Community of Korah : Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

HelpKorah Moves To Transformation Love

2011-06-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

Hello friends, it has been a while since I updated the HelpKorah site. In fact, an interim break from this site has been in full-swing. As mentioned previously on this site, the initial purpose and goal of HelpKorah was to be an "Awareness Engine" (to coin a phrase). With the end-goal of raising awareness for the Korah / Kore area of Ethiopia, I feel like HelpKorah has certain fulfilled that goal. So, within the last year, I have been working hand-in-hand with Transformation Love and at this time, would like to announce that I am going to migrate my "Awareness Engine" or "media" efforts there. So, in some sense, HelpKorah has dissolved into Transformation Love's media branch. As you might imagine, I am very excited about this. So, you can wait 5-minutes and this page will automatically redirect, or you can go ahead and click the following link: www.TransformationLove.com. Thanks for all of your support and we hope that you will join us at TransformationLove!

Letter to Friends & Advocates of Help Korah

2011-01-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

Dear friends, advocates and supporters of HelpKorah,

I want to thank each and every one of you who has encouraged me in the cause of raising awareness for and helping Korah. Certainly, over the past year, I have faced many hurdles; this has NOT been easy. I have been threatened, used, manipulated, lied to, lied about, backstabbed and heartbroken. Despite the many obstacles that stood in the way of trying to care for many of the people in Ethiopia that I love so dearly, I pressed on. I did so as a full-time student. I took no pay for any of the work or long hours I put in. I had no compensation for phone calls or other expenses. Even so, I believe that it is the season to take a different route. I have prayed and thought through this for a while now.

The original goal for HelpKorah was to simply raise awareness for Korah. I feel like I’ve done that and that the organization has achieved its goal. One year ago, if you were to search Google or any other search engine on details about Korah, you would have found nothing. Once I launched this site, that all changed. Many folks got on board. Many went and visited. Folks started moving there. Lots of things started happening. Certainly, I’m not taking credit for the hard work others have put in. I am merely saying that having reached nearly 15,000 visits to this site in 10 months and receiving emails almost daily from folks interested in Korah, a lot has been accomplished. However, with so many folks blogging about Korah now, going to visit and doing various things there, I’m not sure that there is a need for me to continue doing that under an organizational banner.

Furthermore, I have become convinced that involvement in education both on the fronts of church and school, are where my sights need to be set. Some great opportunities have arisen for me in this area, which I shall say more about in the future. I will say now, however, that these extend beyond Korah to include Ethiopia and even other parts of Africa. And, of course, for the faithful, those wondering, yes, there will be opportunities to continue supporting my work. AT the end of the day, I have found that doing things under an organizational name is incredibly burdening. People seem to grow extra hostile and manipulative when it comes to organizations. So, for now, I just want to be an individual who reaches out to Ethiopia, while still encouraging others to do the same. For the sake of unity, my personal health and several other reasons that I shall choose to leave unstated, this is the approach I am going to take.

At the request of many within the last couple weeks who have noticed that the site has been down, I have chosen to put the site back up, albeit in a different format, so that past information is available to access. Again, for those of you who have worked alongside me and those of you who are carrying the torch on, thank you and God bless you. To those of you who have encouraged me, I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed having you as a partner. It is to you all, the supporters and encouragers, that I want to continue to make myself available; please, don't hesitate to get in touch if there is anything I can do for you. Also, for those who are interested, go check out my new Ethiopic/Amharic language site: Getting Ethiopic.

Sincerely,

Michael Halcomb

Founder, HelpKorah

01.06.11

HelpKorah Surpasses 10,000 Visits

2010-12-06T19:34:00.000-08:00

Today is a special day for several reasons, two of which have to do with Ethiopia. First, exactly one year ago today, my wife and I brought home our son Silas, whom we adopted from Ethiopia. So, it is a sort of Homecoming Day for us. Second, it was this week last year that I first started designing the HelpKorah organization and site. As many of you may recall, NOTHING could be found on the internet prior to this date one year ago related to Korah. Now, if you google it you will find tons of material. That is because many people have started going there! Praise God. So, on this day, I am thankful for all of these things and I want to thank all of you have been and continue to be supportive of me, my family, HelpKorah and the people of Korah. Thank you so much!

More Than 60 Children Sponsored!!!

