Ethiopian Dinner with Cherokee Gives Back

This evening our team met with three wonderful individuals from Cherokee Gives Back (CGB), the organization that initially introduced Liz to the AIDS Care and Treatment Project in Addis Ababa (see February post, “Project Inspiration,” for more details).

Lyston Peebles, Sam Whitt, and Amy Vercler treated us to a special evening of inspirational stories, useful insights, and Ethiopian fare, at Abyssinia restaurant in Raleigh. We learned about CGB’s work in Addis Ababa and elsewhere in Ethiopia. Sam related CGB’s “dual mission” – providing transformative experiences for American volunteers and having a lasting impact in Ethiopia by assisting with job creation. Lyston described the operation of Cherokee’s House in Addis and the growing number of volunteers it accommodates. He also shared with us the types of volunteer placements that Cherokee facilitates, including opportunities in schools, orphanages, and health clinics. Amy spoke with us about her work with global orphan care and the partnerships she’s developing in Ethiopia.

We chatted over injera and enjoyed viewing Sam’s photos from a recent trip to Addis. It was particularly exciting to learn about and see images of the businesses and microfinance institutions that CGB has been working with in recent months. In addition to the relationships and the camaraderie forged over dinner, we will take to heart the advice shared by Sam, Lyston, and Amy -- to remember that we are guests in another country, that we have everything to learn, and that we are likely to gain much more than we can give.

We are very appreciative of CGB’s support for our work!