Ethiopian School Children Thrive Thanks to Band Aid Support

In the Tigray highlands, Birhan Woldu, the face of the 1985 Live Aid campaign, is greeted by smiling children at a remote village school. These children, who are receiving school meals thanks to Band Aid’s contributions, hold a sign expressing their gratitude. While critics in the UK accuse Band Aid of promoting a “white savior complex,” the children’s daily meals—funded by the charity—are a lifeline for their education.

Eight-year-old Feven, who has a long walk to school every day, enjoys her school meal of beans, wheat, and sorghum paste. “It’s delicious,” she says, adding that she looks forward to the meal at 10:30 a.m. She dreams of becoming a teacher one day. Feven’s school, Hagere Selam, provides a nutritious meal for 600 children daily, many of whom may not have any other meal during the day. Vice Director Hilftom Hailu emphasizes how crucial these meals are for students’ ability to focus and learn.

For Birhan, whose image as a malnourished child once highlighted the Ethiopian famine, the significance of Band Aid’s contributions is personal. She sits with children like Ma’edi Kahsu and Hewan Kalayu, who are nourished by the food funded through Band Aid. Birhan’s involvement in the charity has been transformative, as she now sees the children benefiting from the same generosity that once saved her life.

Band Aid’s ongoing support has provided essential resources such as school desks, books, and teaching materials to schools like Hagere Selam, which had previously lacked basic supplies. The charity’s impact extends far beyond meals; it helps children access education in a region struggling with the aftermath of war and natural disasters.

Despite the challenges of a prolonged civil war in Ethiopia, which has left many children out of school, Band Aid’s contributions continue to provide hope for the future. Local charity Mary’s Meals also partners with Band Aid to serve school meals, reaching over 110,000 children in Tigray, a significant increase from the previous year. The need for more support is clear, with ongoing food shortages and destruction of infrastructure, but the Band Aid Trust remains committed to helping those in need, ensuring that these children have access to education and a brighter future.

Band Aid’s efforts show the transformative power of charity, providing more than just food—they offer hope, education, and the possibility of a better life for children who have endured unimaginable hardships.

Source: The SUN