11 Years of LOVE

We independently feed 20 low-income kids in Ethiopia. Feel free to write us at anytime at richter.com@gmail.com if you wish to support our work or give us ideas.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Leaving Addis Ababa

PORTUGUES ABAIXO
We usually leave places very easily, but leaving Addis Ababa is a little different. The first most difficult part was seeing Marc suffering from high altitude sickness, and the second most difficult part was saying bye to our kids. We all cried, and it was very emotional. We gave them a simple farewell with M&Ms, chips and clothes donations. They were funny, some grabbed everything, and I had to go around sharing the items equally. They have such a great personality, and such a great attitude.
We have been supporting them for one year now, and we hope to keep at least the meals at school going for as long as possible. I am leaving around ETB 22.000,00 with my neighbor Genet who is a teacher at their school. This money is supposed to last for another 4-5 months. We are unemployed at the moment and might not be able to help as much as before, but we will do our very best to see them through another school year.
Yesterday Membere knocked on my door. Her grandmother who was her guardian passed away. Membere is very cold, probably because what happened to her in life. She doesn’t cry. She is my favorite of all, and a great kid. She played Hunter at a play at Marc’s school, and we got really close. Her mother leaves in Kuwait but does not have contact with Membere and her brother. She has one uncle and one aunt. I am waiting to see what the family decides because her grandfather is blind. I am very concerned about her and her little brother.
I also had a Garage Sale (my house looked like a constant party for 4 days) and had two friends helping sorting and packing Marc’s tools. Well… at least Marc cannot blame me when he doesn’t find that important little screw hahaha
Now, I am waiting for the shipper’s quotation, and I am absolutely ready to go. Most of our things are either packed or sorted. I got rid of loads of things as Happy Richters Flat is small.
Marc is feeling super well in sea level, and had already had two Burger Kings hehe Lucky King!
I’ll let you know when we are all together in Madeira, hopefully soon… MANY PICTURES BELOW :)
PORTUGUES Nos normalmente nos mudamos com muita facilidade mas ir embora de Addis Ababa e diferente. A primeira parte mais dificil foi ver o Marc sofrendo de doenca de alta altitude, e a segunda parte mais dificl foi a despedida das nossas criancas. Nos todos choramos e foi muito emotivo. Nos fizemos uma festinha com chocolate, salgadinhos e doacao de roupas. Eles sao engracados, alguns pegaram um monte de roupas, e eu tive que supervisionar e dividir tudo igualmente. Eles tem personalidades maravilhosas e uma otima attitude.
Nos estamos os ajudando ha um ano, and esperamos continuar pelo menos com as refeicoes na escola por o maximo tempo possivel. Eu estou deixando com a minha viziha Genet que e professor na escola mais ou menos ETB 22.000,00. Esse dinheiro deve durar por 4-5 meses. Nos estamos desempregados agora e nao poderemos ajudar tanto quanto antes, mas nos vamos fazer o possivel pra que eles terminem mais um ano escolar com a barriga cheia.
Ontem a Membere bateu na minha porta. A avo dela que era responsavel por ela faleceu. A membere e muito fria, provavelmente por tudo que ela passou na vida. Ela nao chora. Ela e a minha favorite, uma crianca excepcional. Ela representou o Hunter numa pecan a escola do Marc e nos ficamos bem proximas. A mae dela mora no Kuwait e nao tem contato com os filhos. Ela tem um tio e uma tia. Eu estou esperando par aver o que a familia vai decider por que o avo dela e cego. Eu estou muito preocupada com ela e com o irmao dela.
I also had a Garage Sale (my house looked like a constant party for 4 days) and had two friends helping sorting and packing Marc’s tools. Well… at least Marc cannot blame me when he doesn’t find that important little screw hahaha
Now, I am waiting for the shipper’s quotation, and I am absolutely ready to go. Most of our things are either packed or sorted. I got rid of loads of things as Happy Richters Flat is small. Marc is feeling super well in sea level, and had already had two Burger Kings hehe Lucky King! I’ll let you know when we are all together in our Dear Madeira, hopefully soon… Nos tambem fizemos uma Garage Sale, vendemos muita coisa e a nossa casa parecia um afesta constant por 3-4 dia. Dois amigo svieram separar e empacotar as ferramentas do Marc. Pelo menos agora ele nao vai poderme culpar quando ele nao achar aquele parafusinho pequenininho hahaha
Agora eu estou esperando a cotacao das empresas de mudanca, e estou absolutamente pronto pr air embora. Eu ja arrumei tudo em casa e e so a empresa de mudanca encostar o caminhao.
O Marc esta se sentindo super bem no nivel do mar, e ja comeu dois Burger Kings hehe Sortudinho!
Eu aviso quando nos estivermos todos juntos na nossa Madeira querida, esperamos que seja breve…



Membere, an artist hehe



hummmm new clothes..

run !!!!!!!! clothes donation



kids in our home

Kids and Connie


After Membere played Hunter in a play, they developed a very close relationship. Or should I say she developed??? hahahaha


Wild Boys !!