2010-10-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to give a quick update to let everyone know that our first cohort of children have been sponsored! That's right, 100% of them! That is more than 60 children. This is completely awesome. Thank you all for making this happen and for changing so many lives. Look at what was accomplished in just about 3 months; I cannot even imagine what the future holds. Some time in the near future, our database will be updated with the second cohort of about 75 children. Hopefully, we'll get them looked after just as quickly as we did this first group. Share the good news with folks and check back soon for more profiles (I'll announce when the database has been updated).

Grace and peace,
-Michael

Nearly 60 Children Sponsored

2010-10-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post a quick update and announce that yesterday, another child was sponsored. That is bringing us right up to around 60 (we're at 58 right now!). Good things are continuing to happen. We've made a lot of contacts in Addis in the last couple of months and we're gearing up for something very big right now but, at the moment, we must keep that on the quiet...we'll announce it soon enough, though. Thanks to all our supporters. Let's keep advancing the Gospel in Addis!

The Help Korah Book

2010-09-18T11:35:00.001-07:00

Today, I am incredibly pleased to announce the first ever, that's right, The FIRST EVER, Help Korah book! The title is Help Korah: Sketches & Stories, Poems & Prayers. Here's what the back cover of the book says:

"In this awe-inspiring book, founder of HelpKorah, Michael Halcomb, joins with his wife Kristi and friend Chris Van Allsburg, in helping transport you into the world of Ethiopia. From the eye-catching sketches to the words of every story, poem and prayer, readers will be inspired, challenged and moved. If you have ever been to Ethiopia, this book will surely bring back memories. If you have yet to travel to this historic African land, this work will not only give you a glimpse into one of the earth’s most fascinating places, but also help prepare you to go experience it for yourself.

If you enjoy this book, you will be eager to know that more projects are underway! Stay tuned for other great literary works from HelpKorah in the near future."

This book boasts over 100 pages of inspiring sketches, beautiful poems, heartfelt prayers and riveting stories. So, take a peek in side. Below is a simple, .pdf sample as well as a nice little flash version of the book that allows you to zoom in on pages, scroll pages, use an interactive table of contents, etc. (Note: It may take a moment to load, especially on slower browsers.)

We have created the book in numerous formats. So, you can buy Kindle or Nook-friendly versions, a flash or .pdf version or you can go with the beautiful softcover edition. You can purchase them here online by clicking the button below. Please, know that 100% of the proceeds go toward ministry efforts in Addis. I (Michael), my wife Kristi and our co-author Chris Van Allsburg will split the proceeds of each book 3 ways and allot those funds for travel to Ethiopia. In short, every cent given through the purchase of this book will help us accomplish work in Addis. So, in advance, we say "Thank You" for helping us and for supporting this cause and showing your love for the people of Korah.

The 1st Ever HelpKorah Book
Help Korah: Sketches & Stories, Poems & Prayers
Get Your Copy Now!!!

Raped And Desperate: Help Needed Immediately

2010-09-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

I just received this email moments ago from one of our partner contacts in Ethiopia. It is a gut-wrenching story and just eats away at me. Yet, it is the REALITY of life there for so many women! Please, read the story of Almaz and if you can do anything to help, especially in the way of sponsorship, please, use the contact page to get in touch with me. Here's the testimony she gave to our contact, Nebiyu:

"The street life is very challenging and miserable especially for a woman who has young daughters. Formerly, I used to live on the street because I had no other options to survive," explained Almaz. "I am from Arba Minch, which is about 550 km far from Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. I used to live in the small village around Arba Minch. I had a great desire to help my parents and myself. While I was in this mind, I met a woman that can find a job for me in Addis Ababa. Her name is --------. She promised to give me a job in Addis Ababa. After a while, I decided to come with her and work in Addis Ababa. Unfortunately, she did not have the capacity to find a job for me even; she lives in the very crowded house with in an uncomfortable situation. That situation made me to search a job and work for survival. I lived with her for two years by working small activities to generate income for my own expense. At that time, ----- introduced me with Dawit. After a while, I gave my first baby from Dawit in 2005.I got a daughter and her name is Kalkidan. In Addis Ababa, there is a trend to increase the price of the house rent, if the family size is increased. Because of this, the price of the house rent was increased and I could not be able to pay the house rent. So I obliged to live on the street. It was very hard to me to begin life on the street with my baby. it was the only option to live, and thus street become my home. In order to prevent the wind, the sun, and the rain, I made a shelter on the street beside the fence of somebody’s compound. Even if, I made a plastic shelter, I always feel cold when the weather turned into colder especially, at the nighttime. Moreover, I had faced different challenges in different time. In order to make life easy, it was a must to work during the day time but the street boys and girls come and took the night cloths and the materials that I used to cook the food. There was also a problem in the nighttime. The street men come to me in order to satisfy their desire and mate me forcefully. For this reason, I started to live with some other street women. Unintentionally, I became pregnant and gave birth to Meron in 2008. At that time, I could not work anything because I had to look after for my daughters. So I decided to beg the people who walk on the street to get money for food. When I was living in this situation, one day five ladies came to my shelter and told me as they wanted to help me. I agreed with them and they took me the house where they rented for me. Now I am so happy because I have no fear whether it is dry season or rainy season. The weather does not make me think a lot. They promised to me as they will cover my room expense until I become self-sufficient. In addition, they told me to contact Transformation Love ministry in order to get further support in physically, socially and spiritually. Currently, Kalkidan is 5 years old and Meron is 2 ½ years old. I did not get a sponsor who can cover my daughter’s school and food expense."

