Little Voice Foundation

Our first two projects are located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and involve both education and housing. UNICEF estimates that there are as many as 150,000 children living and working on the streets of Ethiopia's capital city. Of that number, maybe 45,000 have families to go home to after their excruciatingly long workday but the rest face a long night on the streets. For those children who have families, they are often the sole provider of the household, many of them also caring for one or more family member who is battling HIV/AIDS. And for those with no shelter the night is spent avoiding rape, robbery or beatings. Education is a luxury very few can afford.

In February 2006, Little Voice Foundation along with local partners established a small primary school with the goal of offering its 200 seats for free to children from poor families and to those living on the streets. In July 2006, Little Voice Home for Children opened its doors to 30 children for whom the streets have been their only home over the years. The children living at our home are provided with food, clothing, education, health care and a wide range of recreational programs.