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Muslim and Christian children living together in the group homes has not caused a problem other than the different cooking requirements. When asked if they would rather live in separate homes, the children responded, We don't want to be separated, we are brothers and sisters. At present, living together seems to create understanding and tolerance, but I sensed that HFC staff members worried about what will happen when the children enter their teenage years.

Rahel and Kaleb have been raised by Nazanet since they were both a few weeks old. They are inseparable and have a very special love for each other. Over the years the relationship between these two children has become an inspiration for people in the HFC community. When someone is having a bad day, the remedy is to go and visit Rahel and Kaleb.

During an impromptu photo session, Abebech asked me to take her picture and struck a pose for the camera.

Days after joining her new family Mary has begun to interact with the other children but is not yet ready to join them in the daily routines.

While playing outside her house Sarah suffered a terrible fall. The subsequent gangrenous infection took such a hold that she had to have her arm amputated. Hope For Children is currently raising money for a prosthetic arm. Medical attention for amputees in Ethiopia is limited, and many of them end up using their disability to beg on the street.

After their parents passed away Tesfaye and his older brother lived with their blind grandmother. Although the grandmother is no longer able to look after the two boys she visits them regularly. During this visit Tesfaye's grandmother touched his shoes, clothes, and face to make sure he was being well looked after. With my basic Amharic I was able to understand that she was whispering to him to study hard, mind his group home mother, and become an important person.

Each HFC group home is different, but the love and support the children give each other exists in every one of them. I was amazed to observe the empathy and understanding between children who were not born siblings but have become family.