Again, if you can help, please, use the contact form above and get in touch with us as soon as you can.

56 Kids Sponsored - 6 More Need Your Support

2010-09-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

With so many things going on lately, it has been challenging to blog. However, I just wanted to drop everyone a note to say that 56 children have now been sponsored through our partner Transformation Love! This is truly amazing! Thank you so much to everyone who is making this happen. Actually, right now there are only 6 children left on the list to sponsor. Can you be the change that one of these children so desperately need? If so, click the child sponsorship link above and make it happen. Our main partner at Transformation Love will be heading back to Addis soon and while there, will be acquiring more profiles. We will add them here as soon as possible. Please, spread the news. Let's get these 6 kids sponsored.

4 More Children Get Sponsors!!!

2010-09-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Things have been a little low-key for a few days here at HelpKorah but woohoo, 4 more kids just got sponsored today! How awesome!!! Thanks to everyone who is keeping this ball rolling and reaching out to the some of the world's neediest people. What about you, can you help change a child's life through sponsorship? If so, click the child sponsorship link above and be a blessing. If you cannot sponsor at this time, can you spread the word through your websites, blogs, facebook and twitter accounts? Every little bit helps! By the way, thought things having seemed to be moving along a little slowly over the last weekend, the truth is, our list of kids to sponsor is almost exhausted (only 17 profiles left on the site as of now). We're working on adding more little ones to the list but you know, it'd be great if we could just get those remaining 17 children sponsors. Heck, if you can't do it but know someone who is able, ask them to...they'll never regret it! This brings us to 17 sponsorships for those who are wondering!!!

Meet Georgia & Lillian: 2 Pre-Teen HelpKorah Advocates

2010-08-23T09:26:00.001-07:00

Meet Georgia & Lillian. These two girls are truly amazing! These pre-teen twins have started their own project to help sponsor children in Addis Abeba in the Korah area. Their story is both edifying and challenging and forces us to ask and answer the question: If two young children can sponsor children, then why can't I? I hope that as you watch this 53 second video, you will find the compassion to sponsor a child and the creativity to find ways to make it happen. Thank you Georgia & Lillian for all of the great ministry you are doing!!!

13 Kids Sponsored

2010-08-23T08:48:00.001-07:00

Yes, that's right, add another sponsored child to the list and make it 13! Let's keep this thing running full steam ahead folks. You know, when people donated to my (Michael) trip for Ethiopia in June / July of this year (2010), I told people, "I'm sure that every single donation will reach farther than any of us can imagine." This is exactly right. I mean, had I not gone, none of this would be happening right now. The partnerships with Transformation Love and Mekanisa Addis Kidan Church would not even exist; these kids would not have sponsors. Already, I've seen how that one trip has reached much farther than I could've ever imagined and how every donation that was made has surpassed its single worth. I feel like many more things lay on the horizon and that the reach will continue to extend. So, "Thank You" to everyone who helped with my trip and I hope you are seeing the fruit of what some of your support has done!!! Let's get some more kids sponsored.

3 More Kids Sponsored!!!

2010-08-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

That's right, in the last 3 days we've had 3 kids sponsored, how incredible!!! This brings us to to a total of 12 now and puts us just a little ahead of our 1 child every 2 days pace. Do you know someone who might have an interest in sponsoring? Do you have an interest yourself? There's no better time than the present to make it happen. Let's continue giving these kids and their families help and hope. We here at HelpKorah just want to say "Thank You" to everyone who is getting the word out and who is helping make this all possible. May we all continue to do our part to advance the Gospel in Addis and to change lives.

