The Times Advocate, 2008-04-30, Page 16TIMESADVOCATECrossroads
16
Times -Advocate
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Local girls have an eye-opening experience in Ethiopia
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Two South
Huron District High
School (SHDHS) girls
recently returned from an
eye-opening volunteer
trip to Ethiopia.
Grade 12 student
Kristyn Van Elswyk and
Grade 11 student Jenna
Easton spent 10 days
working in an orphanage,
helping out at a soup
kitchen and experienc-
ing the way of life in
Ethiopia.
Grand Bend area's Van
Elswyk and Exeter's
Easton travelled to
Ethiopia with nine other
people with an organiza-
tion based out of
Cambridge called "Global
Reach Childrens Fund."
The organization active-
ly works in Ethiopia and
Ecuador, establishing
child care programs for
impoverished children
that are at risk in both
countries.
While in Ethiopia, the
girls mainly volunteered
at an orphanage in the
capitol of Ethiopia, Addis
Ababa.
Before leaving for their
trip, the girls helped col-
lect donations for the chil-
dren at the orphanage,
from toys and supplies to
everyday neces-
sities.
T h e �E
orphan
children
ranged from
babies to tod-
dlers to young
children.
"It was hard to see,"
says Easton, explaining
that the children at the
orphanage were aban-
doned by their parents
and many parents died
from AIDS.
But, looking on the
brighter side, "A lot of the
children were in the
process of being adopt-
ed," says Easton, who
says the orphanage was
full, with about 50 chil-
dren.
The girls say poverty is
"huge in Ethiopia," with
Van Elswyk and Easton
explaining that it hit them
hard the first time they
saw a six-year-old beg-
ging for food on the
street.
"It became such a reali-
ty," says Easton.
Another experience the
girls had
was vol-
unteer-
ing in a
soup
kitchen where they
helped serve about 700
homeless people in one
day.
"It was never-ending
and overwhelming,"
Easton says.
The girls also visited
both a public school and
high school, getting the
opportunity to sit in on a
couple of high school
classes.
"It was so different,"
says Van Elswyk, adding,
"I found it really interest -
mg„
"It was really bare.
There was a big differ-
ence between them and
SHDHS," adds Easton, but
"they are such happy peo-
ple."
The girls say another
thing they noticed in
Ethiopia were how hos-
pitable everyone is,
explaining the people
were kind where they
stayed at the Yeka Guest
House.
Van Elswyk says the
biggest highlights of the
trip were "the connec-
tions we made with the
kids," with Easton adding,
"We loved them."
Easton also says she has
a greater appreciation for
living in Canada.
"I know it sounds cliche,
but I'm now truly grateful
for living in Canada and
having the things I have."
Van Elswyk adds, "It's
way different there, but
something I've always
wanted to do. It's a good
experience."
This was the first mis-
sions trip for both Van
Elswyk and Easton, and
they say they would rec-
ommend it to anyone.
They also hope to return
in two years.
"Global Reach Childrens
Fund" is in the midst of
building a village, which
is just a field right now,
but in two years the vil-
lage will be finished, and
the girls hope to see it
firsthand.
For more information
on "Global Reach
Childrens Fund" visit
www. globalreachchil-
drensfund. ca
Eye-opening — South Huron District High School students Kristyn Van Elswyk
and Jenna Easton travelled recently to Ethiopia volunteering at an orphanage in
Addis Ababa and bringing donations.Above are some of the children at the
orphanage. Below, a child receives a stuffed animal from Van Elswyk and Easton.
(photos/submitted)
Making connections — Van Elswyk and Easton both say their volunteer trip changed
their lives, making them more grateful for the things they have.Above, Easton holds a
child who just received a stuffed animal,whileVan Elswyk hangs out with another child
who was given a lollipop. Both are from the orphanage.The girls say they miss the con-
nections they made with the children. (photos/submitted)