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VOICES FROM THE FIELDTHE IRC BLOG
Making a difference in Ethiopia
July 25, 2008
By emily.holland
Photo: The IRC |
International Rescue Committee communications officer Emily Holland and IRC intern and Princeton University student Daniella Raveh are visiting Ethiopia where they will be blogging about the lives and struggles of refugees and young girls and women. You can read all their posts here.
 Daniella:
I just got the OK today. It’s final: I am traveling to Ethiopia to document the lives of refugees and the local population. Emily just finished giving me her “Africa 101” lesson: what to bring, what to wear, what new foods we’ll be trying, and most importantly, the important IRC projects that we’ll be visiting. Generating expectations is far from easy, however. This is my first time in Africa, and I don’t know what to expect. Since I live in the Middle East, people assume that I might have a better understanding of what a country that has endured conflict might be like. To be honest, I don’t know if my life has prepared me for this mission.
When I tell people I’m going to Ethiopia, they seem puzzled: “Ethiopia? Why, what’s happening there?” I quickly recite a long list of problems: Famine, disease, child labor, and poverty, not to mention the horrible violence against women and continuous border disputes. But these horrors are rarely mentioned in the media. With war and conflict happening all over the world, suffering becomes relative. Compared to what’s happening in Darfur or Congo, Ethiopia is a small story.
So I’m going to document what people don’t know or have forgotten about Ethiopia. I’m going to see with my own eyes sights that excited or shocked me in movies and pictures. Never in my life have I looked forward to seeing such sights, but in a weird way, I am excited and can’t wait to land in Addis Ababa.
 Emily:
As for me, I’m thrilled to be able to introduce someone to the field for the first time. Daniella has done a stellar job working for the IRC this summer, and I can’t wait to see what she makes of life in one of the many countries where we work.
As Daniella says, we’ve certainly got our work cut out for us. People know Ethiopia, if they know it at all, as a place where periodic famines break out and the AIDS pandemic soars. As humanitarian workers, we propose to do something different---to tell a new story.
First, we’ll be investigating one of the most basic aspects of aid: water. We will chart the many (and sometimes unexpected) benefits building a well can brings to a small village. And we will look at how the IRC is using sophisticated satellite imaging technology to locate new water sources.
Next, we will meet young girls and boys who are working as gold miners in Ethiopia’s remote desert regions. Extreme poverty has forced thousands of children to take up this dangerous work. How is the IRC working to combat this and other forms of child labor? We’ll find out.
Finally, we will document the lives of refugee women and girls living in Ethiopia. Women and girls are the key to development in Africa. Until they are able to take their full place in society, it will be difficult for Africa to reach its full potential. Daniella and I will participate in education awareness campaigns that the IRC is conducting to encourage girls to stay in school. We’ll learn how distributing feminine products contributes to helping them to stay in school. We’ll also participate in “coffee sessions”: dynamic meetings where IRC staff champion concepts like gender equality among women and men.
It’s sure to be a rich and rewarding trip. In closing, I often talk about “Africa eyes.” It refers to a vision people visiting the African continent develop: new insights into what’s important and how they should lead their lives. I’m excited to be there when Daniella’s Africa eyes open. |
16 comments
Comments
What a courageous thing to
Submitted by Luca (not verified) on September 10, 2008 - 10:24pm.
What a courageous thing to do! Knowing that someone more or less like me (a university student) can have the guts to go into such a dangerous situation with the intention of helping others is inspirational. I can't wait to hear about Daniella's new 'Africa eyes' as Emily put it.
GOD BLESS YOU DANIELLE. GOD
Submitted by Ilevbabor Michael (not verified) on August 5, 2008 - 3:21am.
GOD BLESS YOU DANIELLE. GOD BLESS YOU EMILY. MAY THE GOOD LORD WHO IS THE OWNER OF ALL WE HAVE AND ARE PROTECT, GUIDE, STREGHTEN & REWARD YOU TILL ETERNITY, AMEN.
Rebecca Says: Your comment is
Submitted by Rebecca (not verified) on August 5, 2008 - 12:51am.
Rebecca Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
1 August, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Cheers to Daniella and Emily for what promises to be a wonderful project.
Daniella, I also really appreciate your explanation of the import of this trip. The relative media coverage given to these situations really makes a huge difference in consequent awareness and aid, and hopefully your project will serve to shed light on, as you rightly put it, a perhaps forgotten nation.
If your project was an NBA player, I would say that it would be BJ Armstrong, because even though your contigent is very small, it also has the capacity to be very powerful.