Check Out Transformation Love's New Site

2010-08-21T13:57:00.001-07:00

HelpKorah's Child Sponsorship Initiative partner, Transformation Love has launched their new site (created by yours truly). If you get a few moments, go check it out! While you're at it, sponsor a child :) Click the image-link to the left to get to their site. Ethiopia Sponsorship & Ethiopia Child Sponsorship

Sponsor A Child: For Free!!!

2010-08-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Now, you might think that title's misleading but actually, it's not! Today, I figured out a way to sponsor a child for $35 a month without having to budget out that $35. Essentially, I have found a way to sponsor a child at no cost. What do I mean?

Well, when you sign up for or own a Mastercard, you can also sign up for their free rewards program. One of the great rewards programs they have is called "Cash Rewards." For every cent you spend with your card, you earn money back. Recently, when I checked on our rewards program, I saw that in the last year, we earned $400 in cash. That is enough to cover about 11 & 1/2 months worth of sponsoring a child! If you spend a little more and bring your rewards earnings up to $420, you can sponsor a kid for free with your earnings. You can withdraw these earnings monthly or annually or whenever you need to make your donations.

That's right just by shopping, paying your bills and spending, you can sponsor a child. This is amazing! Imagine if everyone who owned a Mastercard in the United States did this; we could get every kid in Ethiopia (and probably more!) sponsored, fed, clothed, educated and cared for.

Realizing this, my wife and I who just adopted from Ethiopia and who sponsor 2 children already through Compassion International, have decided to sponsor a child through the HelpKorah Child Sponsorship Initiative with Transformation Love.

Additionally, I'm wondering what creative ideas do you have come up with (or might you have) to raise funds for sponsorships?

Another Child Sponsored

2010-08-19T11:51:00.001-07:00

So, our pace of 1 child getting sponsored about every other day is still pretty consistent. Our 9th child just got sponsored this morning, praise God! Let's see if we can reach a dozen within the next several days folks; let's change the lives of these kids and their families and communities!!! Spread the word.

8 Kids Sponsored!!!

2010-08-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

Since HelpKorah launched its Child Sponsorship Initiative two weeks ago, we have basically had a child get sponsored every other day...that is truly amazing! To date, we have 8 kids sponsored. I know that more are on the way and along with Transformation Love, we are so excited to see all of this happening. There are literally thousands to millions of kids in Ethiopia in need. Of course, we have started in the Korah area but hope to bust those seams wide open and expand our reach in the future. You can help us do that! Let's be positive influences in the lives of these kids, families, communities and cities. Thanks to everyone who is spreading the word and reaching out to the other side of the world. Let's keep this thing going!!!

Learn About Ethiopia

2010-08-14T20:09:00.001-07:00

Here is a great resource I have put together that you can use to learn about Ethiopia. A great deal of the research was compiled by a researcher named Bernhard Lindahl. Anyway, one of the great things about this .pdf document is that it is searchable. So, if you have an Ethiopian town or word or something that you can remember how to spell or at least sound out, there's a good chance that within these 1,400 pages you'll find something about it. Once you get past the first 11 pages, the rest sort of functions like a dictionary or encyclopedia. For example, if you wanted to learn about "Korah" you could type in the word "Kore" you'd find lots of words containing that name. If you go to the "K" section (pages 841-43), you'll see even more. Anyway, I hope this is a helpful resource. If you think so, leave a comment and let us know. (*Note, it's a large file so it could take 30-60 seconds to load. Please, do not this on other sites without including a link to this original post, of which the url is: http://www.helpkorah.com/2010/08/learn-about-ethiopia.html)

6 Kids Sponsored

2010-08-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

Praise God! 6 kids are now sponsored. Let's keep spreading the news and changing these kids' lives!!!!

Locating Korah Ethiopia

2010-08-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick 5-minute screencast that orients you to the city of Addis Abeba, shows you HelpKorah's main target area and explains a few little cultural details. Check it out!

Korah Ethiopia

Nearly 20 More Kids Added For Sponsorship

2010-08-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

You can see and read all of the beautiful profiles by clicking the "Child Sponsorship" tab above. Please, spread the word and if you feel led, make a decision to change a child's life, a family's life and a community's life! We had 5 kids sponsored last week, let's see what we can do in the days and weeks to come. Join HelpKorah and Transformation Love in advancing a holistic Gospel in Ethiopia!!!

