Why Ethiopia

So why Ethiopia? When Kevin and I started looking into adoption we really didn't have a particular place in mind. Our hearts have always been international, so we started thinking in that direction immediately. Although I don't feel we would be dissapointed to have a child from any place in the world we were drawn to Ethiopia both for simplicity because it is a relatively short wait for children, for the fact that there are so many children there without homes, and the high mortality of children from malnutrition and disease. Here are some starteling statistics:

* One out of every 20 children born alive die in their first month of life
* One out of ten die before reaching their first birthday
* One out of six die before reaching the fifth birthday
* In Addis Ababa more than 30 per cent of girls aged 10 to 14 are not living with their parents. Twenty per cent of these 30 per cent have run away from child marriages.
* In the Amhara region, the average age of marriage for girls is 14, while at the national level the mean age for marriage is 17.
* There are about 2.5 million children with disabilities.
* Average life expectancy is 48 for men, 50 for women
* 1 physician for every 34,988 people
* 1 in 4 women dies in childbirth or from a pregnancy-related illness
* 22% of the population has access to improved drinking sources: 81% in urban areas and 11% in rural
* 13% of the population has access to adequate sanitation facilities: 44% in urban areas and 7% in rural
* Only 50% of children attend primary school (K-3)
* Average class size in government schools – 85-100 children
* Overall literacy rate is 42%, with many more girls and women illiterate than men
* Unlawful kidnapping and forced seizure of young girls for marriage is common in certain parts of Ethiopia, especially in the SNNPR (13%) and Oromia (11%).
* More than half of girls ages 15-19 have been circumcised. About one quarter of girls ages 15-24 believe the practice should continue
* Rape is a serious problem. A study on street violence among girls ages 10-24 in Addis Ababa found that 15% of the respondents had been raped, and during their first sexual activity, 43% had been coerced into sex. (facts from UNICEF)