Quarters for Kids International
Why am I considering becoming a part of this program?

The history of Metahem** School of Yetebon;
In a community of 70,000 people where there wasn’t a school, the school that you are supporting had a very humble beginning.  One classroom, one teacher and 50 students selected on a lotto basis and only one child per family.  Many times there were over four children per home and only one had the opportunity to go to school.  Each year a grade was added to the school and now there are ten grades with 1,250 students having an amazing opportunity, education. 

Two years ago, when they opened the new kindergarten, we will never forget the heartbreak of over 2,000 children showing up, sometimes 2 ½ days prior to the selection process.  Young girls and boys up to fourteen years of age trying to pretend they were smaller and younger so they can be selected.  They have NEVER had the opportunity to go to school prior to this.  It was a joy to see the 160 that were selected and obviously heart breaking to see the ones devastated by NOT being selected.

Please value the education you are afforded in this world, as so many others around the world do not have the same opportunities as you.

For the first time last year the children received a uniform and a pair of shoes.  Imagine one pair of shoes, some of them for the very first time in their young lives. They don’t wear them everyday because they worry about getting a hole in them.  We challenge you to count how many shoes you have in YOUR closet.  The next time you want to buy a pair, you may consider this as your donation.  Yes, our excesses in life.  

Some of these children in this community walk up to 2 hours ONE WAY to school.  They are never late because of the breakfast they receive (Atmeat, which is ****)
Yep, no food at home, they also have a lunch program.

HOPE (Helping Organizations Promote Education) Bracelet Project
Buy a HOPE bracelet for yourself, family or friends.  It makes a wonderful gift.
This project provides beauty and magic of American Artists donating beads and silver and Ethiopian students making the bracelets an incredible connection bringing empowerment and magic to all involved.




 
In 2001, I had my second visit to Ethiopia, Noel had his first.  We traveled with a delegation going throughout Ethiopia from border town to border town, with not much to eat or drink ourselves.  The visit was extremely difficult the group stumbled upon an incredible organization.  It was well organized, it had an organic garden, it was easy to see the high intelligence that was put forth into this developmental program and compound. 

I found myself being very depressed with the visit and shared with Betsy Wiersma at lunch our findings.  She asked if maybe the bead community would be interested in giving a helping hand.  Off we went to the Tucson Bead Show and our humble start of begging for beads from many artists through the U.S.  What was even more humbling is the fact that we had received enough donations to take back to Ethiopia and have the students make 500 bracelets, raising $50,000 in 2003.

This was the start of the next few years teaching the students to make bracelets and now teaching them how to become self sufficient by helping them make the beads.  Last year  Cindy Brown, Tamara Domenico and Debra Wells taught the children  lampwork bead and heart making, giving up 3-4 weeks of their time to do this.

The bracelets sell for $100 each.  The significance of this amount, 51% of the population of Ethiopia makes less than $100 per year.  The hearts are $36 as that is the average income of someone in the Yetebon community, where we teach this self sufficient project. 

Please click here to purchase a bracelet or heart.