One of the ways I continue to try and give back to Ethiopia, the country I have adopted two children from, is volunteering as the AHOPE Supplies Coordinator. AHOPE stands for African HIV Orphans: Project Embrace, and it is an orphanage for AIDS orphans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The AIDS orphans at AHOPE have not only lost their families to HIV/AIDS, but they are now living with this terrible virus themselves.

AHOPE provides a loving environment for these children, as well as life-saving anti-retro viral medications... more

In my last post, I wrote all about AHOPE, how I got involved with them and how I became committed to HIV+ children in Ethiopia.

Now I am going to write about how you can help the children of AHOPE.

I am the volunteer supplies coordinator for AHOPE. As you can likely imagine, housing and caring for 80 or so HIV+ children requires a lot of supplies. AHOPE relies heavily on donations for items such as clothing, baby care items, school supplies and basic medical supplies. And because it is very costly to ship things to Ethiopia and AHOPE would have to pay fees to receive the packages, they rely on traveling... more

Today I am going to write about something that I am passionate about, and something that is very near and dear to my heart. Today I am going to write about AHOPE.

AHOPE stands for African HIV Orphans: Project Embrace. AHOPE Ethiopia is an orphanage for HIV+ children in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. AHOPE Ethiopia is a NGO (non-governmental organization).

AHOPE for Children is the non-profit corporation licensed in the state of Washington that funds AHOPE Ethiopia. AHOPE for Children is also recognized by the U.S. Treasury... more

If you have been around Adoptionblogs.com or the Adoption.com Forums today, you may have already read about the awesome even that Build-A-Bear Workshop is holding on May 19. But just in case you have not heard about it, I wanted to make sure I mention it on here.

Build-A-Bear Workshop, that super fun store where kids can choose, "stuff", clean, name, dress and accessorize their very own stuffed animal, is holding "Stuffed with Hugs: Hugs Sweet Hugs" on... more

I recently heard about a bunch of adoptive moms and others who will be traveling to Ethiopia in March to do volunteer work at Adoption Advocate International's Layla House and at AHOPE. One of the big projects will be an "Extreme Room Makeover" for the older children at Layla House.

They need volunteers to go and help work, and to help carry all of the supplies over. I can't think of volunteer work that would be any more fun than hanging out with and helping those wonderful children for a week.

Here is the list of projects they will be tackling (from the Hearts of Hope website)...

Paint 10 bedrooms... more

Because of my strong belief that we should all do something to help those less fortunae than us, I have started a new category on my blog titled "Opportunties to Do Good". I have moved over a few of my old posts to this category and am adding this new one today. If anyone has a suggestion for me to write about in this category, feel free to leave me a comment or email me at transracialadoptblog@adoptionmail.com

Here is a great opportunity to do some good. Love Without Boundaries is an awesome organization that provides humanitarian aid... more

OK, I know I already posted earlier about AHOPE, but I just learned that there are three babies that are HIV+ and desperately needing to come into AHOPE. AHOPE is unable to bring in these babies because they don't have the funding to care for them. They need three sponsors for each of these babies. This is literally a life or death situation for these babies... If they can't take them, they will leave a US adoption agency's care for a very uncertain fate in one of the govt. orphanages. This is why AHOPE's work is SO important. This is an urgent situation.

Unfortunately, AHOPE can't provide pictures beforehand due to Ethiopian regulations, but once a sponsor is on board, he/she will... more

Ok, here is a great chance to do something good today. :)My husband and I just signed up to sponsor a child at AHOPE. Sponsoring a child is a wonderful and easy way for all of us to look beyond the lives we live and make a difference for someone much less fortunate.

Our family has chosen to sponsor a child because for one, it helps us feel connected to the beautiful country of Ethiopia that we have so fallen in love with. I also want my children to know how lucky they are, to think beyond their play station and their Yu Gi Oh cards, and to feel like they are helping a child who needs it.

AHOPE for Children is an organization that has been formed to help children orphaned by... more