Korah Ethiopia, Korah Ethiopia, Korah Ethiopia, Korah Ethiopia

5 Kids Sponsored!!!

2010-08-10T17:07:00.000-07:00

A few days again, we mentioned that 3 kids had been sponsored. Well, add two more to that number and make it 5! Things are picking up with the child sponsorship initiative and we certainly hope that more people will consider not only changing the life of a child, but also take the time to realize that in sponsoring one child, you can make a huge, positive difference for an entire family and in turn, part of a community or village. Please, consider sponsoring one of the wonderful children listed on our sponsorship pages. And keep an eye on those pages, more profiles will be added very soon.

Korah Ethiopia Korah Ethiopia Korah Ethiopia Korah Ethiopia Korah Ethiopia Korah Ethipoia

3 Kids Sponsored So Far

2010-08-09T09:13:00.001-07:00

The HelpKorah Child Sponsorship Initiative launched less than a week ago and at this point in time, we have had 3 children receive sponsorship! Praise God!!! You can sponsor a child too. To learn more, just click the Child Sponsorship tab above. Here are three kids whose lives have literally been changed by being sponsored:

HelpKorah Child Sponsorship Initiative

2010-08-02T21:52:00.001-07:00

I mentioned a couple of days ago that in addition to the HelpKorah Bible Scholars initiative, that we also had a Child Sponsorship project & partnership in the works. I (Michael) cannot even begin to tell you just how thrilled I am to finally be making the announcement that our partnership for this has finally launched! 8 months after starting all of this and two trips to Ethiopia later, HelpKorah, in partnership with Transformation Love Ministries & Mekanisa Addis Kidan Church is finally able to help get children sponsored. Our hope for holistic ministry undergirds our entire approach here as we desire to care physically and spiritually for young boys & girls in Addis.

The majority of our children (we currently have 12 profiles posted), as you will see as you view profiles (click HERE or the "Child Sponsorship" tab above to see them), have lost the at least one parent to HIV & complications and may soon lose their second parent. Typically, when this happens, the child is left to the streets and left to fend for his or herself if no other family members can come to the rescue. However, you can help remedy this problem by sponsoring a child and providing them with food, clothing, shelter, education, teaching / introduction to the Church and more.

Today is much more than a GREAT DAY!!! I truly wish I had the words to express just how much this touches my heart. So, please, take time to browse profiles, read stories and let your heart be touched. And if you are moved, don't hesitate to sponsor a child and give them an opportunity at life, even life in Christ!

Pressing On...Breaking Ground

2010-07-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

In June/July HelpKorah was able to break ground and press on in many ways. While we hope to give more updates in the near future, I (Michael) would like to give some updates on the current status of the organization:

* In May, Chris Van Allsburg came on to the Board of Directors of HelpKorah. In July, Chris was able to travel to Addis and go into the Mekanisa Korah area.

* In June/July, Michael Halcomb (founder) was also in Addis. Halcomb preached / taught for a week at Mekanisa Addis Kidan Church. Chris was also able to preach at a Friday HIV service at MAKC. Halcomb also taught at Addis's Evangelical Theological College (ETC).

* In July HelpKorah joined forces with MAKC and launched the HelpKorah Bible Scholars initiative. This initiative seeks to put 5 ministers through 4 years of college. We want to do this every year.

* In July we also were able to buy between 100-200 pairs of shoes for children of the Korah area for the rainy season.

* In July we were able to give 4 complete outfits to each member of the MAKC ministerial team.

* In July we were able to donate many clothes to a group of teenagers.

* In July we were able to donate 1 laptop computer to students in the Korah area.

* July also saw the feeding of over 200 HIV victims through HelpKorah and its sponsors.

* In July 8 families received meds & food through HelpKorah and its sponsors.

* In July 1 child was sponsored through HelpKorah and this helped spark a partnernship with an organization (which we will mention soon) that allows children to be sponsored through a MAKC ministry.

* In July we also acquired several new members of our Awareness Team.

* Finally, in July the new website was launched (and as you can see, is still under construction).

All of this brings us to the reason we started this organization in the first place: To advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Addis. We desire to do this holistically; we care about the body and soul. We long to minister alongside the people of Korah in the most practical and spiritually edifying ways possible. We hope that you will join the cause and participate in the movement. To get started, just fill in the form on the Homepage and we'll be in touch!

