Children's Center

The Selamta Children's Center

The Children's Center in the Bethel neighborhood of Addis Ababa is the heart of our project, where orphaned and vulnerable children are welcomed into the Selamta family. The Center is not an orphanage, it is the first step in a child's journey from life on the streets, to a unique place within the Selamta family.

Arrival at Selamta

Children are welcomed to Selamta with warm smiles and a new set of clothes, cuddly pajamas, a stuffed animal, a toothbrushing "smile kit", and two pairs of shoes. These personal items are theirs to keep, and often represent the first new possessions our children have ever received.

Within the first hour, they are fed a hot, delicious meal from the kitchen, and we encourage them to have second, and even third helpings! Then, it is time for a warm shower and invigorating skin and hair care. These welcoming rituals signal that they are a valued part of the Selamta Family, and that our house is filled with love and thoughtful compassion.

Our children quickly acclimate to life in a large, welcoming family. Even among as many as thirty new brothers and sisters, they have their own clothes and belongings, the right to open the fridge and get a glass of milk, or grab a banana from the fruit bowl. These simple freedoms are powerful signals of inclusion and trust.

Brothers, Sisters and Extended Family

Upon arrival, the Selamta staff immediately mobilizes to reunite children with their brothers and sisters, who are often scattered into different orphanages or living on the streets. This is a powerful new beginning, and reunions are inevitably filled with astonishment, relief and joy.

We then try to locate extended family members, and bring them into the Selamta orbit. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends are all welcomed to the Center, and urged to become part of the children's lives again. Selamta hosts a lunch every Sunday for our reunited families, and works to knit them permanently into our ever-widening circle.

Nutrition, Medical and Emotional Care

In the first several months, our Selamta staff and student "Ambassadors" focus on stabilizing the child nutritionally, medically and emotionally. New children quickly realize that the environment is one of love and respect, and they learn to trust safety and joy of the Selamta family.

Working in conjunction with the local hospital, we set up physical exams to assess medical and nutritional needs, and evaluate their knowledge and level of education. Our findings become the foundation of permanent health and educational profiles, which are then updated regularly.

Children are also interviewed in depth, to create an oral history that captures memories of parents, grandparents, and their early lives. As stories unfold, our team and works to surface and deal with the grief and abandonment each child is struggling to understand

The memories of our children and sibling groups, along with our health and educational profiles, provide a comprehensive roadmap to their family background and past experiences.

Love, Respect and Lots of Fun

The Children's Center is the gathering place for our family meetings, birthday and holiday celebrations, dances and rousing soccer games. It is a place filled with joy, trust, love and exuberance.

On Friday nights, Selamta Idol brings out the singers, dancers, musicians and performers in the family. On Saturday mornings, our older children lead age-appropriate discussions on topics such as honesty, courage, fortitude and forgiveness. These meetings are modeled on the family dinner table conversations that help children grow, and develop their individual sense of morals and ethics.

Our team is trained to deal with complex psycho-social trauma and loss, but more importantly, we simply love and care deeply about each child in our care. We are all filled with pride, as we see them grow straight and strong, overcome incredible adversity, and face their futures with smiles and laughter.

Selamta is a remarkable place, filled with bright, wonderful children who love and respect each other, and who are a joy to be with.