07 Apr March 8th – Visiting the feeding program at Hiber Primary School in Ethiopia

PHOTOGRAPHING ON ASSIGNMENT IN ETHIOPIA FOR THE ADERA FOUNDATION, DOCUMENTING THE EXPERIENCE OF TCU STUDENTS AND ALL SAINT’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM FORT WORTH TEXAS

This will be my fifth trip to Ethiopia to photograph for the Adera foundation and I am so grateful to be here. This years group of 19 is composed primarily of TCU students and teachers from All Saints Episcopal School. Having four children who attended ASES makes this all the more special to me.

TCU’s goal is to expose Neeley Business School Students to global economic challenges and consider their personal impact. These students have a heart for helping others and have a global view of business and it’s capacity to help others. These students have the necessary skills for succeeding in business but also have a heart for those in need. It is an honor to be a part of this group of difference makers, documenting their Ethiopian experience.

Julie Miller, Executive Director in the USA for the Adera Foundation has been visiting classes at All Saints Episcopal School in Fort Worth Texas for several years, educating students about life in Ethiopia. Now, a group of five teachers are crossing the Atlantic to experience the Ethiopian culture for themselves. One of the main goals is to empower the teachers here in Ethiopia. The culture in Ethiopia oftentimes does not place appropriate value on teachers, failing to recognize their worth. Through interviews and time together these teachers hope to learn from their Ethiopian counterparts as well as impart a greater sense of worth for what they do.

In 2016 I wrote the following about the Adera foundation and it still rings true today as we visited the Hiber Primary School that Adera has forged a relationship with.

“Adera Foundation shares the Gospel in both word and deed, transforming the lives of the poor with help and true hope.”
Every organization has a mission statement and they are always thought-provoking and inspiring. But until you see the end product, the results if you will, the mission statement is just words. In the few days I have been here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with Julie and a team of twelve, Adera’s mission statement has come alive. I have held the results of this mission statement in my arms and felt its warm embrace as the results revealed themselves through names, beautiful faces with warm smiles, and full tummies.
I sat beside little Hayat today while she enjoyed a hot meal at Hiber Primary School instead of going hungry as she used to. The conditions for the poor are so harsh here that prior to Adera’s partnering with Hiber Primary School and building a cooking facility, students like Hayat went hungry. It was not uncommon for the poorest of students, like the ones in Adera’s program, to pass out from hunger. Now, they are fed by Adera workers like Aster and others through this unique partnership that has been formed. Our team helped in the feeding program here today and made new friends.

It is my hope that through the pictures and stories that I am privileged to share, you will experience the results of the Adera Missions statement as I have. To learn how you can participate in The Adera Foundations mission statement go to http://aderafoundation.org

For Adera stories on my Capturing Grace blog go to – .https://capturinggrace.org and select Adera from the organizations menu