It's hard to believe we're back...

It's hard to believe that this time last week we were still in Ethiopia, and that our two weeks have come and gone. This trip to Ethiopia was the one we have been waiting for since we started Youth Release back in 2008 and it honestly was worth every minute of the wait. For the first time, the Youth Release team got to see the project in real life, up to now we have been envisioning what it would look like, making changes, meeting with the necessary people to make sure it was going to happen, (for those who know us and have been with us the whole way let’s be honest we were balls of stress :) )

To be able to meet the community and see that they are so involved in the project is much more than we could have asked for. Not only are there 15 local staff working in the community, but there are also local volunteers, part time teachers and even a parents committee! On paper there are 200 direct beneficiaries this means that 200 children get educational support (schools supplies) psycho social support(counseling services) and tutorial classes, but after spending two weeks at the center every day, it is clear that there over 200 children using the youth center. This is what we always wanted, a youth center where children can come and play, use the library, join the clubs, no matter what their back ground is and the youth center is just that. Along with the 200 direct beneficiaries, we have 17 young adults on the vocational training program. Eight young women have already graduated, and nine boys will graduate in the coming months. As they graduate more adolescents will be added to the program. We will be bringing you some stories about these young adults soon and also stories about their employers.

We hope through the blogs you got to understand a little bit more about the project and what we are doing! Thank you so much again for all your support and encouragement! If you are interested in supporting Youth Release you can make a donation online www.youthrelease.com or send a cheque to

Youth Release

Dooneen,

Kilmeaden

Co Waterford

Ireland

If you would like to contact us please send an email to youthrelease@gmail.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible.Thank you so much and thank you to our wonderful team on the ground and all the Youth Release team in Ireland! You guys are AWESOME!