SPONSORSHIP…more than just school!

World of Good sponsors have collectively assisted over 145 children to feed their families, go to school, keep stable homes, get medical care, and build much brighter futures than would have ever been possible without you.  Meet Worknesh, a young woman with a new lease on life!  Through sponsorship, Worknesh received help with medical issues that had kept her from success.  Today, she has the health and confidence to build her future, and was just accepted to veterinary school!  Here she is with teeth for the first time to eat a piece of bread!  Thank you for not only offering financial support to your child, but also giving your love, inspiration and the gift of hope through your commitment.  They love and appreciate you so much! 
 

    Worknesh’ new smile…….... Priceless!

           Record Number Accepted to                 Higher Ed Programs!

An unprecedented number of WOG sponsored “kids” were accepted to higher education programs in 2011!  With your support, these young people passed the grueling government testing & are university students in these programs:

Yohannes T: Law School - Addis Ababa U.
Yohannes D: Med School - Gondar U.
Adane: Law School - Mekele U.
Aster: Engineering - Axum U.
Birtukan Y: Natural & Computational    Science - Dredewa U.
   Tilahun: Health Science School  – Debre Berhan U.
Worknesh: Veterinary College - Gondar

Belisti, Chayina & Nadew have passed the national exam to join a local university prep school in grade 11.  Over 10 other sponsored young people will be finishing schooling in their vocational school in the next 1-2 years.  Without sponsorship, none of these bright and inspired young people could have continued their education beyond the primary grades without leaving school to work for their family’s survival.  Now, with your help, they will be productive workers and leaders of their communities & country!

                Mekonene proudly receives                top academic honors!

The AMAZING effects of
our Income Generation Project!

There is no better way to describe the results of what World of Good’s Income Generation Project has done for the lives of its selected recipients.  Through receiving the gift of livestock to become a “rancher” or the funds needed to become a proprietor of their own business, each honored beneficiary is gifted with an ongoing income.  Our typical recipient is a woman who is the single head of household, earning little to no income to support her family.  It is truly life-changing for them to receive a gift that alleviates the daily struggle to just survive!  How amazing it is that so little here goes so far in a world very different than ours.  With giving options that begin at just $60, an entire family’s life can be transformed.  We encourage you to offer this opportunity to one of our endless, deserving families living in our project area.  To the many who chose this as your alternative to traditional holiday giving this year (or throughout 2011), we cannot say THANK YOU enough!

 19 yr old Bayush now supports her 2 children with her grocery stand, a personal business funded by WOG’s income generation project.

Annual Gift Giving

We are beyond pleased with the 100% participation in our “annual package opportunity” project.  We know how much our sponsored children & their guardians look forward to the annual celebration that concludes the end of their school year – complete with presentation of awards, entertainment, mentor speakers and attendance of local dignitaries.  With all sponsored children in attendance, the grand finale of this event comes to elation when the children receive their package with letters, photos and gifts from their sponsor.  Continued thanks to you all for taking this opportunity to share with your child the importance they have in your life!  (Look forward to the fun again this spring, with our “package opportunity” info coming to you in March.)

 
Several of WOG’s sponsored children pose with their annual gifts while celebrating the end
of the school year.

Pray for our children,

Yohannes D, Birtukan K and Hana,

whose guardians passed away

in 2011.

Graduates, Graduates, Graduates!!!

What an amazing year of accomplishments for some of our older students!  We had 17 students graduate from our sponsorship program this year after completing their schooling and getting amazing jobs in their fields of study!  Without sponsorship, and your love and support, this would not have been possible for any of these deserving and motivated young people now ready to make a difference in their community and the world!  Congrats to Beakal, who is now a high school math teacher working on his Masters Degree after graduating from the university!  Also, congrats to: Tigist D. (police academy), Sentayhue (culinary arts), Abebayhue (travel industry), Melekamu (military), Tigist T. & Aragash (hotel mgmt), and the 9 co-owners of the new Beauty Salon Co-op!

Mekie & Sentayehu… 2 of our many
successful & thankful graduates!

               NEW BUSINESS OWNERS!

There is a new beauty salon in Gondar, Ethiopia, owned and operated by 9 graduates from World of Good’s sponsorship program.  Fernus, Habtam, Mantegbosh, Hulugerish A, Atsede G, Bizuayehu, Tiruye, Atsede A. and Yemegn are proud owners of the new Beauty Salon Cooperative.  After graduating from their beauty school vocational programs and taking business classes, these new business owners got help from World of Good’s Income Generation Funds to set-up their new business and purchase start-up equipment & supplies.  The new co-op members, many of whom worked as prostitutes before sponsorship (including the new chairwoman) are incredibly proud of their new business & accomplishments.  Thank you so much to their sponsors for getting them to this place of success in their lives!

Habtam perfects her skills with Mantegbosh.

New Tutoring Program

For many of WOG’s sponsored children, the rigors of school work do not come easy.  Though they know that an education in Ethiopia is a big key to more opportunities, most children come to our program with little school experience, health issues, limited mentors & parent help, and great poverty with few tools for success.  For these struggling students, we are setting up a new ongoing tutoring program, staffed by 2 teachers, to help give these aspiring learners the support they need to improve their future results.

Hard working students, Baylegn & Melku. 

Memorable Words From Our Children This Year…

Without you I know I have no life.  From you I have learned many things.  For instance, loyalty, integrity and to live my dreams
I must work hard day in and out. –Fernus

I have a strong plan to study and work hard in order to be the man for this plan you want of me. –Abera

Though my mother’s not alive, I am assured   that she is always with me since I got you.     – Ayenkolu

Before this opportunity, I was thinking of myself asuseless and nothing. -Yemegn

Your immediate response to help and change my hopeless life to a better one some years ago offered me a great opportunity and revived my self confidence.   –Hulugerish Al.

By studying hard and join a university, I have a dream to support children like me in the future.  I learned this from you. –Ermias A

I thank you.  Because you help me, I work less on difficult jobs and I can focus on my learning. –Tadela

I entered Mekele University and will study law.  This is the first ever success of my life.  Do you know the best thing that makes to do this?  It is you.         – Adane

You are doing more than anybody has ever done.  Without you it would have been so hard.  Now I am learning in my education. 
I need you by my side like always for me to meet my dreams.  -Ayenkolu

Tiringo, Melishew & Hana are very gifted at traditional crafting. 
  Both Melishew & Hana had the honor of  hosting their sponsors as visitors this past year!