St Francis Integrated Development Organisation (FIDO)
Water, sanitation, electricity and shelter.
These are all basic needs which many of us in developed countries take for granted. In Ethiopia, however, this is not the case.
The nuns who run the hospice work tirelessly to help the sick and the dying who simply have nowhere else to go and no-one else to turn to. It is often a last resort for the city's most despairing people, both young and old.
Only one in five urban dwelling Ethiopians have access to adequate sanitation. Many live in derelict buildings or houses made from scavenged material. For these people, facilities such as running water and electricity are "luxuries" only to be dreamt of.
FIDO is working to change this. Working in some of the poorest areas of Addis Ababa and its surrounding towns and villages, they help the people who need it most – displaced people, those without clean water and people whose living conditions put them in danger.
The project's expertise is in construction and infrastructure. They enlist the help of the communities they work in both as an efficient use of resources, but also to provoke a sense of ownership over the work done and pride in its achievement.
Recently, FIDO transformed an isolated village on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. Despite being close to the city, the village had no access road and was cut off by a steep slope. The residents were all on low incomes and did not have the means to improve their situation. With FIDO's help, the villagers managed to construct a brand new road. They also channelled running water to a village pump and electricity to the larger buildings in the community. Because of this work, the villagers are now in a better position to help themselves.
Most recently, Ethiopiaid purchased a truck for FIDO. Previously, all heavy building materials had to be carried piecemeal by mules. The truck will allow all involved to work faster and further afield so that many more people can be helped.