In the midst of our Save+Water Campaign and a visit to Ethiopia which focused on some of our other projects, we were thrilled to celebrate the graduation of our first four students in the Selam Awassa Technical and Vocational College. On July 27, Moyeta, Abdukadr, Abduraman, and Mustafa, four young men from the Kalo village area completed their studies in metal fabrication and assembly and…

Kristina Williams (below, in the white hat) was unsure how she could take part in the SAVE+WATER Campaign from the time it was launched at her church, The Gathering Place. Providentially, it was during a sleepless night a few weeks back while battling an illness that her idea came. A High Tea! On Saturday, Kristina hosted her Tea and welcome a few dozen women to…

I was recently with a Christian brother in Africa who shares my passion for the church. During the 1990s, he led a coalition of church-planting ministries in a southern African country with a population of over eleven million people. This coalition reported 10,000 new churches during the 1990s. He thought that the numerical growth in churches would bring visible transformation to the society. On the…

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.   The heartbreaking story Nicholas Kristof told about families in the Congo and elsewhere,…

Year’s end brings opportunities for all of us to consider God’s blessings, especially His Son, and look for ways to channel them towards others. It’s our nature – we’re made in His image. As He gives, so we love to give. Africa Water and Life is offering you a chance to join us as we look to 2013. Next year, we plan to help 4…

In September we finished up a great campaign raising money to support our second year investing in Self Help Groups in the West Arsi Zone. So it was a great pleasure to visit Ethiopia in late October and get a first-hand report of the impact SHG are having on families throughout the region. Our partners with the Ethiopia Kale Hewot Church have done a tremendous…

On July 15, Africa Water and Life began the 5Cents4Change Campaign. Our goal was to introduce you to the concept that rural Ethiopians aren’t destined to be poor, they have great potential, and that their greatest need is hope, and eyes to see the resources all around them. We sought to do this by creatively raising money to fund Self Help Group training, a program…

  +  =     Today we took a load of bottles and cans to a local recycling center.  A brief departure from the air-conditioned office to separate some plastic, glass, and aluminum for some cold, hard, cash.  45 minutes later we had $50 more dollars to add to the 5Cents4Change for change campaign. Easy. $50 will help fund the training of two new Self-Help Groups.…

We are half-way to the end of our 5Cents4Change Campaign.  There’s a buzz about collecting bottles and cans to help our friends in the West Arsi District. Our goal is to raise $25,000 by September 15. We are only 10% to our goal as of today, but we believe this can happen.  Here’s a few ways you can maximize your fundraising impact: Set a recycling goal:…

A few quick tips for 5Cents4Change Fundraisers: Most recycle centers will only redeem glass and plastic bottles and cans. Sometimes, larger plastic containers (i.e. Mott’s Apple Juice) are also redeemable. When in doubt, check the label to make sure it says CA CRV. The rest of your recycle trash (i.e paper) is not redeemable. Plastic bottles must have their caps removed before they can be…