Common River

Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Common River, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

The covid-19 pandemic has hit us all hard.  A group near and dear to my heart, Common River NGO, in Ethiopia has been hit especially hard.  Due to a combination of political unrest and the ongoing pandemic, visitation, and thus income, has screeched to a halt.  There is no stimulus package available here :(. Because of this, the school has had to close and operations are at a bare minimum. 

The women's literacy program, serving over 100 women in the community has been able to continue with bottom of the barrell funds.  With your help, we hope to be able to continue the program until visitors can resume again (hopefully in 2021).  

Many of the women in this community had to leave school at an early age to start a family.  This program has given them the chance to learn to read and write.  Women come together each afternoon during the week to learn, commune and drink coffee.  

More information about Common River: Common River is a US-based non-governmental organization (501c3) implementing a community development program in the heart of the Sidama coffee growing region of southern Ethiopia. We work on three main interventions: A. Education: built an elementary school for children for a female literacy program for women. B. Health: grow our own food & coffee, host medical volunteers, health education and nutrition C. Livelihoods: built an eco-lodge for volunteers, started a dairy, poultry and bee farm.

Last year, Common River committed to expand the school for Aleta Wando, Ethiopia, from its first four grades into grades 5 through 8.  Education for children has consistently been the top priority need expressed by our community here in Sidama country.

The school building work was well underway when a new travel advisory on Ethiopia was issued by the U.S. Our funds were dramatically impacted, as they have historically come from volunteer tourism programs such as with the University of Texas Medical School, who canceled due to this travel advisory.

We have gone from 39 volunteers last year to only 6 this year, losing a third of the support we need to keep the school open!

We are working urgently to diversify our sources of funding, but need your help to cover the costs of running the school program this year!

Please donate today to keep the school open for Aleta Wando's children!

Common River’s mission is to create a self-reliant community in the southern Ethiopian region of Sidama through education, health and livelihoods.  Since 2007 our NGO created a school for 230 students (K-4th grade) and a female literacy program for 125 women.

To learn more about Common River's education program, please visit: https://commonriver.org/childrens-education/

MAKE A PLAY ON POVERTY
 
Many of you know my sister Genet who came home to our family about 4 years ago. We are returning this summer to her country, Ethiopia.

We are going to a village where many of the kids are hungry, some are sick, and only a few are lucky enough to get an education.  We are going to a place called Common River, run by a US non-profit organization that aims to provide sustainable solutions to poverty.

My parents are building a pop up marketplace for women’s small-scale enterprise. To learn more about the exciting work happening at Common River, please visit: http://commonriver.org

My goal is to build a baseball field at the school. I believe it’s important to play even if things around you aren’t perfect. We will hold a tournament and teach the rules of American Baseball and have a party after. The field will be good for all kinds of sports. When we leave, the kids will remember us and know a little bit more about our culture and visa versa.

Thanks to my sponsor, EJ Sports Baseball for providing all uniforms and equipment.

Please help us make a play on poverty.    All tax deductible donations  go directly to Common  River  and their programs impacting lives through education, health services, and livelihoods.    Thanks, Nick.