From Kids to Kids

August 15, 2012

This summer, six American children visited the Fregenet School in Addis Ababa. They brought with them always-needed school supplies, which they purchased through their own hard work and donated to the school. Equally gratifying, the children were able to build friendships with students at the school.

Ezana, Bemenet and Menna are 11, 9 and 4 years old, respectively. They live in the U.S. with their parents Dr. Sileshi and W/ro Atsede. In the course of planning a family vacation to Ethiopia, their parents informed them about the living conditions of needy children in Ethiopia. The kids then set out to do something for less privileged children, on their very first trip to Ethiopia.

These kind-hearted kids decided to raise funds by selling lemonade to the community, which enabled them to raise 29,482 Birr. With the money they collected, they bought school bags, exercise books, pens and pencils for 185 Fregenet students. They presented the supplies to the students on the school\’s closing day, July 14, 2012.

Likewise, Blen Mikael and Kidus Mikael, aged 6 and 12, traveled from the U.S. to Ethiopia and donated school supplies, which they bought with funds they raised from the community. Blen made a speech while delivering the school supplies to grade 2 kids, explaining how her friends and family had helped her and her brother to raise the funds.

Helah Workneh, a high school student from California, also visited Fregenet School this summer and donated stationery items for the students.

The donated items will help to cover the supply needs for the first semester of the 2012/2013 Ethiopian School Year, which begins next month. Above all, the donations connect children who grew up on different continents, allowing them to come together and support one other.

All of this is wonderful news to our ears, and we heartily applaud the hard work and generosity of the six American children! We are also extremely gratified that the Fregenet Foundation is enjoying continued success in its important missions, one of which is to establish lasting bonds between our students in Ethiopia and children all over the world.

The Fregenet Foundation