If you have looked much at Club Anbesa you may notice our primary target is teenage boys.
Club Anbesa does not directly work with small children, elderly, or even any girls.
There are very specific reasons for that.
1. God specifically sent these boys to us. We did not go out looking for anyone, but the ones who came were the ones you see. Before we arived in Ethiopia, God promised "I will send them to you."
2. I had previously been prepared to work with teenage boys, of all demographics: go figure. I don't believe in coincidences. BUT there is a practical reason for working with teenage boys on the street!
*Smaller children have numerous aid programs and organizations helping them.
*Elderly people living on the street do not have as much an opportunity to grow out of poverty.
*Many adults on the street are there by choice and make a living begging.
*The teenage street kids are looked up to by the younger street kids, so what they can accomplish will serve as an inspiration and encouragement for the younger generation.
*Many small children on the street have their parents on the street as well, and are often times USED by their parents to beg. We do not encourage this or want to enable that sort of behaviour.
*There are less girls than boys on the streets.
*When boys may leave home due to extreme poverty, girls will stay because they are home-workers
*Girls can get servant style jobs in homes, while boys are less likely to get such work opportunity.
*Teenage street kids especially do not conform and have a low success rate in current "aid" programs due to the regulations, rules, etc. and their current free state.
(Think of a teenager's personality and add years of free life to that and try to fit that into a structured home... it just doesn't usually work as well as we like)
*Teenagers are young enough to have a future hope, but old enough to be responsible, work hard, and be strong. They are willing to take risks and believe the impossible if only you give them the opportunity!
*By changing the lives of teenage boys on the street, we hope to indirectly influence the younger and older street populations as well through the example of good character and hard work!
Club Anbesa does not directly work with small children, elderly, or even any girls.
There are very specific reasons for that.
1. God specifically sent these boys to us. We did not go out looking for anyone, but the ones who came were the ones you see. Before we arived in Ethiopia, God promised "I will send them to you." 2. I had previously been prepared to work with teenage boys, of all demographics: go figure. I don't believe in coincidences. BUT there is a practical reason for working with teenage boys on the street!
*Smaller children have numerous aid programs and organizations helping them.
*Elderly people living on the street do not have as much an opportunity to grow out of poverty.
*Many adults on the street are there by choice and make a living begging.
*The teenage street kids are looked up to by the younger street kids, so what they can accomplish will serve as an inspiration and encouragement for the younger generation.
*Many small children on the street have their parents on the street as well, and are often times USED by their parents to beg. We do not encourage this or want to enable that sort of behaviour.
*There are less girls than boys on the streets.
*When boys may leave home due to extreme poverty, girls will stay because they are home-workers
*Girls can get servant style jobs in homes, while boys are less likely to get such work opportunity.
*Teenage street kids especially do not conform and have a low success rate in current "aid" programs due to the regulations, rules, etc. and their current free state.(Think of a teenager's personality and add years of free life to that and try to fit that into a structured home... it just doesn't usually work as well as we like)
*Teenagers are young enough to have a future hope, but old enough to be responsible, work hard, and be strong. They are willing to take risks and believe the impossible if only you give them the opportunity!
*By changing the lives of teenage boys on the street, we hope to indirectly influence the younger and older street populations as well through the example of good character and hard work!