HelpKorah Bible Scholars

2010-07-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

Since its inception, HelpKorah has always desired to partner with the local church in Addis. Finally, we have been able to make this happen. Working together with Mekanisa Addis Kidan Church, one of our first projects is the HelpKorah Bible Scholars initiative. In brief, our goal is to put five ministers through seminary. This includes 4 years of course fees, registration fees and books. Having already set the account up in Addis through the local church, once we reach $3,500 (USD) we can open the account up and begin supporting students. Currently, we have about $150 in the fund, so, we have a bit of work to do. We will say more about this later and will certainly be having fundraisers. If you or your church would like to participate, please contact us via the form on the contact page.

PS: We also have a child sponsorship program getting ready to launch. As soon as things are aligned, we make the announcement here!!!

Welcome

2010-07-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new and improved "HelpKorah.com", a site dedicated to making a positive difference in one of Ethiopia's most outcasted and impoverished slums. Located in the city of Addis Ababa (Abeba) in the "Horn of Africa" and at the highest altitude for a capital city in the world, this city is a drought-prone area of eastern Africa. Addis has between 3-4 million people, many of those being orphans. The slums of Korah, backed up against the city's trash dump, has close to 80,000 people, consisting of lepers, HIV/AIDS patients, prostitutes, widows, orphans, etc.

Until recently, NOTHING about Korah could be found online. Only since Michael Halcomb's initial trip to Ethiopia back in Nov/Dec of 20009 and his subsequent posts about Korah has anything been published. Come to find out, however, there have been several missionaries working in the area for nearly a decade. So, to find out more about Korah, how you can help and what needs to be done, spend a few minutes browsing the site. Also, check back for new blog updates, media, etc. Please, Help Korah.

Heading to Ethiopia...Soon

2010-03-31T18:12:00.000-07:00

In just 3 months, I'll be heading back overseas to Ethiopia. I will be staying there for an entire month and am looking forward to it, though, I know it will be very tough being away from my wife and children for that length of time. As you may or may not know, I have two objectives with this trip: 1) To work with Christian leaders in some of the world's most destitute slums, and 2) To educate Christian laypersons and pastors at the Evangelical Theological Seminary. Currently, I desperately need supporters and sponsors. Can you help? Can your church? Below, I have provided my support letter. If you or your church can help, leave a comment or email me and I will send you the second portion of this letter, which will provide you with mailing info. regarding where you can send your tax-deductible donation. Or, in the meantime, you can also donate via PayPal. here's the button. Thanks and please, feel free to share this letter with anyone you think might be interested in helping.

ethiopia support letter

Soles For Jesus

2010-02-28T18:15:00.000-08:00

Hey friends, I just wanted to share some reflections from Diane Suder's latest trip to Ethiopia with you. Diane is the founder of Soles for Jesus, a non-profit outfit that seeks to bring shoes to Ethiopia. While we were not in touch prior to her leave for Ethiopia, we have now talked and are hoping to perhaps work together in the future. Anyway, read her news and then check out her site!!! Pictures of the shoes we gave will hopefully be up soon, I'm just waiting on the pictures. I'll post them as soon as I get them!

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About Korah (Updated & Corrected)

2009-12-23T07:31:00.001-08:00

75 years ago the village was established because of leprosy. The people came from the countryside to seek treatment for their illness. They came to ALERT Hospital, which was established by Dr. Ross, from the U.S. and a Dutch doctor named Chris Dorman. When they heard of the spread of leprosy, these two men approached King Haile Selase to request land to establish a hospital specifically for the treatment of leprosy. King Haile Selase was willing to give land, but only land that was far from the town and in the forest so as to keep the people with leprosy separate from everyone else. The two doctors started the hospital and began treating these patients who had immigrated from the countryside.

These infected people came to the city because their family members believed they were cursed when they contracted leprosy. Some of these individuals were put into a separate hut when their disease was discovered and later their family tried to light their hut on fire. The family members were so convinced that the leprosy was a curse that they were willing to kill their own children. Some escaped from these hostile family members and came to Addis for treatment.

After King Haile Selase lost power to the Communist Dirge Regime who took power over the lives of the people of Korah (Kore / Koray in Amharic), matters only worsened. The regime wanted those with leprosy to be eliminated. Therefore, the military base close to the colony would often send out soldiers to beat and even slaughter residents of Korah. They thought it was better if these “lepers” were dead.

