History
Since 2011, Calvary has had a partnership and relationship with Hitata Genet CarePoint in Ethiopia. Through child sponsorships, we as a church have helped provide education, food, clean water, medical care, and spiritual discipleship to 220 children living in poverty.
Hitata Genet has a desire to break the cycle of poverty in their community and be self-sustainable by 2030. We are committed to helping them do that. Their desire is to establish revenue-generating activities through a dairy farm in their local community. This dairy farm will provide jobs for the parents of the children and local community members. The hope is that the impact of providing jobs in this impoverished community will help break the cycle of poverty for generations to come. In order to see this plan come to fruition we want to invite you into this process.
Recent Team Report
Proof of Concept:
The team visited neighboring carepoint Sheshamane where they saw their successful dairy Income Generating Activities (IGA). They started with 3 cows 14 months ago and now have 6 cows (with 5 of them pregnant, so soon to be 11!), producing 30 liters of milk per day. While the cows have nowhere to roam, and basically live in a neighborhood, this provided proof of concept that encouraged the Ethiopian government to give the land to Children’s Hope Chest for the Aroma Dairy Farm and processing center.
Aroma Dairy Farm
This beautiful land in rural Hawassa was commissioned in June, the first cows were transported in a week before the team arrived, and they broke ground on the project the day the team left. Hitata Genet is one of 5 carepoints participating in the dairy farm.
This temporary shelter was built to house the three cows Calvary purchased.
The first three beautiful mama cows.
This calf was born on the last day THe team was in Hawassa. THey had the chance to see her and named her "Yemsrach," which means "New Beginnings" in the local language.
Connecting with Community
There was a profound sense of partnership as the team went and connected with the sponsored youth, their parents, the church leadership, and the Children’s Hope Chest staff. The first thing they always did was praise and glorify God for our partnership. The Hitata Genet community has come a long way since we began our partnership and it was a huge blessing for the team to receive such gratitude.
Team with IGA participants; all mothers of sponsored children.
CHildren’s Hope Chest staff with the team at Aroma Dairy Farm
Final day with sponsored children, CHC staff, IGA members.
Church Gathering at Hitata Genet Church
In the midst of many challenges including leadership change in the church, high inflation, and unrest in Ethiopia - the church has grown tremendously. This was the team on Sunday morning worshipping with 1,000 adults. Many sponsored children were involved as deacons and members of the choir and band.
Get Involved
Calvary committed to a partnership with Children’s Hope Chest to help a community in Ethiopia, known as Hitata Genet, to break the cycle of poverty they have experienced for decades and become a self sustaining, and thriving place of hope, renewal and joy. This partnership included two key elements: Sponsor a Child and Donate financially to IGA.
