2017 VISITS TO ETHIOPIA
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June Visit
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June Visit
Thank you for your prayerful support for Bob Spratt and Julian Legat who during June spent some time alongside our partners in Justice for All and Prison Fellowship Ethiopia. They have now arrived safely back in Kendal. Bob says - "it was lovely to once again spend some time with our Ethiopian friends in the office as well as out and about and also to get updated on what the Lord is doing through their efforts throughout the justice sector.
DORMITORY PROJECT
Seeing the women and children who will benefit from the dormitory in Addis Alem which is currently being built was a happy occasion. We were able to give them all lovely colourful blankets.
When we visited the Prisoners Technical and Vocational Training Centre in Adama it was also great to learn about the food supply business run by the women there. We were also welcomed across the road in the Shoa Zone Youth Offenders establishment where we met the young men and learned a little about the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services Project.
When we visited the Prisoners Technical and Vocational Training Centre in Adama it was also great to learn about the food supply business run by the women there. We were also welcomed across the road in the Shoa Zone Youth Offenders establishment where we met the young men and learned a little about the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services Project.
CHAPLAIN COORDINATORS CONFERENCE
To be in the company of the chaplain coordinators from Tigray up in the north right down to SNNPR in the south for their conference was inspirational and we trust and pray that they will have been blessed and encouraged in their ministry through this opportunity to gather together for worship, teaching, fellowship and re-commissioning. Please keep on praying for them as they continue their strategic and potentially life changing ministry in the many far flung locations in which they are serving the Lord. It was thrilling to learn of the thousands of prisoners who have come to the Lord. Pray that they will grow in their faith as they receive Bible teaching through Emmaus and other courses.
FICHE
The visit to Fiche some 80 miles north of Addis Ababa was also memorable. Some time was spent at an award ceremony for the children who had just completed the first stage of learning English! There was also opportunity to give out a few gifts to the women and children and to see the playground provided in memory of Bob Spratt's late wife Mary. Arriving back in Addis Ababa later than planned, because it was near the end of our time in Ethiopia as well as being the 25th Anniversary of Justice for All PF Ethiopia, some of the staff had remained in the office to see us when they should have been at home. They also let Bob cut the celebration cake and gave him an award.
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November Visit
Trustee Mike Ducker and retired police officer, Eric Young, visited Ethiopia from 5th to 11th November 2017 to follow up on current programmes and identify new priority areas for support. We had a very busy schedule, visiting 6 prisons in 5 days, and also met with the Head Office team to discuss current strategy and challenges for JFA-PFE. We reflected with Pastor Daniel on the amazing achievements of the organization from very humble beginnings, and marveled once again at the grace of our Lord, giving thanks for all that He has done through this ministry over the past 20 years.
During this trip we were able to visit the Refuge Programmes at Assela, Ataye, Debre Birhan and Sheno prisons, the Twinkle of Hope project at Assela, and we inspected the new women’s dormitory at Addis Alem Prison, which is funded by FPFE and is now nearing completion. We also went to the training prison at Adama. Tesfaye Teka, Head of Rehabilitation and Social Affairs, who translated for us and was a tireless and insightful host, accompanied us throughout our visit.
Refuge Programme
There are currently 54 children on the programme in 7 prisons, and we met with more than half of them on this trip. The programme continues to provide life-changing support to the children of imprisoned parents, and we were able to celebrate its 10th Anniversary while we were in Addis Ababa. There is a desire from JFA to expand the programme, and Pastor Daniel recommended a strategy based on regional ‘clusters’ of prisons to make administration more efficient. This will clearly require new sponsors, and will be followed up in consultation with Tesfaye to develop a specific proposal for the Trustees.
Updated data on all the children was obtained to enable a Christmas communication to sponsors, and an improved quarterly reporting process was agreed with Tesfaye and JFA Deputy CeO, Daniel Gezahegne.
Of particular note were two children who have been forced to flee from the Ataye area due to the threat of retribution against the children of imprisoned fathers by the victims of their crimes. We met both children with their mothers in Addis Ababa where they are now living, and the Refuge Programme may quite literally have saved their lives. It is also worth noting that another fund-raiser from China, who has started a project in Chiro Prison, has now copied the Refuge Programme format to provide relief to the children of imprisoned parents there.
Twinkle of Hope
We reviewed the Twinkle of Hope project at Assela Prison which appeared very healthy. There were 19 children in the class, although the number who are funded is lower than this. The children appeared well fed and happy, and the teacher, Meaza is clearly very conscientious and has been running this class for many years.
ToH is currently operating in 4 prisons, with a total number of 39 children funded. Tesfaye will provide a full update over the coming days.
Construction Projects
The new women’s dormitory at Addis Alem was inspected with Project Manager, Shimeles Shewangizaw, and is now nearing completion. External construction is complete, and final plastering is underway. The drains are ready to be installed into the toilet and shower area, and internal doorways are being finished. The ceilings will then be installed before beds are introduced. The layout is improved on other similar facilities I have observed as it includes a recreation area to facilitate training activities or work programs through which the women can earn money, as well as a laundry. A 3000 litre backup water tank will be installed to ensure adequate water supply to the building.
