Reunion in Jinka – A Journey Full of Encounters, Joy, and Hope
TRAVEL REPORT – by Carmen Kisters, OMO Child Germany
April 2025
After a year and a half, the time had finally come: In mid-April, I returned to Ethiopia, back to OMO Child. Even the long and adventurous journey, due to the weather, couldn’t dampen my excitement.
Arriving in Jinka, I received a warm welcome – from Lale, the staff, and, of course, especially from the children. Our car was packed with gifts that my driver, Mule, had bought in Addis Ababa: Thanks to our successful fundraising campaign, we were able to bring not only new sneakers for all the children, but also sportswear for the schoolchildren in Dus. After a round of greetings and a cup of Ethiopian coffee, the gifts were distributed, board games brought from Germany were tried out, and, of course, cake was eaten – a wonderful start.
I was especially pleased to see Asegedech (Asegu) again, who herself grew up at OMO Child and has taken over the operational management of the children’s home since last year. She manages daily life on site with great confidence and a lot of heart. Her experience as a nurse in Addis Ababa is very helpful in this regard.
Early on Monday morning, Lale took me to the grounds of the OMO Child Primary School. We were able to observe the children during their morning arrival and the daily flag ceremony. The school now has 730 children in 14 classes – from first to tenth grade. The schoolyard was correspondingly colorful and lively. But with the principal’s address and the singing of the national anthem (cf. VIDEO), calm and discipline immediately returned. In class, too, it quickly became clear how committed and respectful people are to one another here – despite the cramped conditions. Some classrooms are still temporary, as the rapid growth exceeds our current financial means for expansion. Nevertheless, the school is highly respected in the region and was recently named the best school in the central intermediate examinations – an award that the principal proudly presented to me.
A highlight was my visit to the new school in Dus the next day. Due to the rain of the past few days, the road was impassable, and we had to cover the last few kilometers by boat – a small adventure. In Dus, a warm welcome awaited us with dancing, singing, and many happy faces. The children proudly demonstrated what they had already learned, and their joy over the gifts was so great that the food was forgotten for a while. The conversations with the village elders and the teacher, in particular, gave me the renewed feeling that our school is truly making a difference here.
Back in Jinka, the next few days were filled with organizational tasks – because it’s important that all resources are used responsibly. In between, I had “moral support” from some children who curiously watched my work.
A particularly wonderful experience was dinner with the children on Thursday. We actually only wanted to shoot a short birthday video for my sister-in-law – but instead, the mothers organized a complete surprise party, including a live broadcast to Europe, cake, and music. An evening full of laughter and warmth.
Friday belonged entirely to the children again. The anticipation of Easter was palpable, and at one point, one of the girls shyly asked me if I could arrange a hair appointment for them. They wanted to get ready for Easter Mass. Of course, I said yes – and so the next morning, ten excited girls headed off to the hairdresser. Meanwhile, I was with Asegu at the market, where the ingredients for the festive meal were being purchased – including live chickens, as is traditional in Ethiopia at Easter. Later, when we stopped at the hair salon, I saw happy faces beaming under giant curlers.
On Saturday afternoon, the final preparations for Easter were underway: The mothers baked countless injera flatbreads, the boys prepared the chickens, and the freshly styled girls returned, one after the other, beaming. It was wonderful to see how much joy can be brought by such small gestures.
And then, far too quickly, the moment of farewell came. The week had flown by. Every visit makes the connection more intense, the trust greater – and the farewell more difficult.
Before I finally returned to Germany, I met four other children from OMO Child in Addis Ababa who are studying there or living with a foster mother to receive better medical care. We had a wonderful Easter dinner with Lale’s biological children.
I’m back in Germany with many memories and a full heart. My sincere thanks go to Lale, Asegu, all the staff—and of course to you, our supporters.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
HELFEN SIE MIT
Mit einer Patenschaft sichern Sie nicht nur die Grundversorgung eines Kindes, sondern seine Zukunft.