Sixteen unemployed women finished the training in our Income Generating activities program for the third time. Now they are on their way to become self-sufficient, with the help of CIM and Vision for Ethiopia in Tebase region. Our project director Mr. Befekadu said all of them have received the initial capital to resume their small business enterprises. Increasingly, Covenant International is allocating resources in this program, while still supporting the children we are sponsoring. Most of the beneficiaries of these programs are the families of our sponsored children. Thank you again to all of our donors.

CIM with Vision for Ethiopia, a branch of CIM, received 95,600 Birr which is equivalent of $11,200 Canadian dollar from Habco Ethiopia. Habco is a government body which works in HIV prevention for women. These fund are being used in our Income Generating Activates program to help thirty women become self sufficient. We thank this government body for their generous donation. We continue to see the great value in partnership and networking in making such large, positive impacts.

Recently the Vice President of CIM from Canada, and our representative in Ethiopia, held a meeting with the regional government representative for Development and Capacity Building, in one of our project areas in Ethiopia. A number of issues were discussed, and government officials, representing various sectors, unanimously endorsed and expressed their appreciation for the work of CIM. They also discussed areas in which the ministry can become even more efficient and effective. 

 A homeless man and his son spoke to CIM workers and all the sponsored kids and their families at the annual children festival. He spoke about the help he is getting from CIM, and how it has enabled his son to attend school for the first time in his life. In addition, he told the participants that his son is getting proper meals and clothing, even though they are still living on the street. CIM plans to enroll this man on our Micro Loan Program in order to help him become self sufficient and acquire shelter for him and his son as funds become available.

Awards were given to a number of ladies, who's work has been instrumental in organizing and networking the community in the Income Generating Activities in Tebase, Ethiopia. These ladies have played a major role by becoming a link between the CIM Representatives and the community at large. Involving the community in all of our projects is a vital part of our strategy in all the work we do. These ladies were very grateful for the appreciation they received from Covenant International Ministry.

The Principal of Tebase Elementary and  Junior High school, where about one hundred of our sponsored children attend, gave a briefing to CIM officials from Ethiopia and Canada. In his briefing he thanked CIM for the substantial donation given to build the library rack and fence which surrounds the school's playround. CIM representatives toured the school and saw the completed fence and library rack. The principal told us the students are now safe in the playground and the school can also  better monitor one thousand students who attend this school. The school still has a number of needs, as it is located on the most impoverished part of the country. Anyone interested in helping the school can contact the CIM office in Canada or Ethiopia.  We thank all of our partners for making this possible. 

The Local FM radio station in one of our project areas called Dere Dawa, came to the church office with whom we are partnering to implement our work, and interview ed our representative about the work of Covenant International in the community. After the interview, the station broadcast the interview to the whole city, and called CIM's work "exemplary" and encouraged everyone to help their fellow citizens. We are very thankful to the station, since this will give us exposure in the community for our work in this impoverished part of the city.