Selamta Family Project

So I guess it's about time I actually talk about the very place I spent most of my time in.

I shared a bit before about Selamta's model and theory of change. But when you see it in real life, everything changes. These families, integrated so intimately into their neighborhoods, have found the transformational power of love and belonging. At first you would not know the difficult paths these kids walked before they joined these families. It is a testament to the hard work the staff have put in, the incredible love the mothers have given and the support of their surrounding community. It was not, and is not, an easy journey to walk. If you look closer, there are still signs of trauma that have surfaced, and as I spent time with the kids, they opened up a bit about their past...a hard reminder of the reality of pain that is still carried in corners of their heart. But what I saw at Selamta was vastly different to other orphaned and vulnerable children.

Selamta is an in-country, community integrated, family-based solution, with national leadership.
They stand on four cornerstones: Health & Wellness, Psychosocial Support, Education, and Spiritual Development/Life-skills which are all provided through the support of professional staff.
Each one of these things is significant in their success and helps them excel. 

 There are currently 10 forever families in Selamta's program (serving about 90 children). We had the opportunity to have most of our evening meals in one of these homes. They are always incredibly kind and hospitable. In Ethiopian culture, the coffee ceremony is a huge element, and we did not have a home that we went to where they did not make us a delicious cup of coffee. We would play cards with the kids or talk with them about their day. Many of the moms do not know English, but we would try to communicate with them and practice our new Amharic words in between fits of laughter.

Below is a photo of one of my favorite houses to go to: Lucy house. 

 

 

One of the first nights in Ethiopia we went to their house for dinner and I had a conversation with Belaynesh (in the blue, second from left). She was smart, kind and compassionate. I always loved seeing her, and talking to her. We went to their house several times and I later was able to interview her for my research. Her sister (in yellow, third from right) had been in the United States for high school this past year. All month I anticipated her return alongside her family. The day before she arrived, Belaynesh was in the office and started tearing up because she was so excited. I immediately felt tears fall down my face...I was so deeply happy for her. Her dear, dear sister was coming home. The mom is just the sweetest and the first night I was at their house, she made great popcorn. When the people came to pick us up to take us home before the bowl was gone, she sent the bowl with us along our way. I always told Belaynesh that her mom made the best popcorn. The final evening we were having family dinners, I ended up at another home. But on our way back to the community center, we stopped by Lucy house. They were finishing up a bowl of popcorn and they wanted to share with me. Because I had to leave, the mom started filling my raincoat pockets with it. My heart nearly burst.

During my interview with Belaynesh, I heard more of the details about her past. My heart hurts deeply for what she expereinced, but also finds so much joy in where I see her today. In an act of pure compassion, she wants to use the pain she has experienced to help other orphaned children. I am so grateful that she was able to come to Selamta and find love and redemption in her home. She has many hopes and dreams for the future and I am glad to say they are more of a reality because of what she has been provided with at Selamta. And if the children at Selamta are able to use the restoration they have experienced to go into their community and help others find healing, then the impact of Selamta is much bigger than those 10 families. As they continue to grow into leaders in their country, into mothers and fathers who know how to love...the ripple effect is far greater than we can imagine.
This is one of the reasons I believe passionately in in-country solutions. These children will invest directly in their neighborhood and country, that needs the leaders to step up. As Belaynesh wants to counsel orphaned children, or as another girl I interviewed said, "I want to adopt 20 kids, because I have the love to give"...these kids can help heal the wounds of their country.