Since 2007, the House of Joy in Shashemene, Ethiopia, has been a sanctuary for abandoned babies with no other hope for survival. The government entrusts these vulnerable infants to the House of Joy because there are no other options available for them. The home’s primary mission is to place these children into permanent, loving families through adoption.
Creating Forever Families
The House of Joy is deeply committed to finding forever families for these children. They host adoption seminars to recruit and train families who are willing to open their hearts and homes to these abandoned babies. Their passion for placing children in loving homes reflects their belief in the power of family to transform lives.
A Vision of Transformation
The vision of the House of Joy is to partner with God in rewriting the life stories of these children. Over the years, more than 100 babies have been rescued and placed in forever families, giving them a chance at a better life.
A Story of Hope: Biftu’s Journey
One powerful example is the story of Biftu. Found crying on a street corner by a policewoman, Biftu was brought to the hospital for a few days before finding refuge at the House of Joy. Recently, Biftu was adopted by Bethlehem, a well-educated widow with her own business and an adult daughter. Inspired by a friend’s adoption story, Bethlehem decided to adopt Biftu, and now she has a precious daughter to call her own.’
Join Us in Making a Difference
The House of Joy is changing the lives of abandoned babies, one adoption at a time. By supporting this mission, you can help provide hope and a loving family to the most vulnerable. Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, nurturing home.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a beautiful land-locked country almost twice the size of Texas. The country terrain consists of mostly high plateau with a central mountain range divided by the Great Rift Valley.
Over 110 million people live in Ethiopia, most living in the central highlands. According to some official statistics, almost 90% of the Ethiopian population lives below the poverty level. The average per capita income in Ethiopia is around $800 USD. This income cannot begin to meet the real needs of a family.
High death rates caused by AIDS, inadequate medical care, and unsanitary living conditions have added other layers of stress on the already precarious family institution of the poor.
There are over 5 million orphaned children in Ethiopia, and almost one million of these have been orphaned through HIV/AIDS. UNICEF data states there are more than 300,000 orphaned children living on the streets nationwide with 100,000 in Addis Ababa alone. The average age at which children begin living on the streets in Ethiopia is 10 years old, but 20% of the street children are under the age of five.
