2013 Activity Report

 "Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." Mother Teresa

CHIROTA Project 2013 Summarized Activity Report
 (1 January to 31 December 2013)

On behalf of CHIROTA Elderly Neighbors Goodwill Project, Inc., and its Board of Directors, I would like to extend our appreciation to all supporters for their commitment and generosity to ease the living conditions of 15 household Elderly People, some with disabled children

We would also like to extend our gratitude to the patient and thoughtful Volunteers in Addis Ababa who are taking care of the Elders and their dependents with respect and affection. Without their firm and devoted performance, it could have been difficult to accomplish the goals and objectives of CHIROTA Project.

It is with pleasure we submit to you the 2013 Summarized Activity Report of CHIROTA Project.

Introduction

CHIROTA Project main activities are:

1. Providing two meals a day
2. Give monthly pocket money to pay rent, water, electricity and cooking gas  
3. Help them to get medical assistance and counseling
4. Provide cleaning Services
5. Make their dwellings livable
6. Visit the Elders to avoid loneliness

The first quarter of 2013, the President and one of the Board Members were there monitoring the activities, recruiting volunteers, interviewing beneficiaries and evaluating the performance of CHIROTA Project. At that time, three new beneficiaries were welcomed and the budget was set up to cover the year assisting 15 Beneficiaries (20 people including their dependents). 

During the year, the President and the Board of Directors had met every month to follow up on the activities of the Project. Moreover, the President had made telephone calls every week to find out if there were problems encountered by the Volunteers. She had also received the quarterly financial and medical reports. 

In December 2013. the President travelled back to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Since then, she observed and monitored the activities of CHIROTA Project until she travelled back to New York in mid-March 2014.  During her stay in Addis Ababa, she received thorough briefings by the Administrator, Volunteers/Medical Attendants, Advisers and the Cook.  She was also given the 2013 financial, medical as well as administrative records.  Accordingly, the Advisers and she reviewed all documents and found out to be correct.  They also visited all Beneficiaries in their dwellings, two to three times.  Moreover, the Beneficiaries were invited to the designated meeting place to have open discussions. 

In all the discussions with the Volunteers as well as the Beneficiaries, the positive outcome of CHIROTA Project was emphasized especially:

1.  The improvement of beneficiaries’ attitude towards life and their contentment living with their dignity; without worrying for food or payment of rent and utility bills. 

2.  The repeated expression of happiness of the Elders when visited and their consideration of the Volunteers as their guardians.  It was reported also that the Beneficiaries’ feelings of loneliness have almost disappeared.

3.  The betterment of all Beneficiaries health conditions due to the medical as well as food assistance was emphasized.  It was also reported that since the paralyzed young man was provided with a wheelchair, his mother was able to move him around, taking him to clinics, church, get fresh air and exercise Moreover it was found out that his condition has improved due to the extended medical assistance, such as therapy sessions that he received from the Project.

Furthermore, during the meetings, the Administrator, Volunteers, Advisers and the Cook mentioned the following challenging issues:

1. It was reported that the quality of Injera received from many of the Bakers was not constantly good due to many reasons, including shortage of electricity.  In this connection, new guidelines were set up as a back up strategy in order the Beneficiaries get good quality Injera at all times. 

2. The costly medical services in hospitals and the importance of having Free Government Medical ID Cards for our Beneficiaries were mentioned. In this regard all Beneficiaries were advised to get the card as soon as possible and if need be the Volunteers to assist them.

3. It was reported that there were problems encountered fixing some of the dwellings of our Elders: (i) finding inexpensive construction workers (ii) difficulty to fix a room which is attached to another people’s rooms (iii) the roof being too old and it is costly to fix it (iv) since the house belongs to the Government, there is a need to get permission from Kebele (District Office) by the tenants. 

In this regard, it was decided the Volunteers to assist the Beneficiaries to go and get help from the Kebele (District Office).

4.  It was reported that one of the Beneficiaries who joined in 2013 had continued begging even though she was receiving full support by the CHIROTA Project.  Discussing the issue with her, we found out that all the reasons she mentioned in our interview were lies and she was not willing to stop begging.  Therefore, we terminated our assistance as of February 2014.

Conclusion:

In general, we observed that although the Beneficiaries are living a better life than before and are getting medical assistance regularly; some of them look very weak because of old age and chronic illness.  However, all of them including their dependents were very happy to see the President.  They have expressed their gratitude without reservation and just to quote one of the remarks, “We are blessed to have someone who is happy to see us and who wanted us to live longer“.  Moreover, all beneficiaries have expressed their appreciation of their supporters with words of blessings with tearful eyes.

During our meetings, we have advised all Beneficiaries to be hopeful, to inspire for a better life even though they are sick and weak.  Above all, we advised them to have peace of mind and harmony with their neighbors.  We have also told them, repeatedly, that the assistance they are getting will continue and not to worry at all. We have also advised them to be cooperative and willing to get medical treatment when they are sick.

In general, we are very much satisfied with the assistance the CHIROTA Project providing to these helpless and lonely elderly people including their disabled children.

Detailed Individual Reports on all Beneficiaries were submitted to the Board of Directors and available to our supporters and donors at request.

In this occasion, I would like to express again that without your positive response and involvement, it could have been difficult to accomplish our goals and objectives.

God bless you and your family!!
The President/Founder

Posted in May 2014