Our Impact

The P2P orphan sponsorship program continues to change the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children in Ethiopia. Over the life of the program hundreds of children have been saved from a dire future through the provision of the basic necessities of life including a reasonably comfortable home environment, education, health care and cultural programs to nurture their spirits. Many of them have become self sustaining adults who give back to society.

P2P has also supported our program delivery partners in Ethiopia (HIDO & HOH) to improve their capacity to deliver their core programs and facilities. P2P has also supported additional critical support for emergencies, includes substantial funding for the provision of protective supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In earlier years, our community health advocacy and education programs in the GTA focusing on hiv/aids have reached a large number of the target community, especially youth.

ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP and auxiliary PROGRAMs

The Sponsorship Program provides support to children who are orphaned by HIV/AIDS.  Children between the ages of 3-18 gain access to comprehensive support such as shelter, food, psycho-social care, education and health care. P2P works in partnership with two well recognized non-profit organizations in Ethiopia: Hiwot Integrated Development Organizaiton (HIDO) and Hanna Orphan Homes (HOH) to deliver the program.

 Currently, P2P sponsors 250 children.  In addition to basic care, the children also receive  school supplies such as uniforms, backpacks and stationery. Additionally, children who are HIV positive and require regular  medical follow up receive  extra support so they can lead a more fulfilling life.  

In previous years, when its financial resources allowed, P2P, in collaboration with HIDA, supported orphaned and vulnerable children and their families with the following auxiliary projects.

• Kindergarten Learning Project
  This project was  designed to address the gap in education by providing access to kindergarten learning for children from low income families between the ages of 4 and 6. Over 200 children who could not hitherto afford the costs of kindergarten participated in this program and were successfully admitted to elementary school.

• Worksheet Project
  This project provided tutorial support to older orphans attending secondary schools. Over 2000 secondary students benefited from this program.

• Cultural Club
  This project enabled youth to generate self-sustaining income through the provision of musical instruments,  and by organizing a widely recognized  musical performance group.

• Micro- Finance/Income Generation
  This project financed 40 grandmothers with $50, a small amount of cotton, spinning wheels and training.  By selling what they produced,  they were able to buy their supplies and cover their monthly expenses and care for their orphaned grandchildren with a means to supporting their family. 

• Vocational Training
  P2P channeled older orphans into vocational training including computer and mobile training, auto mechanics, woodwork, leather work, hairdressing etc. P2P also provided micro credit to the older orphans as soon as they finished their training.

HIV/AIDS AWARENESS & PREVENTION

Since its inception, P2P has organized and led various awareness and educational campaigns for the African-Canadian community in the Greater Toronto Area. P2P has received funding for its educational activities from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Toronto Arts Council, City of Toronto, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, Law Foundation of Ontario, and pharmaceutical Companies.   

• Train-the trainer seminars

• World AIDS day conferences

• Annual Youth Festivals

• Targeting women: combating HIV/AIDS-related stigma project

• Peer to Peer Education program.

• Taking it where they are: a venue-based outreach intervention

• Youth Leadership Development Project

• Book Drive

• Bridging the Gap "I can talk to my Teen"

• Supporting Our Community: Our Health Our Laws

Educational and Awareness Projects in Ethiopia

In 2013/14 P2P sponsored the publishing of two books - 50 Questions Children ask about HIV/AIDS and The Loss of Innocence by Ethiopian author and educator Yoseph Ayalew. The key theme of the books is to empower children and youth with knowledge on HIV/AIDS and become part of the solution to the national pandemic. The author based his work on time spent in classrooms and in response to various questions raised by children and youth about HIV/AIDS. Over 15,000 copies were published and distributed to participating Elementary schools in Addis Ababa and other regions like Bale Goba, Shashemene, Hawasa and Yirgalem. The publishing of these two books was made possible by the financial support of Teresa and Herpal Sandhu.