Our Humanitarian Programs

We consider this to be the heart of our organization, to not only be Christ's hands and feet among the needy, but to also partner with like-minded organizations that share our desire to meet physical and spiritual needs.  After spending a year in Ethiopia, we have chosen to start with three initial projects:

Orphan Care Activities

We have partnered with a few local NGO's in Mekelle, Ethiopia to provide services aimed at half-orphans and full-orphans who are in need of permanent care.  With the assistance of funds raised by friends, our local church, and family, we were able to provide a local Orphan Care Home which provides housing for 20 children ages 3-18 and up to 3 infants.  The home is staffed with wonderful caregivers who are well-trained and have been given all the supplies they need to take in the neediest of children.  Some of these children will grow here into adulthood, and others may be matched with adoptive families in the U.S.  If you are interested in learning more about our Ethiopian Adoption Program, click on the link above.  Program Update:  As of January 4, 2008, we have found homes for 5 of our 8 children living in the care home.  A sibling group of two sisters, and a single 11 year old girl are waiting for their homes.  If you are interested in adoption, please click on Ethiopian Adoption link above to read more.  

Blind Student Assistance Programs

We were privileged, during our time in Ethiopia, to spend time with the most incredible group of students who had moved out of the Mekelle Boarding School for the Blind.  There are nearly 40 current students, both males and females, ranging in age from 14 to 21.  They are trying to finish school to increase their chances of survival apart from a life of begging.  Our organization is providing a caseworker who will monitor their progress, monthly stipends provided by U.S. donors, money for clothing and shoes, and their school uniform and registration fees.  In addition, a team from our Church was able to bring Braille Bibles, literature, canes, stylus' and slates for the students to use in working towards their goals.  Every month, the students gather to be encouraged from God's word and to write letters to their U.S. sponsors.  We have sponsors for all but 2 of these dear children, but new ones are coming each day to ask for help...please consider sponsoring one of these dear ones at $20 per month for prayer and notes of encouragement.  The postcards they send each month are so precious!  If you are interested, please send an email to info@fieldsofpromise.org and we'll give you more information. In the future, it is our goal to rent two small compounds so the female students can live together with a housemother who will mentor them in independent living and provide added security.  The second compound would be for the males, who also desire to live together, rather than living alone all over Mekelle.  As blind students, with no local families, this would provide great comfort.  Please pray with us for God to provide the funds and the right compound!

Current Needs:  Please see our donation page for details on current fundraising goals for our blind student assistance program.  

Family Sponsorships

As an extension of our work with orphans and blind students, we are finding families who are either affected by disability such as blindness or hearing impairment, or who are caring for orphans or half-orphans and need assistance.  Adoption is not a solution for all children, since over 4 million orphans exist in Ethiopia, but only 1400 were adopted by US citizens in 2007.  So we must be involved in activities that strengthen families, encouraging them to absorb the orphans within their own homes and assisting them in their ability to earn income and sustain their families independently.  We can do this by providing limited sponsorships, job skills training, and assistance with school supplies, medical care and clothing.  A family sponsorship is $35 per month, and provides you with quarterly updates and photos on your family so you can know how you are making a difference.  We work very hard to screen families so we know that we are helping the most needy and the ones who really have no alternative but sponsorship.  Please consider joining us in this effort. 

Surgery Sponsorships

We were blessed to be able to provide two surgery sponsorships while we were in Mekelle.  One was for a 12 year old girl to have Tympanoplasty to restore hearing to her right ear.  The surgery was a great success and she is now preparing for her second surgery, to correct her left ear.  She has gone from more than 80% hearing loss to greatly improved hearing function, and her family is so grateful.  Our second surgery candidate is an 18 year old blind student from our sponsorship program who will travel to Addis to receive a Corneal Transplant on one of his eyes to try to restore partial vision.  Even the ability to see partially can make all the difference for a person who is completely blind.  Funds for both of these candidates were provided out of individual private donations.  It is our goal to coordinate surgeries for children who eligible for a surgery that would greatly improve their daily functioning.  For most families, these surgeries are completely out of reach because of costs involved.  But for as little as $200 US, we can make certain life-changing procedures available to the children of Ethiopia.  Will you consider helping us make a difference in the lives of Ethiopians?