This is Worki, one of the girls who have been helped by For Ethiopia to obtain an education and avoid the medical and social perils of early marriage.
For Ethiopia is a small, Bristol based charity set up in 2004. We work directly with a community in rural Ethiopia helping them with the things they need, and ask for –clean water, improved health facilities and education, especially for the girls. 
Many girls, even the lucky ones, are unable to proceed beyond primary school and their health is often at risk from poor medical and childbirth facilities as well as lack of opportunities to reach their full potential and contribute to society. Every penny we raise goes to them directly via a partner charity, properly constituted in Ethiopia, FDA-E (For Development Association Ethiopia)
Coming from a background of General practice (I was a GP) my main interest is in primary care. The area we cover is the size of North Gloucestershire, with a population of around 100,000. It is served by 4 Health Centres and 27 rural health posts. Over the years, we have provided basic equipment for each of the health posts, solar vaccine fridges, and, over the past 3 years we have run a campaign, Women and Children First, to upgrade the delivery suites in the 4 Health Centres.
As with many small charities, our 2020 plans have been stalled by COVID. We have diverted a large proportion of our medical budget to support their COVID response, providing PPE and food. The High School has closed, and the 36 girls that we support have returned to their villages. Apart from the hiatus in their education, this leaves them exposed to the risk of pregnancy and/or early marriage. Under these circumstances, we are trying to equip each student with a solar charged smart phone, so that they can tap into Government-provided learning programmes, but also that they can communicate with their tutors and be safe.
I would like to thank Redland Quaker Meeting for their vision in looking beyond the problems in the UK , to assist a poor Ethiopian Community with few of the advantages that we enjoy.
Sue Thomas
If you would like to contribute to this work
Donations to For Ethiopia can be made via:
The website at http://for-Ethiopia.com
Or by bank transfer:
For Ethiopia Barclays Bank
Account number 33233057
Sort Code 2045-45
Or by cheque made out to For Ethiopia and sent to:
Dr Sue Thomas
41, Cotham Hill
BS6 6JY
submitted by Sandra Manley