Your Impact in Ethiopia

Update: Aynalem’s son is here!

Remember Aynalem? Her story last quarter was heartbreaking. After a first pregnancy full of loneliness and worry, she dreaded what her second would be like. But thanks to the support of the Compassion Nurturers staff members, she had a consistent stream of visitors. Now she’s regularly visiting the Compassion Nurturers center with her new son, Bereket.

Aynalem holds her baby and sits on a bench beside a woman doing a health checkup

Each week, you’ll find Aynalem and Bereket at the center where they receive care, have opportunities to grow and enjoy community.

Mom works one-on-one with a nurse to understand her son’s growth and progress, and Bereket plays in a stimulating playroom that encourages development. He also has scheduled doctor visits. These weekly trips are playing a vital role in his growth.

Before each meeting, we prepare ourselves and plan the topics we want to cover,” says Banchayehu, a nurse at the Compassion Nurturers center. “This week, for instance, we’ll focus on the essential bond between mothers and their children.

Three women sit on a bench and visit, two of the women are holding babies on their laps

Banchayehu teaches Aynalem and the other mothers about the importance of nurturing their bonds and the many ways to do so, such as regular breastfeeding. The lessons include tips on many areas of parenting, from fostering a loving environment to instruction on mom’s food quality and intake to support healthy breastfeeding.

Aynalem listens intently, absorbing every word, understanding that this knowledge will empower her to give Bereket the best care possible.

Aynalem sits in a chair holding her baby while a woman sits at a desk holding a clipboard

Betselot, another mom at the center, has made friends like Aynalem through the program. She and her little one, Edlawit, are both enjoying their time at the center and are learning important lessons. When her child was born, Betselot gave her the name Selam but as time passed, she changed it. Edlawit is an Amharic word meaning “so lucky.”

At one point in Betselot’s life, she was so depressed she was suicidal. Now, she is happy, confident and excited to raise her little one. She believes there’s no better luck than what she’s received from God in her beautiful baby girl and her community at the Compassion Nurturers center.

Hear Aynalem's story from our previous update.

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