Years ago, the impoverished people of Korah began sending their children to the nearby landfill (the king also put this far away from the city just like these people) to collect anything that seemed edible. To survive, these families consumed food that others had thrown away. This became their lives – waking every morning, no, running to the trash yard and fighting to salvage the best that could be found there for food, which was usually rotten. This is still happening today! After the communists had power for 17 years the revolutionaries took back control. With this change there came a new, yet disgraceful opportunity – this new government would actually let the “lepers” beg in the city.

The statistics now show that there are approximately 75,000 people living in the Korah area. This community is made up of people with different backgrounds but one thing in common: poverty. The area is becoming a breeding ground for HIV as prostitution has become rampant in the community – a popular response to the poverty trap. Small moonshine houses are also a common business here as many men choose to drink as an escape from the realities of their lives.

Originally, I (Michael) had been told that the name Korah came from the idea that the people in the community were cursed. I had been led to believe that the people referred to the leprosy colony and those in it as the “Sons of Korah” who were swallowed up by the earth in the Old Testament because of their cursedness or sinfulness. However, I have since found out that this is merely folklore being spread among Americans. In fact, like its neighboring area Mekensah (or Mekinessah...it is spelled differently by different people), Korah / Kore / Koray actually refers to a local type of tree.

Despite all of this, the history of Korah is hard for many to hear or read of because of the many injustices that the community has faced. Today, these injustices have resulted in a community that needs the understanding, guidance and help of the church. There is much potential for this community of “rejects” and that is why this website and the ministries described herein exists.

Help

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When we have our sponsoree campaigns, you can donate via this page. Keep your eyes and ears open for the next HelpKorah Campaign.

If you wish to donate other items, at this time, you can contact us by filling out the short form below and we will send you a mailing address. Some of the items that are needed can be seen in the list below the form:

Items Needed:

* Bibles (English or Amharic)
* Writing & coloring utensils (paper, pens, crayons, etc.)
* Shoes & clothes for children of all ages, as well as adults
* Etc.

Media Gallery

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Click the images to open up a video or slideshow:

ALERT Hospital Footage: (May take a few moments to load.)

Inside Korah: (May take a few moments to load.)

Click Ribbon to Start Video:

* YouTube link: Korah Video

Sponsorees

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*** Currently, a few things are being reconfigured. As soon as details are available, they will be posted. ***

Connect

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Be sure to connect with us and others who frequent this site by using the toolbar at the foot of this page. Also, you can find us on Facebook & Twitter by clicking the respective image-links below. Be sure to use your social media networks to help raise Awareness of Korah. You can also use the form below to get in touch with us.

Fill out my Wufoo form!

Awareness Team

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Michael Halcomb (Lead Advocate / Point of Contact)
Chris VanAllsburg (Board of Directors / Point of Contact)

Xavier Pacheco
Kristi Halcomb
John Forenz
T. C. Judd
Joel Watts
Leigh Anne Watts
Jon Swales
Kristee Smith
Rodney Thomas
Amy Lindahl
Erin Allen
Hannah Bates
Cindy Gustafson
Amy Jump
David Held
Angela Spencer
Angel Bravard
Dave McIlrath
Shannon Poulin
Tracie Noll
Georgia Sease
Lillian Sease
Cameron WatfordJulie LeFeberChuck TracyAlina BadgerowSuzy Finigan

Patrick Breck
Jeff Cleveland
Joshua Mobley
Diane Studer
Robyn Hohman
Tabitha Perko
Steve Day
Amber Sapp
Aaron Webb
Tammy Setzer
Garet Scott
Jim Sease
Deb Miller
Janet Ritchey
Cory Barron
Brittany Bentley
Angie Appenheimer
Mandy Sroka
Caitlin Cooley
Donna Kushner
Sally BrockChristie DerloshonSherry HadleyJenny MullinsPam CorderAlicia CarlsonChristine Friedrich

The Orphan Crisis

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Official Press Release:

ADDIS ABABA, 14 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - One Ethiopian child out of 10 is an orphan, a report by the UN, the government and the NGO, Save the Children, said. The HIV/AIDS pandemic, appalling poverty and dire health conditions had left 4.6 million youngsters without parents, it added.

"Ethiopia is facing a crisis of orphans," Bjorn Ljungqvist, head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Ethiopia, said at the launch of a national action plan to help children who have been orphaned and better protect them from HIV/AIDS.

Hassen Abdella, minister of Labour and Social Affairs, said the scale of the orphan crisis was "tearing at the very fabric of childhood".

