Bob & sue

Welcome to Bob's Projects Page

Bob and his family worked in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia for 4 years. Originally
they worked under the mission organization SIM. But in 2007 they began
working as DevXchange volunteers to help the Kale Hewet (Word of Life)
Church conceptualize and implement a number of development programs
for vulnerable groups in Bahir Dar and among the Gumuz people.

Bob worked closely with the Director of the Kale Hewet Church (KHC) for
the Northern Region, Pastor Tadessa Fufa. Pastor Tadessa is is a man with
vision, an unshakeable faith, and an amazing ability to get things
accomplished.

Here is is a summary of how Bob is helping the KHC:

Multi-purpose Centre Project

With the completion of their Multi-purpose Centre, the KHC has begun programs
for children and adults at risk in their community including street kids, People
Living With AIDS (PLWA) and sex-workers.

Jesse Town and Tara Heittola were two of a dozen Canadian volunteers that
spent time in Bahir Dar helping to design and set up programs (with KHC
counterpart staff), such as:
- Children’s sports
- ESL training
- Youth programs including HIV/AIDS prevention
- Video nights for youth
- Library

Vocational Training & Livelihood Fund

This project evolved from the Cosmetology School initiative. Focus is on getting
girls trained in hairdressing and having access to loans for starting their own
businesses. So far, KHC has helped 20 women at risk start new careers in
hairdressing.

People Living with AIDS (PLWA)

At the request of community leaders, KHC designed a project to help AIDS
victims get proper medical care as well as vocational training and jobs to
support their families. Sheep fattening and preparing spices are a couple of the
vocational options the project beneficiaries selected as their livelihood choices.

Gumuz - Trees for Health & Wealth

This project, located in one of the most neglected and improverished areas of
Ethiopia targets 15,000 villagers in a two year pilot phase, and hopes to
integrate interventions in the sectors of:
- agro-forestry
- health
- water
So far the KHC staff have planted and distributed over

Join the group below who are proud
supporters of this project by donating
$500 or more:

Alfred Hambsch
Jocelyn & Roger Green
Fellows International
Brian & Cindy McConnell
R.J. & P.E. Anderson
Sharon Dangerfield
Evelyn Black
Naomi Klaas
Erica Curtis
Bill & Cathy Leslie
Hans & Evelyn Veit
Sheila Delaney
Charis Foundation
Tour d'Afrique
Peterborough K.M.Hunter Foundation
Harold Schultz
Duane Edigar