In this area of Ethiopia there is a large Christian community but very little land available for farming. The Christian leaders are working with the people to obtain land and to train and send young families there so they are able to farm and also to witness to the local people and establish Christian groups.

There are a number of key people involved in the development of new churches in Northern Ethiopia. It is important to continue developing and encouraging them so 3 to 4 training sessions per year are organised for the church planters and for existing and emerging church leaders. These give them new skills and develop them so they can be more effective in the difficult circumstances in which they live.

At the heart of the Ethiopia partnership is the desire to grow the church in Northern Ethiopia. This growth is two-fold, to see existing leaders develop more skills and to empower them, and to facilitate the establishment of churches in new areas by sending out and equipping people to plant new churches.

There are many young people in Ethiopia whose sight has been severely compromised. There are many reasons for this, poor eye care, rural accidents, mineral deficiencies and congenital problems. All the ones on this programme developed eye issues as children or young people.

Asezo is one of the poorest parts of the city of Gondar. Many people live there and in that mix, many vulnerable old people try to survive. Many are disabled or blind and there is no social welfare programme to care for the poor.

Life in rural villages and towns in Ethiopia is not easy, especially for the elderly. Many find themselves unable to look after themselves and take to the streets, begging to survive. This programme aims to give these elderly people some dignity in the last days of their lives and to keep them nourished.

BHW has been involved in a number of partnerships in Ethiopia since 2005. The intention has always been to develop some form of income generation there to enable these programmes to become self-sustainable.

There are many widows living on the streets of Ethiopian cities. In Gondar our partners have done something about it. They approached the local council to identify some of the most vulnerable elderly people. They were allocated 58 and in partnership with the local Council, who designated a building, each day the widows come from begging on the streets for a meal.

A church in Debre Markos was supporting five vulnerable people, however there are many more who needed assistance but could not be funded. This support will supplement the support the church currently gives and allow them to increase the number of beneficiaries to around 30.