Faiza Juhar Weday Hargaaya, a 23 year-old student at the University of Winnipeg in Canada, decided to head to Oromia to volunteer at an orphanage last summer. When Gadaa.com learned about Faiza’s story, it decided to share this exemplary and noble action. Gadaa.com interviewed Faiza about her volunteer experience and her initiative to help out the orphanage she worked at over the summer.

Born in Saudi Arabia and living in Canada since the age of 4, Faiza is currently the President of the Oromo Youth Association of Winnipeg (Tokkumaa), and the Social and Cultural Secretary of the Oromo Community of Manitoba (Gaaddisa Oromoo Manitoba). Right after she graduated from high school in 2003, Faiza begged her mother to take her to this place they called “OROMIA.” Once in Oromia, Faiza spent her time visiting family and sightseeing – how beautiful the country was. At the same time, she could not escape the high level of poverty that existed in the area; especially, seeing children in that state was something she had not prepared for.

When she came back to Canada, she made it her goal to choose a college major that would allow her to go “back home” and give as much of herself to the people, especially the kids. Several years later, she took an introductory course in International Development at the University of Winnipeg. As part of this course, students were required to work at local community centers for 3 months. Faiza saw this as a great opportunity to head back to Oromia. She decided to go to Oromia and volunteer at the Khulafa Al-Rashidin Orphanage Aid and Development (KAROAD), a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Melka Jebdu, eastern Oromia. She volunteered at KAROAD not for the minimum requirement of 3 months, but for 6 months. The Orphanage raises 25 kids and schools other 200 children from low or no income families in the area.

Below is the interview about her volunteer experience, thoughts on the youth in action and, most importantly, her initiative to develop a relationship between the Oromo Diaspora community and the KAROAD orphanage. (Website: karoad.synthasite.com)

Gadaa.com: How did you choose KAROAD? Tell us briefly about your volunteer experience in Melka Jebdu? What did you do?

Faiza Hargaaya (FH): My father went back home the summer before, and as he left for Oromia, I asked him to look for some organizations that would benefit from my volunteering. He came back with papers and statements about this specific organization: Khulafa Al-rashidin Orphanage Aid and Development (KAROAD). The orphanage was located in Melka Jebdu; it was pretty torn up and in need of help. I was immediately drawn by the organization, and when the opportunity came to volunteer through the college course I was taking at the University of Winnipeg, I was really excited about going to Oromia to help the orphanage.

When I got there, I was assigned as a Program Coordinator to oversee the running of the orphanage and the school as an outsider, to ensure its credibility, to give advices, and to learn along the way. I also acted as a Mentor for the children, as an Assistant English language and Gym teacher. My major role, however, was to network with local NGO’s, the local Education Office and the Health Bureau to find funding and bring awareness to the organization. I was excited about my stay so much so that i decided to double my 3-month requirement to 6 months.

Gadaa.com: What was the most satisfying part of working in Oromia?

FH: I feel that I have gained a better understanding of my culture from seeing how people lived and associated with one another. I learned so much more Afaan Oromo than I could ever have living in Canada, but most importantly, I feel a great sense of pride knowing that I helped my people, especially the children. Seeing how happy they were from the little bit that I did was more satisfying than I could ever have hoped for.

Gadaa.com: What was the most challenging part of working at the Orphanage in Melka Jebdu?

FH: What I found extremely challenging was seeing the state that the orphanage was in — their funding had been cut a few months before I arrived, and they were surviving on donations from a few individuals. It was barely enough to get by, and they were reduced to eating the cheapest food available – bedena with hoolbatta – every single day. I was able to help out once in a while, but it’s only temporary and never enough. They had no funds to renovate the crumbling buildings or get new textbooks to replace the ones that were falling apart – and even the staff members were getting paid such low wages that they were practically volunteering themselves.

Gadaa.com: What type of mindsets are needed for volunteers?

FH: Volunteers must be able to hold judgment and be open-minded. They need to understand that what is considered ‘rude’ or ‘not right’ in one culture can be totally acceptable in another culture. Also, do not expect a luxury treatment – because you will not get one!

Gadaa.com: You are now back in Canada and have set up a website for KAROAD in order to continue your commitment in helping the orphanage center. Tell us about the goals of the website. (Website: karoad.synthasite.com)

FH: I hope that the website highlights to the large Oromo Diaspora about some of the difficulties that Oromo people are facing back home, and what they can do to help. There are several ways to initiate a movement to help these children who are desperately in need. The website is intended to build a relationship between KAROAD orphanage and the Diaspora. Specifically, 1) look over the website … 2) link the site to your website … 3) get together with a group of people and fund-raise for one of the causes – even if you do not raise the total amount, it will still be helpful (in turn, we will link your group and how much you have raised on our website) … 4) volunteer directly by going to Oromia and working for the organization.

Gadaa.com: Most people argue that the Oromo Diaspora youth is in a state of inaction these days. However, your 6-month volunteer work and current website initiative are great examples of the youth in action. How can the Oromo Diaspora and others help you succeed in this initiative?

FH: They can help by getting together with their local Oromo organizations to raise funds for one of the causes listed on the website. Simply raising $200 may not seem like much, but it can go a looooong way and benefit the organization more than you would expect. Our local youth group – Tokkumaa (The Winnipeg Oromo Youth Association) – was able to raise $500 by selling pizza at the University of Winnipeg for two days. It took very little effort on our part, just some dedicated volunteers (at least 3), and it is something that everybody can do.

Gadaa.com: Will you go back to Oromia again as a volunteer? If so, the same field and place or other area?

FH: Yes, I will definitely go back to Oromia as a volunteer. I would like to go back to KAROAD orphanage to monitor its progress and update the website. In fact, I am starting a volunteer program at the placement I was in, where we will be looking for one or two international volunteers to work at KAROAD. I will be coordinating it, therefore, I will be in the area to set it up and, perhaps, stay for the duration of its initiation or longer. I also hope to volunteer elsewhere, but I have no definite plans as of yet. However, I love working with children and focusing on community development, and what better place to start at than my own homeland? I hope to work all over Oromia in those fields.

Gadaa.com: Do you have anything else to say?

FH: Thank you for helping to spread the word. Galatoomi.

Gadaa.com thanks Faiza for this exemplary deed and her time for this interview, and we hope she succeeds in achieving her goals. To find out more about how you can help KAROAD, click here.

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