In Ethiopia today it is estimated that 3 million people carry the AIDS virus. While parents mourn the loss of their loves ones, children of those who have died from AIDS are left without the love and support of their parents. The human dimensions of this epidemic are being experienced daily.  The secrecy and taboo surrounding AIDS in Ethiopia is slowly being broken by the increasing numbers of families who are tending to the sick and burying their loved ones and taking care of the orphans left behind. It is estimated that the number of AIDS Orphans will rise to 620,000 in Ethiopia by the year 2000 and reach 1.8 million by the year 2009. In 1998 the number of orphans were estimated to be 150.000.

For Ethiopians all over the globe, the AIDS epidemic brings forth a challenge that we need to take seriously. We have basked in the glory of our history, our identify and our traditional heritage. However, in the face of this epidemic which has been exacerbated by existing poverty and disease we need to reexamine our responsibility and our commitment to people who share our Ethiopian identify. Moreover, we as Ethiopians must be worthy of this history and heritage not by singing the glory of our ancestors but by our contributions to our fellow Ethiopians. Only then can we stake a claim and an ownership to our identify.

Many of us have been paralyzed from contributing to this identity since we lack a sense of common purpose, agenda and approach. Our consensus about what needs to be done is shaped by experiences that may not be identical. However, if we were to shed all our prejudices we will find one thing in common i.e. that we as human beings must share the responsibility of helping those who cannot help themselves. In this case we are confronted with orphans in Ethiopia who are the victims of AIDS.  As such they face a future without the love and support of their parents. They face economic, social and physical hardships as they struggle to become adults.  As Ethiopians we have the responsibility to ensure that they are fed, housed, schooled and given what they need even though this will not completely compensate for what they lost.

Therefore, we have organized a fundraising drive entitled “Christmas for AIDS Orphans”. This fundraising activity is designed to help us celebrate the spirit of Christmas in its truest sense, the spirit of giving. Outside of Ethiopia in particular we who have embraced the culture of exchanging gifts would like our children and our friends to understand that the spirit of giving must also foster the spirit of sharing with those who do not have.

Christmas for AIDS orphans is calling upon you to reorient your giving towards a cause that all of us should support. Our aim is to solicit each Ethiopian to dedicate this Christmas as a time for Orphans in Ethiopia who have been devastated by the death of both their parents in such tragic circumstances. We ask you to ask your friends, relatives, acquaintances, and colleagues to join your circle of people who have dedicated this day to Orphans. For all of us who look forward to the exchange of gifts at Christmas accompanied by all the glitter and beauty that we are accustomed to, let us remember that the satisfaction of knowing that a child was fed, a child was clothed and a child was loved throughout the year because of what we have done will brighten our hearts more than the lights of Christmas and the toys from Santa. We call upon all Ethiopians, men and women, young and old to join us.

We have no political or religious affiliation. We are merely human beings who share the same history, identify and experience that we so proudly carry.

We should do our best to ensure the wellbeing of our orphans in our nation and community.  A committed community is the nucleus of a successful nation. It is time for all of us to come together to appreciate the value of our unique and wonderful cultural heritage, if we don’t help, then who will?  Let us encourage and appreciate each other for every attempt we make to succeed in our endeavor, i.e. to make a difference in the lives of these orphans.  Let us take our future in our hands.  It has to come within us; Nobody will solve our problems…
 

Belkis Giorgis
email: bgiorgis@dc.savechildren.org
phone: 202-955-0070 ext.41