The heart of the Meklit project was born after the founders encountered a very sick two-year-old girl. This little child lived in poverty with her parents and three siblings in a small unhygienic room in a central neighborhood of the city, Megenagna. The malnutrition the household experienced for prolonged periods revealed the depth of poverty this family faced. That was also the reason behind the little girl’s deteriorating health condition.
During one of the founder’s visits, this little child was sleeping and sick with the flu. Upon seeing the severity of her condition, she was immediately taken to a nearby hospital. However, because her immune system was dangerously affected by malnutrition, she was unable to recover. She passed away after just three days of medical care, leaving this world and her unseen future behind at such a young age. The loss of her life awakened the witnesses to the vastness and depth of poverty in the city. This little child’s name was Meklit, and yet sadly, her story is not unique.
There are still many children in Addis Ababa who are deprived of proper care and basic necessities including food, clothing, shelter, health care services, education, and in some cases, love and affection. The need for such projects in the city and across the entire country is prevalent. It is for this reason that Meklit Children and Women Development Association exists.
Meklit Center
Since its inception in 2013, the Meklit Center has structured and expanded its services to assist 16 children between the ages of 3 to 14 and 13 mothers. The children receive holistic care including nutritional, educational, and medical support and, above all, abundant love. The center also provides training programs to empower the mothers.
Programs provided at the Meklit Center
- Nutritional meals three times a day between Monday to Saturday
- 70%-100% of medical expenses covered
- Shower room for hygiene
- New clothes on quarterly basis
- All children sent to a local private school to receive better education
- All educational fees covered (School fee, educational material, uniforms and more)
- An after-school tutoring program during the school year
- Summer camp programs including recreational sports activities
- Education and technology training
- Regular training for mothers (behavioral, parenting, financial and vocational)
The Meklit Center exists to be a vessel for all those who enter our door. Our ultimate goal is to empower each and every one of the young children and mothers by providing the resources needed to maintain a sustainable lifestyle.
