The Children and Youth at Risk Program, a ministry of SIM Ethiopia's Urban Ministry Department in Addis Ababa, is serving almost 250 children living in poverty.

By meeting basic needs, the Children and Youth at Risk Program is giving children and their families hope for a better life. Through Bible programs and home visits, children and their families have been introduced to the love of Christ, and several families are now followers of Jesus.

Woinshet's story

With the help of the Children and Youth at Risk Program, Woinshet has hope for a better life. Her story is one of mediocre grinding poverty—poverty that may not grab at your heartstrings but that is real and menacing. It is the kind of poverty which is common to many families in Ethiopia.

When Woinshet and her mother first came to SIM's Urban Ministry Department, four years ago, they were struggling to survive. When her mother was widowed when Woinshet was just three months old, she moved to Addis Ababa and made a living by washing people's clothes. This brought in enough income to cover their rent, food and school fees, but she struggled to buy Woinshet a school uniform, shoes and other school materials.

The Children and Youth at Risk Program has given them assistance with rent and medical expenses, and then helped them set up a small business selling vegetables because Woinshet's mother's is not strong enough to continue her washing business.

Their family life has improved and so have Woinshet's school results. She is now in grade 11 at preparatory school. She dreams of going to university and being a journalist one day.

	Because of the financial assistance received through this project, these children have school uniforms.

Pray

• thanking God for lives saved and changed through the outreach of the Children and Youth at Risk Program
• for the children, their families, and the project staff who care for them
• or the provision of ongoing funding to allow the program to continue

Give

The program needs people willing to provide ongoing support for children and families in need. USD $23.00 per month will provide enough for one child to remain on the program.