Sweet Girls :)


My forever Princess, HIV Positive


Meskerem, what a sweet heart... and a great student !


Membs


Keleme - father is a beggar/pai e mendigo


silly...


Hiwot !!


Enatnesh

Abeba - a flower...

Monday, August 3, 2009

The Miracles of "our" hearts

I AM SO HAPPY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am doing now the debits and credits of our dear Mekdela kids. And I am amazed by the number I got !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With the generous donations of Dubai Speed Angels, my dear aunt, and the continuous donations of my parents and ourselves during June, July and August we have the amount of ETB 20,000.00 to start the school year in September, actually we will have ETB 22,680.00 by beginning of September only counting on my parents and our next donations.
ETB 20,000.00 = Euros 1115 = U$ 1595 = AED 5860
It means this money will be enough to feed our kids for almost 5 months. I am saying almost because in the beginning of the school year we also donate school fee, uniforms, notebooks, and school supplies.
Thank you to every one of you that keeps thinking of our kids. It's been wonderful!!!!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Mekdela & Brownies

12 Brownies from ICS invited our kids for an hour of exchange. The brownies were excellent and thought them English and English songs. It was one of the most beautiful exchanges I ve ever witnesses. The privileged teaching the underprivileged.



They also donated loads of books to our kids, which I ve divided. Some to Mekdela School, one for each of ou kids, and a couple that I saved at home for their future English classes


I let them have fun before the class!!!

Haimanot darling...

The whole group holding hands

My princesses...

Elyas, Abdi and Malkamu

Dereje



Abeba = Flower


Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Ms Puppy

Well well well, I wrote a book for kids telling the story of a street dog we adopted in India, if you are our friend you sure know Ms Puppy and our love for her.
ICS needed an original play, I offered my story and it worked out. 5 of our kids from Mekdela joined the play making it even more meaningful to us. I ended up being myself, The Queen hahaha and Nora did a great job as Ms Puppy. Hunter was played by Membere, between us, one of my favorites...
Hope now I have more time to keep this website updated :)
Love, Connie


Ms Puppy Cast
Nora - Ms Puppy
ICS Student - King
Connie - Queen
Membere - HUnter
Hiwot - street dog
Habtamu - street dog
Meskeren - Vet
Tekesta - street dog


Ms Puppy Jump !!

Spa....

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

March 17

The play I wrote, directed and acted at ICS was a success, the 5 Mekdela kids we had in the play did a great job , specially Membere who played Hunter. She has so cute.. They drove me mad during reheaseal, they wanted everything, asked for everything, and were always hungry haha at the end i brought ots of sandwiches, popcorn, sweets hahaha it was fun

Marc was super supportive, and brought the other 18 kids to watch us, lots of work I tell you, tomorrow I am going to Mekdela to give them Easter presents (better late than never hahaha), we got a new donation of clothes and more money from the yoga group.

Friday, February 20, 2009

News Pics

I finally made it !!!!! Elyas Christmas presents and Membere's gift . They were speechless and very happy !! Markus also got 2 t-shirts I had at home. He has no home but is very clean and very neat hehe Running to go to work !!!!!!!!!



Membere's clothes. She got them because her painting was sold



I often go to Mekdela School to check on their breakfast and end up having some tea. Alma is wonderful and very warm towards me and the kids. We pay her as she makes very little money as a school cook.


Elyas brand new clothes - Arwa's Christmas Gift.


Elyas having breakfast


So cute...


I delivered his clothes in front of others. I cannot hide he has a generous sponsor.


Alaiba is growing, becoming a beautiful girl. She covers her head because of fungus.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Good News !

A very quick update because I am at work hehe 5 of our kids will be participating in a play at Marc's School - ICS. From March on our 22 kids will have musical classes with a teacher from ICS. In march we will provide our 22 kids with a morning arts with watercolor.
We don't have much money left, only for food for February and March, but we trust we are doing our very best for these kids. We will get their grades next week, and together with the director and teacher will plan tutoring classes and any other help they might need.
Please, tell you friends, family and neighbors, that if they wish to help someone , we have 22 kids who really need help !