It is worth noting that the spacious new women’s compound also has an impressive kitchens building currently under construction. The International Red Cross has funded this, and together with the JFA dormitory will make this one of the best women’s prison facilities in the country.
We also inspected the grinding mill at Adama Prison where we have recently provided funds to allow the HV electrical supply to be installed in order to commission the mill. The Commander assured us that this would be completed within a few months, and will provide another micro-business opportunity for the women prisoners.
Head Office
We were most impressed by the quality and commitment of the Head Office team, which is now being led by Deputy CeO, Daniel Gezahegn. Daniel has extensive experience of running organisations of this type, and came to JFA from running the Ethiopian Mission of the Swedish Evangelical Church. He is a committed Christian, whose family ran an underground church during the Communist rule in Ethiopia, and a very capable leader. Pastor Daniel has now handed over all operational matters to Daniel Gezahegne, including financial approvals. Funding for the spiritual side of the organization continues to be the main area of concern.
Overall, we were once again blessed by a wonderful time of fellowship, and by seeing all that the Lord is doing in the Ethiopian prisons through JFA-PFE.
November Visit
Trustee Mike Ducker and retired police officer, Eric Young, visited Ethiopia from 5th to 11th November 2017 to follow up on current programmes and identify new priority areas for support. We had a very busy schedule, visiting 6 prisons in 5 days, and also met with the Head Office team to discuss current strategy and challenges for JFA-PFE. We reflected with Pastor Daniel on the amazing achievements of the organization from very humble beginnings, and marveled once again at the grace of our Lord, giving thanks for all that He has done through this ministry over the past 20 years.
During this trip we were able to visit the Refuge Programmes at Assela, Ataye, Debre Birhan and Sheno prisons, the Twinkle of Hope project at Assela, and we inspected the new women’s dormitory at Addis Alem Prison, which is funded by FPFE and is now nearing completion. We also went to the training prison at Adama. Tesfaye Teka, Head of Rehabilitation and Social Affairs, who translated for us and was a tireless and insightful host, accompanied us throughout our visit.
Refuge Programme
There are currently 54 children on the programme in 7 prisons, and we met with more than half of them on this trip. The programme continues to provide life-changing support to the children of imprisoned parents, and we were able to celebrate its 10th Anniversary while we were in Addis Ababa. There is a desire from JFA to expand the programme, and Pastor Daniel recommended a strategy based on regional ‘clusters’ of prisons to make administration more efficient. This will clearly require new sponsors, and will be followed up in consultation with Tesfaye to develop a specific proposal for the Trustees.
Updated data on all the children was obtained to enable a Christmas communication to sponsors, and an improved quarterly reporting process was agreed with Tesfaye and JFA Deputy CeO, Daniel Gezahegne.
Of particular note were two children who have been forced to flee from the Ataye area due to the threat of retribution against the children of imprisoned fathers by the victims of their crimes. We met both children with their mothers in Addis Ababa where they are now living, and the Refuge Programme may quite literally have saved their lives. It is also worth noting that another fund-raiser from China, who has started a project in Chiro Prison, has now copied the Refuge Programme format to provide relief to the children of imprisoned parents there.
Twinkle of Hope
We reviewed the Twinkle of Hope project at Assela Prison which appeared very healthy. There were 19 children in the class, although the number who are funded is lower than this. The children appeared well fed and happy, and the teacher, Meaza is clearly very conscientious and has been running this class for many years.
ToH is currently operating in 4 prisons, with a total number of 39 children funded. Tesfaye will provide a full update over the coming days.
Construction Projects
The new women’s dormitory at Addis Alem was inspected with Project Manager, Shimeles Shewangizaw, and is now nearing completion. External construction is complete, and final plastering is underway. The drains are ready to be installed into the toilet and shower area, and internal doorways are being finished. The ceilings will then be installed before beds are introduced. The layout is improved on other similar facilities I have observed as it includes a recreation area to facilitate training activities or work programs through which the women can earn money, as well as a laundry. A 3000 litre backup water tank will be installed to ensure adequate water supply to the building.
It is worth noting that the spacious new women’s compound also has an impressive kitchens building currently under construction. The International Red Cross has funded this, and together with the JFA dormitory will make this one of the best women’s prison facilities in the country.
We also inspected the grinding mill at Adama Prison where we have recently provided funds to allow the HV electrical supply to be installed in order to commission the mill. The Commander assured us that this would be completed within a few months, and will provide another micro-business opportunity for the women prisoners.
Head Office
We were most impressed by the quality and commitment of the Head Office team, which is now being led by Deputy CeO, Daniel Gezahegn. Daniel has extensive experience of running organisations of this type, and came to JFA from running the Ethiopian Mission of the Swedish Evangelical Church. He is a committed Christian, whose family ran an underground church during the Communist rule in Ethiopia, and a very capable leader. Pastor Daniel has now handed over all operational matters to Daniel Gezahegne, including financial approvals. Funding for the spiritual side of the organization continues to be the main area of concern.
Overall, we were once again blessed by a wonderful time of fellowship, and by seeing all that the Lord is doing in the Ethiopian prisons through JFA-PFE.