them some energy and a smile for the rest of that day.
Here is the situation that still eats me up---
On a shopping excursion,we were stopped and waiting for some other people. A woman in absolute rags and bare chest with a toddler tied to her back and a baby at her breast approached me through the van window...she looked ill, and I cannot describe to you the beseeching look in her eyes. Giving her granola bars or candy seemed insulting, so i was fumbling in my bag to find birr. A guard, or policeman, or some sort of uniformed official came over and started beating her, to get her away from us. I shouted at him, and waved money--he apologized, and I guess said something about trying to help us out... then took our birr and gave it to the begging woman.

This situation still haunts me. I dreamed about it for many weeks after we got home. I am in tears writing about it.

Sorry so long, I am usually just a blog lurker, but this is a topic that is near to me.

Permalink 01/31/07 @ 12:11