In Addis Ababa the Daughters of Charity are trying to break the poverty cycle by means of a very special place – the ATSE School.
Breaking the poverty cycle
Once the basic essentials for life have been secured, the best way to break the cycle of poverty is to empower individuals, families and communities through education, formation and opportunity – thus creating the possibility of a different and better tomorrow.
In Addis Ababa the Daughters of Charity are trying to do this by means of a very special place the ATSE School.
Atse Tekle Ghiorgis School (ATSE) began in the 1960’s as a centre for educating the children of leprosy victims and handicapped people who were ostracised by society. Today it continues to help the poorest of the poor who are not able to attend government schools because of registration fees and the cost of uniform. Here there is no registration fee. As regards the uniform, the parents are asked to pay for the material, and the school pays for the making of the uniform. So the cost to the parents is small and they can pay by installments. It is good for the dignity of the family to make a contribution towards the cost. In addition to receiving education the school also provides a simple daily meal which may be porridge, beans or bread. For some students this is the only meal that they get and one frequently sees students putting food in their pockets to take home to their siblings. Medical care is also provided. The alternative for these children is begging on the streets of Addis. There are large numbers begging there including children who beg late into the night.
For information and a link to a web site associated with this work visit the site of the Daughters of Charity in Great Britan.
