There is no me without you
reviewed by Mia Morris
Melissa Fay Green one Women’s odyssey to rescue Africa’s children published by Bloomsbury Publishing
When Haregewoin Tefeerra suffered terrible loss she was a middle class woman from Ethiopia living an idyllic life when tragedy strikes her family, her husband a high school principal died of a heart attack and tragically her newly wed daughter died consumed by an unnamed illness.
Such terrible lost feelings of total desolation and isolation and numbness, but before Haregewoin, can be totally consumed by grief and remorse was presented one day in church with two orphaned children, and was asked by the minister to house them. Despite the naysayers, and startled protest of friends Haregewoin does the unthinkable. What most would say was the undoable, she goes on to open up her compound to orphan children and HIV positive individuals from across the country 100 altogether . Certainly the word get rounds Ethiopia and her home becomes a home to many , people will just literally appear outside of her gate and say , ‘Can you take them?’ Their parents have died.
This eloquent book shares their stories, triumphs and difficulties , the fight to get food, access to medical support and for people to accept the issues, and also goes on to share how some of the young people who have been adopted begin their new life with new families in America. This beautifully written account by author and journalist Melissa Fay Green based in America, wrote this book as a result of an assignment completed from the New York Times Magazine, this article has brought much attention to the issue and the work of this orphanage and clinic.
The book complete with references and resources is testament to the power of recording history as it unfolds now. If you are interested to find out more about the various charities involved in engagement and advocacy on the ground in Ethiopia go to www.ahopeforchildren.org
There is no me without you
by Melissa Fay Greene
02 October, 2006
Price: £11.99 |
