Sunday Offerings
Project Ethiopia
June
2010 recipient
Project Ethiopia began when a retired Ballard couple, Judy and Dennis, visited Ethiopia in 2002. They befriended their tour guide, Awoke, and gave him $20 to purchase school supplies for local children. After finding out that children who lacked school uniforms were discriminated against, Judy and Dennis sent him $300 for uniforms. Awoke sent them pictures of the smiling children wearing them. This was the beginning of Project Ethiopia.
The next year Judy and Dennis raised $2,800 which was used to make benches for the schools. Donations increased each year for projects to build lifesaving wells, latrines, roofs, and floors for buildings. After a year of composting, the latrines provide safe fertilizer to support sustainable farming. Concrete floors have dramatically reduced parasitic illnesses and anemia.
All money raised goes to support
education and health. Village elders and local people are included in
the planning and implementation of the projects.
Dennis and Judy pay all administrative and travel costs so 100% of
donations go directly to the projects. They now partner with the
Interfaith Community Church in Seattle. Checkout the website at
to find out what this amazing (yet ordinary)
couple has accomplished in a few short years.
Nominated by Liz Bawden
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