Congratulations again, safe travels, and I’m looking forward to seeing the material you bring home.
Enjoy the beautiful smiles
Submitted by Ka Ea (not verified) on August 3, 2008 - 12:22pm.
Enjoy the beautiful smiles and landscapes of Ethiopia and hope you'll make a difference there!
I lived there for about a year and did some travelling in Ethiopia. Women; young and old, carrying 20 litres of water (yellow jerry cans) on their backs and walking for miles are common sights. Some have their backs bent permanently at a 90 degree angle due to such hardship. So, building water wells in villages will relieve and alleviate these burdens.
Good luck ladies!
Cheers to Daniella and Emily
Submitted by Rebecca (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 7:45pm.
Cheers to Daniella and Emily for what promises to be a wonderful project.
Daniella, I also really appreciate your explanation of the import of this trip. The relative media coverage given to these situations really makes a huge difference in consequent awareness and aid, and hopefully your project will serve to shed light on, as you rightly put it, a perhaps forgotten nation.
If your project was an NBA player, I would say that it would be BJ Armstrong, because even though your contigent is very small, it also has the capacity to be very powerful.
Congratulations again, safe travels, and I'm looking forward to seeing the material you bring home.
I applaud your effort to
Submitted by Douglas Wiesen (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 8:36am.
I applaud your effort to empower those that have traditionally been overlooked by the world and their own government. Bringing fresh drinking water and wells to areas that are without can change the entire reality of a village or town. Knowing Daniella...the bigger the challenge, the bigger the results. Good luck!
Keep up the good work girls.
Submitted by Max (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 8:20am.
Keep up the good work girls. I look forward to hear about it more.
You guys are doing incredible
Submitted by Roy Klabin (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 5:19am.
You guys are doing incredible work. The more people we put on the ground to witness the reality of life in isolated third world countries, the sooner the general public will be educated to the suffering that exists there, as well as the viable solutions we could attain.
It is such an undervalued asset to have motivated citizens of all generations and backgrounds eager to help in nations that need it most. And your particular style of educating both sides through documentation will immeasurably motivate people to strive for real solutions.
Keep at it and Good luck.
hey hey, I am heading that
Submitted by Garry (not verified) on August 1, 2008 - 2:13am.
hey hey,
I am heading that way and I was curious if I could come and help out. Im going throughout Africa and the Middle East doing aid work for various groups and i am also doing some journalism on the side me know.
Garry Dodds
I am working on turning "For
Submitted by Brdget (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 9:32pm.
I am working on turning "For My Sister" organization into a non-profit. Contacting you to find out if you could use our help. We provide sanitary pads to women in need.Last sent to Zimbabwe. Would you need disposable or cloth. need all contact info to help.No website yet but soon
Enjoy Ethiopia! I was just
Submitted by Mandy Morell (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 8:26pm.
Enjoy Ethiopia!
I was just there for three months and have never fallen in love with a place in Africa so much! It does need a lot of help, but it is one of those places where pride overflows. I used to live in Ghana and work with refugees, yet never anywhere else on the continent experienced this level of love for one's country and heritage. I started a volunteer program working to get children off the streets of Addis and it was wonderful. I look forward to following your blog and seeing your joy and hard work.
Thanks!
Thank you for all you do!
Submitted by Mary (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 4:37pm.
Thank you for all you do! Blessings on your trip. I am a supporter.
I look forward to hearing
Submitted by Elizabeth Elliott (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 1:46pm.
I look forward to hearing more about this amazing opportunity. Hope to one day do the same. Good luck.
Hey Emily, I met you on the
Submitted by Ryan (not verified) on July 28, 2008 - 4:46pm.
Hey Emily,
I met you on the plane going to Ethipoia. I am impressed with your blog. You did not waste anytime jumping into the thick of things. I hope my company and I can help down the line. I hope all goes well and be safe.
Ryan
I look forward to reading
Submitted by PJ (not verified) on July 27, 2008 - 4:09pm.
I look forward to reading about your journey!
Hmm interesting that you will
Submitted by mochafueled (not verified) on July 26, 2008 - 1:03am.
Hmm interesting that you will try and get publicity out about problems the Ethiopian govt does not want published... ie water and food problems along with famine news. Careful with you camera. As If I see and IRC truck out where I am working for an Int Relief ngo Ill look to see if you are on board and ask how it is going. Good luck there is a lot to share with the world, if the govt will let you.
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