Meaning of Selamta-A Note from House Sponsor Matthew Donovan M.D.

Meaning of Selamta

Having recently returned from Ethiopia and the House Dinknesh, I have been asked to comment on the meaning of Selamta.  Selamta is a word which  means “be at peace.”  The Selamta program accomplishes this through the creation of family units, but what does this mean?

For each of us, there are certain of life’s events which bring us close to ultimate truths.  For myself, having recently been diagnosed with head and neck cancer, I have found the essence of what is important and as said so aptly by one of my cousins, the essence of life boils down to “family, family, family”. 

My wife Anne and I have one biologic and three adopted children.  Through this we have realized that the feeling of family is not limited by blood and so it is that this bond has been extended to our Selamta family. Composed of a mother, an auntie and nine orphaned children, their simple home (by our standards) is filled with love.

The children, who knowingly have been rescued from abject poverty have been given opportunity beyond their dreams, provide perpetual smiles and a buoyant uncorrupted force within the Dinknesh home. When asked what it is they desire most for their home, the first, most important request was for a Rain barrel. Eau de vie. Second, when asked to think really big they wanted an artificial Christmas tree, one which would last through the years.  Eight of the nine children’s dream wish was for a new pair of shoes. 

Robel, 18 years old, studies in third grade and is so proud to recite his work to others.  He desires to be a singer one day, for prior to Selamta he would sing all night on the streets to keep “bad people from doing bad things to me”.  His dream was for a guitar to play and accompany his gift of song to Selamta. 

Three of the girls had auditioned and been accepted into circus (gymnastics). 

Gezahegn would look forward to walking me to and from the home and cherished calling me father.  After several days he said hello father watching and waiting thereafter.   I asked what was up?  “You’re supposed to call me son.” So simple yet so deep their needs and desires.  These but a few of the stories of Selamta. 

There are few places which have the feeling of and which we call “home” in our lives.  Selamta is one.  Selamta gives us a chance to touch lives in a way which our unconscious  soul craves.  It is a rooting and grounding experience which immerses us in the virtue of life.

~Matthew J. Donovan M.D.

A big THANK YOU to Matt and Anne from all of us at Selamta for opening your hearts to the Dinknesh family!

Learn about the many ways in which you can connect with and support Selamta's families! Email: mia@humancapitalfoundation.org