Oromia, Ethiopia

In the Oromia region of Ethiopia about one-third of the population is Orthodox Christian, about 18 percent of the population are Protestant Christians, and nearly half of the population practices Islam — unlike other regions in Ethiopia where Christianity is more wide-spread.

Where We Work
Ethiopia

Oromia Region

  • Adama's poor live in crudely constructed homes made of scrap materials. Cooking is done outside, in the open spaces. Adama's poor live in crudely constructed homes made of scrap materials. Cooking is done outside, in the open spaces.
  • Compassion-assisted children enjoy a variety of activities that nurture their spiritual growth. Compassion-assisted children enjoy a variety of activities that nurture their spiritual growth.
  • The Compassion curriculum enables tutors to provide the learning activities children need to overcome poverty and achieve a brighter future. The Compassion curriculum enables tutors to provide the learning activities children need to overcome poverty and achieve a brighter future.
  • Children are often left alone while their caregivers are out looking for whatever work is available. Children are often left alone while their caregivers are out looking for whatever work is available.
  • Children love coming to their Compassion centers, where they have the freedom to enjoy being kids. Children love coming to their Compassion centers, where they have the freedom to enjoy being kids.
  • The opportunity to experience God's love helps children grow spiritually and develop stronger self-esteem. The opportunity to experience God's love helps children grow spiritually and develop stronger self-esteem.
  • In Adama, it is not unusual to see modern hotels and expensive cars alongside squalid slums and horse-drawn wagons. In Adama, it is not unusual to see modern hotels and expensive cars alongside squalid slums and horse-drawn wagons.
 
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ETHIOPIA OVERVIEW

Population

96,633,458

Religion

Ethiopian Orthodox

Weather

 
A Glimpse of Poverty in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region Ethiopia Overview
  • Compassion ministers to children in this region primarily in the city of Adama.
  • Many poor residents make a meager living by selling small items and fast food to travelers.
  • The city also caters to travelers’ negative habits, and there are many bars and “chat houses.” (Chat is an addictive stimulant herb.) Children are exposed to, and often lured by, these bad influences.
  • Parents usually don’t monitor children’s activities during the day. Their attention is focused solely on survival and earning a living for their typically large families.
  • Often, parents have lost hope in life and, therefore, place little importance on their children’s protection or education.
  • Too many children end up living on the streets, perpetuating the generational cycle of hopelessness and lack of purpose.
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LIFE
In Ethiopia’s Oromia Region

Geography & Climate

One of Ethiopia’s nine ethnically based regions, Oromia stretches in an arc from the country’s western border to the southwestern corner. It is Ethiopia’s largest state in area, and with 27 million people, it is also the largest in population.

Economy

More than 90 percent of people in the Oromia region live in the rural areas and work as small-scale farmers.

Coffee is the main cash crop in this region, which produces at least half of all coffee grown in Ethiopia.

Children at Home

Homes of the Oromia region’s rural families are simple, sparsely furnished wooden buildings.

Children at home

To reduce traveling distance, homes are generally scattered across the countryside to be near farm plots.

Roofs are mostly thatched, but rural households are increasingly opting for corrugated-metal coverings.

Few homes have access to electricity, and nearly 40 percent have no toilet facilities. Access to safe water is also a widespread problem.

Culture Corner

QINCH'E

Ethiopia Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 c cracked wheat
  • 3 c water (or a mixture of milk and water)
  • About 2 tbsp clarified butter or oil of your choice
  • Salt to taste

Directions:

  1. Bring the water or milk-water mixture to a boil on medium-high heat.
  2. Add the cracked wheat, cover the pot and let it cook. There is no need to stir until it is almost cooked. It will take about 20 to 25 minutes for all the water to be absorbed.
  3. Once it is fully cooked, turn off the heat.
  4. Add the butter (or oil) and salt to taste while it is still hot; mix well.
  5. Serve the qinch’e in small plates or bowls, and enjoy it with bread.
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COMMUNITY
Ethiopia Community
Issues and Concerns
  • A lack of access to clean, abundant water in the countryside is a primary concern.
  • While more than 90 percent of the region’s urban dwellers have ready access to safe water, less than one-quarter of those in the countryside have the same advantage.
  • Nearly 20 percent of the region’s adults are unable to find work. Many more face underemployment and aren’t able to meet their children’s most basic needs.
  • Health care resources are lacking. The ratio of health professionals and facilities to the number of people is low.
Local Needs and Challenges

Illiteracy

Regionwide, only 55 percent of males and 36 percent of females older than 10 can read and write.

Child labor

Many children drop out of school to work.

Early marriage and teen pregnancy

About 13 percent of girls ages 15 to 19 have already had their first child.

Prayer Requests
  • for children to develop the spiritual and emotional strength they need to avoid making bad decisions.
  • for Ethiopia as a whole as Compassion fights to break the yoke of poverty throughout the country.
  • that parents will be positive role models for their children and will have the wisdom to protect them from negative influences.
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EDUCATION
Ethiopia education
Schools and Education
  • The education situation in the Oromia region has greatly improved over the past 15 years.
  • Children have the opportunity to acquire not only a formal education but also to attend vocational schools.
  • Nearly all primary-age children now attend school, and the enrollment rate for secondary education has increased from about 6 percent to nearly 40 percent.

Compassion Ethiopia works to ensure that every registered child is able to attend school, and it provides additional support, including tutoring, at the child development centers.

At the Compassion Child Development Center

Church-based Compassion child development centers provide assisted children in Ethiopia’s Oromia region with the resources and learning opportunities they need to overcome poverty.

Medical attention, extra nutrition, academic tutoring and vocational training help ensure that they will grow into healthy, happy, responsible adults.

Most important, the children have the opportunity to learn about the love of God and gift of salvation in Christ.

What Compassion Sponsorship Provides

In partnership with local churches, Compassion is bringing real help and hope to children in need in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, providing:

  • regular nutritious meals and snacks
  • health checkups and medical care as needed
  • the support needed to attend school
  • the resources and learning activities children need for healthy development in all areas of life
  • spiritual nurture and teaching in biblical morals so that children will develop the ability to say “no” to bad influences and even counsel those who are on the wrong track
  • caregiver training on Bible-based parenting and child protection, which is making a huge impact on the attention and love they show to their children.
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COMPASSION IN ETHIOPIA'S OROMIA REGION
Working Through the Local Church

The local church, as a spiritual and social institution, is Compassion’s most crucial partner in each community.

More and more churches in Ethiopia’s Oromia region are working with Compassion to nurture and protect children.

Such partnerships are vital in implementing Compassion’s holistic, age-appropriate curriculum, which focuses on children’s spiritual, intellectual, socio-emotional and physical development.

Compassion in Oromia Region, Ethiopia
How Compassion Works in Ethiopia
  • Compassion began working in Ethiopia in 1993.
  • Most children attend the center seven hours per week.
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