According to government statistics, 315 people die each day from AIDS-related illnesses. Some 1.5 million people are living with the virus. Save the Children estimates one in 14 women in Ethiopia will die during birth compared to developed countries where one in 2,800 women die during birth.

The government said it needed US $115 million a month – almost equal to the country’s annual health budget of around $140 million - to help look after all the orphaned children in the impoverished country, providing them with such necessities as clothes, food or financial support.

"Orphans and vulnerable children are very vulnerable to all forms of abuse and exploitation," the plan states. "They face a loss of inheritance rights, loss of opportunities for education, basic health care, normal growth sand development and shelter. They are also at risk to the future waves of HIV infection."

Dawit Yohannes, speaker of parliament, said new laws were being introduced to help prevent further exploitation of children. "Children are the most vulnerable segment of a society who need special care and protection," he said at the launch. "Owing to their age they can neither take care of themselves nor guard themselves from hazards."

+ + + + + + + +

Ethiopia Adoption Agencies:
* Christian World Adoption
* Children's Hope Intl.
* Hope Adoption Agency
* Holt Intl. Adoption Agency
* Adoption Advocates
* Wide Horizons
* America World Adoption

Korah Awareness Day

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The Help Korah Awareness Team is in the process of establishing a "Korah Awareness Day". Check back soon for dates and details!!!

Thank You!

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Thank you for your donation! Enjoy your purchase and let others know about the HelpKorah store.

Campaign

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Child Sponsorship Form

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Young Girls (Age 11 - 18)

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Praise God, all the young girls ages 11-18 have been sponsored! As more profiles become available, we will post them.

Young Boys (Age 11 - 18)

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Praise God, all the young boys ages 11-18 have been sponsored! As more profiles become available, we will post them.

Young Girls (Birth - Age 10)

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Praise God, all the young girls ages birth - 10 have been sponsored! As more profiles become available, we will post them.

Young Boys (Birth - Age 10)

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Praise God, all the young girls ages birth - 10 have been sponsored! As more profiles become available, we will post them.

Child Sponsorship Selection

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Search for a child by age and gender. Select your desired category by using the drop-down list. Sponsor a child today through HelpKorah's partnership with Transformation Love's child sponsorship ministry. *NOTE: As you are browsing through profiles, if you see a child you would like to sponsor, take note of their NAME and SPONSORSHIP NUMBER (lower right-hand corner of the image). When you are ready to sponsor the child, click the "I Will Sponsor This Child" link above the selected child's photo and then fill out the form! You may also click on the child's photo to enlarge it and the profile. (You will not be asked to send sponsorship funds until later. The form merely lets us know that you desire and agree to do it. You may also print the .pdf below and snail-mail your form to the address mentioned.)

To learn more about HelpKorah, click HERE. To learn more about Transformation Love click HERE (site currently being updated). To find out exactly how your sponsorship works and some of the benefits, read the contents below:

Thank You!

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Thank you for donating to my (Michael W. Halcomb) 2010 trip to Ethiopia. Be sure to check my personal website www.MichaelHalcomb.com as well as the www.HelpKorah.com blog during July 2010 for pictures, videos and updates regarding my trip. Thank you for blessing me as well as the people and students of Ethiopia!!!

Educate Yourself:

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By reading some of the articles & reports listed below.

· Ethiopian Food Crisis
· Human Rights Report for Ethiopia
· Ethiopia: Prisoners of Conscience Prepare to Face "Trial"
· Timeline: Ethiopia
· The Challenge of the HIV / AIDS Epidemic in Rural Ethiopia
· ARV Procurement: The Ethiopian Experience
· HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia
· Historical Timeline: Politics; Ethiopia’s Election and Its Aftermath
· Country Profile: Ethiopia
· Access to Health & Education Services in Ethiopia: Supply, Demand & Govt. Policy
· The Nature of Unemployment in Urban Ethiopia
· Millennium Development Goals in Ethiopia
· Ministry of Health: AIDS in Ethiopia

The Shoe Campaign

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Korah Klothes

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Click on the product name to see the items:

"Help Korah / Give Hope" White 2-Sided T-Shirt: $30

"Help Korah / Give Hope" Custom Khaki Cap: $25

"Help Korah / Give Hope" Custom White Cap: $25

To order 1 or all of these items, select your specified product below and your charitable donation will be processed:

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2008-07-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

Fill out my Wufoo form!