by Gordon Nary
Gordon: When did you attend Addis Ababa University what degrees did you earn, what was your favorite course, and why was that course your favorite?
Amy: I have attended Addis Ababa University, where I earned both my Bachelor of Arts in Social Anthropology (from 2012-2015) and my Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in community and social development (from 2015-2017). Social Anthropology was not my first choice for my bachelor's degree, as I was assigned that program by the government. However, I have always been passionate about social work, and I was able to pursue that interest in my master's degree.
During my Bachelor of Arts studies, my favorite course was Visual Anthropology. This course focused on filmmaking, particularly in places where recording is difficult due to a lack of facilities. We would watch films and analyze the filmmaking techniques used. In my Master of Social Work program, I particularly enjoyed the counseling courses. These classes focused on how to provide professional guidance to individuals dealing with psychological or personal problems.
Gordon: When and where were you a Volunteer Social Worker and what is one of your favorite memories when you were there?
Amy: From July 2015 to January 2017, I worked as a volunteer at the Cheshire Foundation's Action for Inclusion project. The focus of the project was on building all-inclusive latrines for government schools and providing training for young water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) clubs on various hygiene-related topics.
My favorite memories from this volunteer work were the activities I led in primary schools to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene. These outreach efforts aimed to educate students, especially young girls, on proper menstrual health management practices. It was very fulfilling to be able to have open discussions about a topic that is often stigmatized, and to empower students with the knowledge and resources they need to manage their menstrual cycles in a safe and dignified way.
Gordon: When did you serve as a Social Worker at Ethiopian Society of Sociologists, Social Workers and Anthropologists and what were your primary responsibilities?
Amy: From July 2020 to June 2021, I worked part-time as a Social Worker at the Ethiopian Society of Sociologists, Social Workers and Anthropologists (ESSSWA). My primary responsibilities in this role were to provide training to community service workers on various topics, including psychological first aid, safeguarding, child protection case management, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was assigned to work in the Tselemti area, located in the North Western Zone of Ethiopia under the Tigray regional administration. During this time, I trained twenty-three community service workers who had been hired by the local municipality. The training sessions were conducted through conference calls with the assistance of a translator. Unfortunately, the project had to be stopped when the Northern Ethiopia conflict began.
Gordon: When did you serve as Sponsorship Officer at German Church School Addis Ababa and what were your primary responsibilities?
Amy: From April 2017 to December 2021, I worked as a Sponsorship Officer at the German Church School. In this role, my primary responsibilities were:
Managing the student database
Communicating with donors about the welfare and progress of the sponsored children
Preparing the annual sponsorship budgets
A significant aspect of my work involved maintaining regular communication with the students, their parents/caregivers, and the sponsors who were supporting them financially. This allowed me to ensure the donors were kept informed about the children's well-being and academic progress.
Gordon: When did you serve as Project Coordinator Network of Organizations for the visually impaired and the blind? What do you find most rewarding about your work?
From January 2022 to May 2022, I worked as a Project Coordinator at the Network of Organizations for the Visually Impaired and the Blind. The most rewarding aspect of this position was the opportunity to meet and interact with many influential people with disabilities, who proved to be true inspirations.
In this role, I had the privilege of connecting with individuals who had overcome significant challenges to achieve remarkable accomplishments. Hearing their personal stories and learning about their journeys was both humbling and empowering. Their resilience, determination, and advocacy efforts served as a powerful reminder of the immense potential of people with disabilities to make meaningful contributions to society.
Gordon: When did you serve as Social Worker at Tikuret Lesetoch Ena Lehitsanat Mahber and what were some of the challenges in your work?
My time working with Tikuret Lesetoch ena Lehitsanat Mahber was the shortest, spanning only from July 2022 to August 2022. In this role, I served as a Social Worker. The primary challenge during my time with the organization was the severe lack of funding. This issue was particularly acute, as there were around nineteen children residing there, ten of whom had multiple disabilities and required extensive, costly medical care.
Despite the financial constraints, the organization worked tirelessly to provide the best possible support and care for these vulnerable children. As a Social Worker, I witnessed the dedication and resourcefulness of the staff as they navigated the complexities of delivering essential services with limited resources.
Gordon: You are currently Child Protection Officer at Jesuit Refugee Service Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,. What are your primary responsibilities?
Amy: As a Child Protection Officer, my main responsibilities include:
Providing case management services to unaccompanied, separated, and other vulnerable children
Offering psychosocial support and psychological first aid to people in need
Conducting home visits
Delivering emergency assistance, which may be in the form of cash or in-kind support
Collaborating closely with partner organizations like UNHCR and Refugees and Returnees Services (RRS)
Designing and facilitating capacity-building trainings for refugee and host communities
Gordon: What are some of the challenges that you have to address as Child Protection Officer?
Amy: While I strive to provide the best possible support and interventions to the individuals and families I serve, there are instances where the limitations of my current position or the capacity of the organization make it challenging to offer the necessary assistance. In these situations, it can be deeply difficult and painful to witness the struggles of the refugees and feel powerless to alleviate their hardships.
Gordon: Please share with our readers the poverty challenges in Ethiopia.
Amy: Poverty is a significant issue in Ethiopia, with a large portion of the population living below the poverty line. There are several factors contributing to poverty in Ethiopia, including limited access to education, healthcare, and basic services, as well as high levels of unemployment and underemployment. Additionally, natural disasters such as droughts and floods can exacerbate poverty by destroying crops and livestock. Moreover, the high inflation rate and increased corruption have also significantly contributed to the prevalence of poverty in Ethiopia.
Gordon: Please share with our readers information about the famine challenges in Ethiopia.
Amy As of 2022, the ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia have led to the devastating impact of famine in several regions of the country. This crisis has resulted in the tragic loss of many lives. However, rather than addressing this pressing issue, the government has chosen to deny the existence of acute famine in these affected areas. What makes this situation particularly dire is that the people cannot migrate to neighboring regions due to the ongoing conflicts. This leaves them trapped and without the ability to seek refuge or access vital resources.
Furthermore, the challenges are compounded by the fact that international organizations, such as the World Food Programme, have been forced to deny services in these regions. This is due to the tragic loss of their staff members, as well as the frequent robberies and looting of the supplies they attempt to bring in.
Gordon: What are some of the Human Rights challenges in Ethiopia?
Protecting and exercising human rights remains a persistent challenge in Ethiopia, despite changes in leadership. Under the current government, empty promises have failed to prevent the arrest of individuals who voice dissent, including opposition party leaders, journalists, and activists. The alarming number of people detained without disclosure of their whereabouts and denied visitation rights highlights the ongoing violations of human rights in the country. Therefore, it is evident that human rights are not fully respected in Ethiopia.
Gordon: Thank you for an exceptional interview. I am asking all of our readers to pray for relief of famine in Ethiopia.