Volunteer Care Work in Ethiopia
I recently volunteered as a Care volunteer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Before I left I was given lots of information by the Ethiopian Projects Abroad staff about the culture, the people, the food, the traditions and more.
It was such a great experience, Addis is a huge sprawling city of around 6 million people. I lived with a local host family who made me feel at home from the very beginning. The placement I worked in was a day care centre for street children. We provided shelter, aid, food and education for 30+ children, aged from 2 to 22. The work was challenging at times but always rewarding, especially at the end of my placement when I could see how far they had come.
My advice for anyone travelling to Addis would be to jump straight in, get involved in the local traditions, enjoy the coffee ceremonies and local markets. Learn a few words of Amharic, it is really appreciated. And above all, learn from this fascinating country!