Hi Everyone as you know I've taken a six month leave of absence to come work in Ethiopia leaving London and Accenture behind for a bit!

I'm working for a truly amazing little charity via VSO (Voluntary Services Organization) that helps blind people earn a small monthly salary by training them in making handicrafts. These people would otherwise be begging on the streets of Addis Ababa while now they are empowered to be productive and have a role and feed their families.

It would be absolutely amazing if you can donate something a fiver goes a very long way here. And I promise that every penny will go to keeping somebody truly empowered and working for a living that means food and water.


Some official info on the charity...
Hope for the Blind and Handicapped rehabilitating Association was established in 1973 in Addis Ababa, originally under the name “Hope for the Blind”. The main objective of the Association was to make blind people Self-reliant economically.

Later on the Association realized the need to work with physically handicapped and included some applicants into the Association after amending its former constitution and changing its name to “hope for the Blind and Handicapped rehabilitating Association” in 2000. The Association is registered as self-help association with the ministry of Justice (Ref. No. 520) on May 9, 2000 and its registration is being renewed annually.



· What are its goals and objectives?

Our organization envisions seeing Ethiopians with disability economically independent & self-reliant and contributing to the development of the country.



Mission

To provide vocational training and sustainable employment to members and other persons with disabilities in various production units

Objectives



To make members and their families self-reliant & economically independent citizens and to improve the quality of their life

To address the employment problems of more disabled people

To improve the skills and self-confidence of members

To improve the attitude of persons with disabilities towards the community & themselves.

To make the society aware that disabled people can engage in income generating activities and lead their life independently.

To create awareness among members and their family about HIV/AIDS and its methods of prevention.