After a long period of global uncertainty, below is an update on our work and answers to some commonly asked questions
How did COVID-19 affected HOPE’s work?
The number of reported cases of COVID-19 in Ethiopia was very low in comparison to the UK. Because there is little formal testing, the actual numbers might have been far greater than the official picture and there was always concern that Ethiopia’s fragile healthcare system could easily become overwhelmed if cases of COVID-19 grew dramatically.
Safe, clean, accessible water is obviously key to preventing the COVID-19 and other deadly viruses, but health, hygiene and sanitation education is also crucial. Therefore, HOPE's community training was adapted to raise awareness of coronavirus and explain how to avoid contracting and spreading it. HOPE staff also used Self Help Groups to embed these messages amongst the community and their families and neighbours.
At a household level, Community Field Educators conducted door-to-door visits teaching and emphasised the importance of social distancing, improving hand washing practices and wearing masks or cloth across one's mouth and nose whenever possible. A poster, prepared by HOPE Ethiopia staff, was also distributed as a reminder of the ways to best prevent COVID-19.
Despite the worry of COVID, the lack of access to clean water is still the greatest and most immediate concern for many of the communities in the region where HOPE works. Sadly, drinking contaminated water from unprotected sources still causes regular episodes of diarrhoea, cholera and other waterborne diseases. The time and physical demands of sourcing daily water for each household also hinders school attendance and economic productivity. Communities in this region of Africa have also had to contend with swarming locusts devouring crops and heavy rain that has flooded homes and farms, destroying the lives and livelihoods of local villages, including one that HOPE was working with last year.
Your support in bringing clean, accessible water to rural communities in Ethiopia and enabling better health, education and livelihoods has never been more important.
Was HOPE UK’s income hurt as a result of COVID-19?
Sadly, many charities saw their income drop significantly as a result of the pandemic, particularly those who rely on income from events or have been recipients of UK Aid grants. HOPE UK’s income was 30% less in 2020/21 than the previous year (which was our strongest ever fundraising year), but our diverse fundraising portfolio meant that we have thankfully been able to return to raising a similar level of funds in 2021/22 and 2022/23. While we could not run in-person events and only one solo sponsored activity took place, we raised funds from other sources including emergency grants from Foundation Trusts, had an increase in monthly donors and received more one-off donations in the £500-£2,000 range.
After an unprecedented period when the need for clean water access become even more urgent, we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of HOPE UK supporters.
Has the decrease in the UK Aid budget affected HOPE’s income?
HOPE has not applied for, nor received, a grant from UK Aid for its work in Ethiopia to date so the reduction in UK spending on Overseas Development Assistance has not directly affected our income.
However, many other development charities have had a drastic cut in funding and HOPE is now competing with many more organisations for grant funding from private Foundations. We expect this indirect impact will continue to be felt for some time.
What difference do our supporters make?
HOPE is incredibly grateful for the new and continued support of its donors which has enabled us to continue bringing transformation and hope in these volatile times. There are many potential obstacles, but your help is allowing us to help people out of poverty.
In fact, since HOPE’s development work in Ethiopia began, we have installed 135 water systems, capped 193 springs and supplied 6.4 million litres of clean water a day to more than 315,000 people in one of the most remote areas of Ethiopia.
