COEEF

The seed that eventually became Children of Ethiopia Education Fund was planted when Norm and Ruthann Perdue traveled to Ethiopia with a humanitarian organization in June 2001. Ruthann, a nurse and Norm, a photographer, were happy to offer their services in a small village called Kersa Elala.

"The experience forever changed our lives," said Norm and Ruthann. They gradually learned more about Ethiopia and it opened their eyes.

They learned that less than half of all Ethiopians can read, and barely half of Ethiopian children are enrolled in school. For those that attend the free, government-run schools, conditions are not fitting for proper educational growth. Classrooms are crowded, and there is a lack of basic resources like desks and chalkboards. Students have been known to write arithmetic problems with their fingers in the dirt by their feet.

An education comparable to what an American would receive at a public school can only be received at privately run schools, most of which are rather modest by Western standards.· The problem is that these schools are beyond most Ethiopians financial abilities.

One of the children Norm and Ruthann met was 12-year-old Kidest. She was exceptionally bright and spoke English very well. Kidest lived with her grandmother and attended Ethiopian Adventist College (EAC) in Kuyera, a private school across the highway from Kersa Elala. They discovered that Kidest's grandmother was working at EAC, performing manual labor to pay for her Kidest’s education there.

In talking with the grandmother, Norm and Ruthann learned that Kidest's father had died and that her mother, unable to cope with the strain of raising her alone, had abandoned her and had not been seen since. Kidest's grandmother confided that she was beginning to feel the effects of old age and was not sure how long she could continue working to pay for Kidest's schooling.

Norm made some inquiries and learned that for less than $200 a year he could pay for Kidest's tuition, books, supplies and uniform. Norm and Ruthann sponsored Kidest to continue her education in EAC prior leaving the village and in essence became the first COEEF sponsor.

"When we returned to Salt Lake City and told our story, many of our friends and associates also wanted to help these children. This is how our program began," said Norm and Ruthann.

By October 2001, Norm and Ruthann had convinced enough of their neighbors and co-workers to sponsor a student. They returned to Ethiopia to enroll 30 children in private schools. Shortly after that, a board of directors was assembled and the Children of Ethiopia Education Fund was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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