Putting children first

Last week I spent time with the Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organisation (JeCCDO) at their Debre Zeit branch office – altogether they operate in 15 areas of Ethiopia. JeCCDO was first set up in 1985, to support the wellbeing of orphans and other vulnerable children. But it has branched out since to embrace the environment in which such children are brought up – and so now they work on issues such as access to basic services, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, livelihood promotion and capacity building. In other words, the framework within which children develop.

Aside from the intrinsic value of JeCCDO’s work, I was there because there has been longstanding UK support of their activities. In the case of the UK, the Baring Foundation, Comic Relief and the Department for International Development have been particular supporters. Countries like Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the US as well as international organisations have also contributed. It’s a sign of international recognition of JeCCDO’s professionalism and achievements.

At Debre Zeit I was briefed on JeCCDO’s activities in general. But I also saw a number of activities happening on the spot. Local small farmers were being taught best practice in cultivating crops on a small bio-farm; and women from local villages were being shown how to run a meeting (preparing agendas etc.). It was clear that empowerment was changing lives, particularly those of women, very much in the right direction. And it was also clear how that was in turn benefitting their children.

Afterwards we went out into the local community to meet some of the local Debre Zeit women who had clubbed together to sell products (the local bread “injera”, spices etc.); administer justice; and solve disputes in the local community. (I was told of how they had tracked down a wife who had moved far away from her husband and reconciled them. “Are they happy now?” I asked. “Very”, I was told.) I went away extremely inspired by what I had seen and the focus on sustainability. And I felt that that great progress was being made towards the JeCCDO goal of an Ethiopian society in which all citizens promote the wellbeing of children.