e-mail
In my early morning reading of emails, I noticed the following article from the BBC: UN ‘runs out of aid for Ethiopia’. The article mentions several reasons why this is happening and also points out how things could be made easier. I will not go into the details since the article is an easy read, and I do recommend that you read it.
After seeing this email I jumped over to the World Food Programme page and found some really educating (but not boring) information about the horn of Africa and why exactly things are so hard for them right now. Again, I stress that this is a good thing to watch if you have a child from this region in your home. The stats on Ethiopia are good to read as well.
When we bring children into our home, their culture and history become apart of us. I feel we have some responsibility to their homeland and we need to help as much as we can. Of course the World Food Programme is able to take donations on their site if you are inclined to do so, but I also encourage you to check with your adoption agency as well. Ethiopia expects that Adoption Agencies help out all children, not just those being adopted. Your agency most likely has a few programs that you can sponsor to help the kids who are still with family members and are struggling on one meal a day.
A fun, creative and educational way to help raise money towards feeding hungry people is to go to Freerice.com. Sponsors pay for add time and you build your vocabulary. It has many levels so children and adults can play. An easy way to give.
As parents we need to look beyond the money issue and think about how we are raising our kids. How do we model compassion to them. Are they aware that you know about the problems in their country? Do they realize that you care about hunger in the world?
I have heard of some families having a “Soup Night” or a “Cereal Night” where they eat only a simple meal and donate what they would have spent for food to a cause against hunger. I have had plans to start this with my family, but have not been sure when to start it as we are still getting settled with our own adoption in the past year.
After seeing the previous article I mentioned, I think the time has come for us to start this as a family. I’ll let you know how it works out.
