Children Aid Ethiopia Chad-et News Page

And it is at the bus station where many young girls get drawn into prostitution. According to a recent survey carried out in Addis Ababa, child prostitution is on the rise.

The report found that partly because of poverty an increasing number of girls come to the city to become sex workers.

Urban migration

The government, being a signatory to the charter on child rights as well as various international labour conventions, is obliged to wipe out what is considered by the United Nations to be the worst form of child labour.

Child Aid Ethiopia (Chadet) is one of the few charities dealing with child prostitution.

Chadet's director Anania Admasu says that many of these girls migrate from rural areas to urban centres in search of better opportunities.

"But not all of them have a chance to track down their relatives, so they end up in the hands of people who take them to the pimps who promise to find them a job," says Mr Admasu.

Just a few hundred metres from the bus station a group of teenagers are playing table tennis at a drop-in centre run by Chadet.

Vulnerable

Here the charity encourages what it considers to be vulnerable youngsters, to relax, use the library, have a shower and get free counselling.

Children who may be at risk of becoming prostitutes, as well as young girls who are already prostitutes, come to the centre.

Chadet tries to offer alternatives. Eighteen-year old Mekdas Demasay, after coming to the centre, has now turned her back on commercial sex work.

But she says that it was poverty which forced her into prostitution three years ago.

"There were many of us in my family and after the death of both my parents we had nothing to eat and I had no choice but get into prostitution," says Ms Demasay.

'Morally degrading'

Being a prostitute meant having sex with many men and I found that morally degrading and damaging to my dignity, she says.

Poverty may be pushing children into prostitution, but according to Amara Dejene who researched the issue, there is also an increased demand for children because of HIV-Aids.

"Some clients assume that children between the age of 13 and 14 are free from HIV infection - and so prefer to have sex with them instead of the older women," says Amara Dejene.

At the drop-in centre, a young girl leads a group counselling session about HIV.

Counselling

Sister Mebrat Yemeruw is the nurse in charge of the counselling, she says that the emphasis is on making young girls better informed, but she never tells people not to be prostitutes.

"I cannot say that because we can't give them food, clothes and accommodation.

"But we explain to them the side effects of prostitution and leave them to choose what they want," says Sister Yemeruw.

Ms Demasay can be considered one of Chadet's success stories.

Instead of being a sex worker she now gets a grant from the charity that has helped her open a small tea-shop, as well as continue schooling.

She also works as a counsellor talking to other vulnerable girls.

"I say to teenagers that they are very young and I say that they can't sleep with too many boys," says Demasay.

Alternatives

She explains to the youngsters about the problems of HIV/Aids, the risk of becoming pregnant, which their bodies could not cope with, and to look for alternatives.

But it really is not that simple.

Mekdas is just one of 29 girls out of just over 100 prostitutes that Chadet is working with who have found alternatives.

Nevertheless, Chadet is not giving up and using songs and drama, the charity takes its message on to the streets to try and stop young people turning to prostitution.

(Saturday, 04 February 2006) - Contributed by Lorna Sloukji - Source www.mediumonline.ca

At the cross-country bus stop in Ethiopia's capital, thousands of people take the bus to visit relatives, go to work or look for work. And many young girls begin their new jobs as prostitutes at that bus stop.

According to a recent survey in Addis Ababa, child prostitution is on the rise. Many blame increasing poverty for the rise of child prostitution.

According to researcher, Amara Dejene, the increased demand for child prostitutes stems from a fear of HIV-AIDS.

"Some clients assume that children between the age of 13 and 14 are free from HIV infection - and so prefer to have sex with them instead of the older women," says Amara Dejene.

Eighteen-year-old Mekdas Demasay began prostituting at the age of fifteen because of poverty. "There were many of us in my family, and after the death of both my parents we had nothing to eat. I had no choice but get into prostitution." Says Ms. Demasay.

Anania Admasu, the director of Child Aid Ethiopia (Chadet), a charity aiming to help child prostitutes, claims that many of the girls migrate from rural areas in search of work and end up as sex workers. "But not all of them have a chance to track down their relatives, so they end up in the hands of people who take them to the pimps who promise to find them a job," says Mr. Admasu.

The charity helps young girls by offering them a place to read, shower and receive free counseling. Sister Mebrat Yemeru, a nurse in charge of counseling, says she refrains from telling the girls to stop prostitution because the charity is unable to provide the girls with food and accommodation. Instead, she educates them on side effects of prostitution and allows them to make their own decisions.

Mekdas Demasay came to the centre and ended her life as a sex worker. With a grant from the charity, Ms. Demasay opened a little tea shop and goes to school. She also works as a counselor, helping other young girls turn away from prostitution.

Ground Force Goes to Ethiopia

Sarah Molloy sees the BBc’s Ground Force team an oasis of calm and beauty in bustling and impoverished area of Addis Ababa

“I am very happy to see this ground . The other children and I will enjoy playing in it .” The speaker is 13 Year –old Tsega Taddese , from the ‘Mercato’ area of Addis Ababa , one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods .In the sprawling , overcrowded Ethiopian capital, green spaces and gardens are few far between in Mercato they are a rarity.

The garden Tsega refers to has been created by the BBC’s Ground Force team who, in the space of three short days . helped the local community transform barren piece of land into an oasis of calm and beauty. Amid the bustle and often extreme deprivation of the Mercato .

The garden sits in the compound which houses Tsega’s school, Which caters exclusively for children from extremely vulnerable backgrounds .Tsega’s family does not have the means to send her to a government school. But luckily for her , a school was built in the area by Chad –Et (Children Aid Ethiopia ), a local organization, to ensure children like Tsega were not denied education . Some 300 children attend the school.

The school construction was financed by Concern , which provides ongoing support for Chad Et’s vital work.

Within the school compound , Chad –Et had fenced off an area they hoped, one day to turn in to a garden for the children and the wider community. But there were always more pressing problems to deal with.

Enter Ground Force . The programmer’s executive producer. Carol Haslam, saw the site while on a research visit to Ethiopia. She instantly felt this would be a very worthwhile project for the Ground Force team and Would be a real contribution to a very deprived community. The aim was to create a garden that would be both beautiful and functional.

Three days of back –breaking work by Charlie Dimmock Tommy Walsh and the rest of the team led to stunning results . A bare,
Unpromising piece of land, with an open sewer running through it, was transformed into a paradise of greenery.

An array of semi –tropical plants shrubs trees and vegetables provide a lush and colorful backdrop. A Tea House constructed by Tommy provides some much needed shade, but also doubles as means of harvesting water. In addition, a chicken – run was installed.

A children’s play area, complete with swing and see – saw , put the finishing touches to the garden.

For Anannia Admassu, head of Chad –Et the results of the Ground . Force effort are priceless. ‘Most of the residential area around the school is slum so creating a good space for children to learn and play means a great deal. It ‘s great for them – the children haven’t been to parks, so for them to have a good garden is ideal .

“it has vegetable as well as plants , and the children can learn about growing plants and watering the garden , so it is educational as well as beautiful.

“And the local community will use it as well, as a place to come and sit and relax, and for wedding ceremonies and other special occasions.

“It is a great addition – it will mean a ‘ct for this community and they will really enjoy it."
The British Ambassador Myles Wickstead, Addis Ababa Mayor, Arkebe Oqubay, and Concern Country Director Carol Morgan were among the gathering at the opening ceremony.

March 1-14 2004

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Last modified: 06/27/06 10:57 AM