In July, I shared with you the story of my “niece,” Hannah, who is spending six months as a volunteer in a rural village in Ethiopia. Now four months into her amazing journey, Hannah is continuing to share her experiences via her blog, Hannah in Ethiopia. I am so proud of and inspired by Hannah, and her recent account of the elderly in her village is so moving that I had to share it.

THE HIDDEN AMOUNG US

As my departure date approaches at an ever-increasing speed, I have also begun a new phase of my work here. While I am still teaching English at the school, I have also started doing what we might call “senior outreach.” Growing old here is truly a remarkable thing—you are considered lucky if you make it past 50, and that number is decreasing as living conditions worsen. So for those who have somehow made it to 80 or even 90 years old, well, they are far and few between. Because of their rarity, you would think that the community would treasure them and show them the respect they deserve, and then some. But here in the Sidamo region of Ethiopia, they are seen as worse than nothing. In fact, to even say that they are seen is a stretch. They are too traditional, too outdated, and a waste of resources. If one is lucky enough to have family nearby who care enough to help take care of them, then they might be okay, but most are sitting alone in their dilapidated huts, day in day out, starving and freezing up until their unacknowledged deaths. To call it tragic and inhumane is completely inadequate.