Ethiopia Part II

Shock, I’m going abroad again. This time I am returning to Ethiopia in April with the organisation Music as Therapy International. We will be carrying out a follow up visit to assess the success of our training project in October 2018. The initial project involved training staff from a Hospice, mental health rehabilitation centre, and a centre for adults with disabilities on how to use music as a form of therapy. There is a lot of stigma around cancer, HIV, disability and mental health in Ethiopia. Through music we were able to communicate with people and start breaking down barriers. We saw a significant improvement in the health of some of the patients suffering from severe schizophrenia. The trainees in the Hospice commented on the effectiveness of music in relieving pain and helping the patients find peace. We are excited to be going back to see if more progress has been made and what we can do to support the staff with more training. The trip is funded, however, I would like to raise £200 to buy some instruments. This is so we can implement an outreach project with the Hospice, delivering music therapy to patients who live in rural isolation. Any donation, however big or small, would be extremely appreciated!