photo by: Karen Walrond
First Impressions from Addis Ababa: A Visit to Mary Joy Development Association
It’s nearly midnight here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. My body is tired after a long, restless 14-hour flight, but my mind and heart are wide awake. I want to record some thoughts from my first day in this vivid city and, in particular, from my visit to the Mary Joy Development Association, a community-based organization working with vulnerable children, women, and seniors.
Stepping off the plane and into the airport made the trip feel real. Seeing Addis Ababa through the terminal windows erased any lingering disbelief—this journey was happening. Soon after arriving, our group was welcomed by Mary Joy DA’s staff and community organizers. They invited us into their center, explained their work, and introduced us to the people they support.
Listening to the directors share stories was humbling. Many children here have lost parents to HIV/AIDS and now live in extreme poverty. Some have been left to care for younger siblings; others survive on the streets of informal settlements. Mary Joy DA reaches out through community programs to provide basic health care, education support, nutrition, and a culturally grounded form of adoption and family placement within the local community. Their approach combines practical assistance with efforts to preserve dignity and community ties.
Seeing the children and women at the center made an emotional impression. Many of the children carry burdens far older than their years. Though language differences limited detailed conversation, we connected through shared moments—dancing to local rhythms, sharing smiles, and simply spending time together. Those simple interactions were joyful, unforgettable, and deeply bittersweet.
On the drive back to the hotel I watched the city pass by and thought about the contrast between the lively, hopeful moments at the center and the greater reality on the streets. For every child we met inside the center, there seemed to be many more wandering outside, unprotected and in need. Those images stayed with me.
Later, I took a moment to Skype my family. Showing my husband and children the photos and videos brought a rush of emotion. Many of the kids I had met were the same ages as my own children. That recognition hit me hard. These children were once someone’s little ones—children with names, memories, and potential. As a parent, that comparison brought tears and a renewed sense of urgency to support efforts that protect and uplift vulnerable families.
Mary Joy Development Association is one example of grassroots work that makes a tangible difference in people’s lives. Their programs—health initiatives, educational support, food assistance, and community-based family care—address immediate needs while striving to build sustainable support systems. Organizations like Mary Joy DA rely on local leadership and partnerships to keep children in safe environments and help families rebuild stability.
If you want to lend your voice to broader advocacy efforts, consider joining campaigns like ONEMoms, which mobilize parents to urge leaders to prioritize global health and poverty alleviation. Campaigns of this kind ask for engagement and advocacy rather than donations, encouraging people to speak up for policies that support children affected by HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty around the world.
Follow updates from the ONEMoms trip through official channels and social media if you want to learn more about what delegations see and share while visiting communities in need. Using a shared hashtag helps amplify the message and keeps the conversation focused on concrete policy changes and sustained international support.
My first day in Addis Ababa was full of complex emotions—gratitude for the warm welcome, sorrow for the hardships I witnessed, and hope inspired by the resilience of the people I met. The work happening at Mary Joy Development Association reminded me that community-based efforts can change lives, and that our voices and attention matter. I’m grateful for the chance to see this work firsthand and to share these impressions with others.
Disclosure: #ONEMoms is a campaign encouraging mothers to raise their voices for global impact. I was invited to visit Ethiopia by ONE to share the stories and perspectives of the Ethiopian people and the organizations serving them.
Top photo credit: Karen Walrond