Sponsorships

There are many orphan children in Ethiopia. Years of terrible events, including war, famine and disease — particularly HIV/AIDS — have produced a society where many children have no parents. Often elderly grandparents or other relatives try to raise the children, but many are too old or in such deprived circumstances that they simply cannot provide even basic needs. As a result, there are too many children being relinquished to orphanages or fending for themselves in the streets instead of receiving support so they can continue to live with relatives or neighbors. AAI recognizes that international adoption cannot meet the needs of all the orphaned children in Ethiopia and therefore has developed two sponsorship programs to serve those children who are able to live with extended family members or neighbors while they continue their schooling. One program focuses on the older siblings or family members of children adopted through AAI (the Orphan Student Project) and the other is a sponsorship of students in Nazret, Mukatore & Sheshamone (Orphan Student Education Fund).