We have a new featured Connection for the spring. As you know $100 from each photo session goes directly to a featured organization. All me to introduce you to this season’s organization- ESMAfrica.

ESMAfrica operates out of the southern Ethiopian city of Hawassa. I like to call them “The Yes Ministry”, because that always seems to be their answer when a new need comes along. Their reach is in many aspects of the community, primarily three children’s homes:

Ebenezer Grace Children’s Home (EGCH)- The flagship home opened its doors in 2010. Most of the children came into this family due to abandonment. Others came as a means of being saved from traditional tribal practices that declares them “cursed” (Mingi), which carries a death sentence. This is an orphanage that feels more like a loving home.

Lantu’s Home of Hidden Treasures – This home was dedicated to the memory of Lantu (EGCH’s first child, who had many special needs). The focus is to be a place where special needs and typically developing children live side-by-side. I can personally vouch that this is the nicest special needs home I have ever visited in the third world.

House of Hope – Opening later in 2017, is a home for children living with HIV. The unique vision of this home is that these children will have “house parents” and function as a family.

And because a visual is always nice, here are some of the recent photos I shot while visiting ESMAfrica and the surrounding area.

This little one had just been brought to ESMAfrica after having been found in the trash…

Some of the children in the ESMAfrica family…

A couple of shots from the surrounding area…