It doesn’t matter who we are…We can change the world

A picture is worth a thousand words! This picture was taken of a bulletin board at Strong Hearts Academy Ethiopia, created by a group of 5-6 year old students. Strong Hearts provides an education to over 70 students who each day have the largest smiles, and most contagious laughs, yet live amongst what we in the western world consider the most challenging and impoverished conditions. There is a quote that says “ The World is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning”…. Ethiopia has long been the poster child of poverty, for westerners a place that seems like the end of the world,  but for children and families of Strong Hearts each day is new beginning where they find simple joy, happiness, and life in the midst of the most desperate and difficult circumstances   Strong Hearts dedicated to changing lives from the inside out.

Strong Hearts Ethiopia is a community-based program dedicated to improving the lives of those living in the Korah Community within Addis Ababa.  With a passionate desire for community development, Strong Hearts Academy began over 5 years ago, and this year is working toward it’s goal of expanding it’s education program of over 70 Students, opening a new center approximately 200 km south of Addis in Awassa.   Orchids caring sponsors like you have already funded 4 children to be added to the program.

The students of Strong Hearts Ethiopia are provided a ‘head start’, early learning opportunity to attend school, receive lunch, and medical attention.  It is amazing to see the determination, joy and hope that each day fills the classrooms and play-yard of this very small school.

Along with early childhood education, Strong Hearts provides the youth of Korah many different youth programs intended to increase their health and well-being, their access to a modern education, their spiritual development, and their overall enjoyment and quality of life.  Dedicated to believing that within each individual is a gift and talent that can be shared and when that gift is uncovered people have a sense of hope and opportunity, blooming from the inside out, regardless of if you are 5 or 50.

During October, Orchids will share with you the stories of Ethiopia, and Strong Hearts Ethiopia.

The cost to expand the Strong Hearts Education program providing schooling, food, supplies, and basic medical care to serve additional children in Addis and Awassa is less than $1.00 per day.

Will you take 5 and be part of Orchids Five4Philanthropy? Here’s how it works – Five minutes is all it takes follow-us on facebook, share the link with 5 of your friends, and click the donate the button on this page and share $5.00 with the students at Strong Hearts Academy.  A donation of $5.00 for Strong Hearts will provide one student a week of schooling, food, medical care and the opportunity to share their dream of changing their little corner of the world!  http://orchidsoflight.org/five4philanthropy/

Orchids commits that 100% of every dollar goes directly to the community of the donors choice.  All operating costs are covered by a group of ‘founder donors’, so that every dollar donated for a community can help those in need.  See the difference that our donors are making to Strong Hearts and the communities of Orchids.  http://orchidsoflight.org/mission-accomplished/.