| Irish Examiner, 9th March 2009
GOAL is one of a number of NGOs which between them have shared
EUR5 million of Irish aid last year. GOAL in Addis Ababa benefited
from an unlikely source. The global TV phenomenon that is American
Idol earmarked the Addis street project under its Idol Gives Back
fundraiser programme last year, sending $150,000 their way.
GOAL has worked with street kids in Addis Ababa since 1990. For
the past 16 years, it has provided a drop-in and night shelter for
vulnerable children and crucially, access to healthcare, including
HIV/AIDS awareness and support in a country where an estimated one
million people were living with HIV/AIDS in 2008 and where 886,000
children had been orphaned by AIDS.
GOAL country director John Rynne said they offer shower facilities
to the children as well as medical treatments and family planning
services. GOAL also supports peer headed households for older youth
to get used to a family environment. There are between 8,000-10,000
street children in Addis, largely due to family breakdown and GOAL
works on re-uniting children who call to their shelters with family
members.
"We do quite a bit of research to make sure we are not sending
them back to abusive households," John said. Most of the children
who come to them are not malnourished, according to John, they live
quite successfully on the street.
"They involve themselves in portering, petty trading. They
may earn a reasonable living but can't save money or keep it on
their person for fear of muggings at night." Girls sometimes
disguise themselves as boys to protect against assault.
Some of the girls at the shelter work as prostitutes at night.
Kidun Mekuziy, 17, has been living on the streets for a year. She
has a one-and-a-half year old daughter, Danawit. The shelter has
improved her life because she now has somewhere to wash and get
advice about family planning.
GOAL also contacts potential employers and seeks job placements
for youths who have training in skills such as shoe making.
GOAL has re-united 156 street children in Addis with family.
© 2009 The Irish Examiner
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