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Muday – The Heart and Soul of Fresh and Green Academy

Friends of Fresh and Green Academy was inspired by the Fresh and Green Academy in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, a school founded 12 years ago by a local Ethiopian teacher, Muday Mitiku.  Friends of Fresh and Green helps support the children of the academy with funds for food, education, and a safe environment so Muday can continue the school and its crucial work within the larger community.

Muday was born an only child in Kasanchis, Addis Ababa.  She was enrolled in a private school from kindergarten and continued there until the sixth grade, after which she enrolled in government school; Garji. She has been a member of the Baha’i religion from the age of nine and started teaching children at the Baha’i center when she was fifteen.

Muday started her secondary education at Bole Medaham then joined a teachers college; B.G.K. in 1999 for a diploma in teaching and later pursued Business Management at City College.

Muday’s teaching and business training, as well as her experience teaching at the Baha’i center, motivated her to open her own learning institution.  She started Fresh and Green as a “for profit” kindergarten in 2000 with a business partner. When she started to bring in kids off the streets, free of charge, the school lost money. Muday soon partnered with Friends of Fresh and Green Academy and, with hard work, dedication, and help from many generous donors, the school has since become a beacon of hope for the community.

Today, with help from many people, Fresh and Green Academy is providing 125 in-need children with education and nutrition. Along with the government required curriculum, the students enjoy classes in Art, Music, English, Computers, and Values and Morals. The children and their families are now drinking clean water as well.

Muday is a friend, wife, mother, and visionary.  Her passion has become our passion and Muday’s dream has become our dream. Together we all can make a difference in the world.

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Headlines, Mothers' Cooperative, What's Going On »

The Friends of Fresh and Green Academy, announces the launch of its brand new online shop called; “Mothers Cooperative”.

This new shop, headed under the brand title “Fashion Feeds Ethiopia” offers its’ visitors the opportunity to buy hand woven items made by members of the “Mothers Cooperative” at the Fresh and Green Academy, (a school for impoverished children in Ethiopia).

Every item sold helps the women provide food for their families.

The women grew up in small villages, in the 1980’s, a time of great famine in Ethiopia. Seeking a better life, most moved to Addis Ababa in their early teens. But there was no work, no food and faced with limited choices, some turned to prostitution as a way of survival. Most got pregnant, and most got HIV.

Through the Fresh and Green Academy they have been given back their dignity via the sales of jewelry and craft items. The money enables the mothers to afford food for themselves and their children. Most importantly, they are now able to qualify for life-saving anti-retro viral medicine that has turned AIDS from a fatal to a manageable disease.

To find out more about Fresh and Greens’ “Mothers Cooperative Shop” be sure go to: http://www.friendsoffreshandgreen.com/store
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Our Story

In 2000, when local teacher, Muday Mitiku started the Fresh and Green Academy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she never thought the plight of these needy children would touch so many people—all she knew was that if she did nothing, nothing would change for them.

Since then, 125 children’s lives have been improved beyond recognition.

However, in 2008, the school had run out of funding and was in danger of closing. Fortunately, three flight attendants were on a mission trip to… Our story continued here…

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Monetary donations are a crucial part of the existence of Fresh and Green Academy and the “Child Sponsorship Program” helps guarantee the school will operate and the children will be fed.  Every month barely enough money is sent to cover the costs of teachers salaries, food and rent. With your generous donations all the children will receive three meals a day and a quality education.

During the month of April the school expenses were as follows:

Rent-$313.00

Salaries-$250.00

Utilities-$70.00

Food for 125 children three times a day-$1380.00

For $35.00 a month, the price of a dinner out, you will help all 125 students of Fresh and Green Academy eat three nutritious meals a day, have access to medical care, and continue to thrive in a loving and caring learning environment.  You will receive periodic updates on the specific child you have sponsored but will be helping all the children.

Use the “Sponsor A Student” link to start helping today!
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What's Going On »

Friends of Fresh and Green Academy will be hosting a booth displaying and selling our Mothers Cooperative merchandise at the Holiday Craft & Food Specialty Fair on Sunday October 28 in Swansea, Massachusetts and on Sunday, November 11 in Warwick, Rhode Island (times and addresses below.) Please come by and purchase handmade Ethiopian goods made by our students’ Mothers. When you purchase any item made by our Moms, all of the proceeds go directly to them.

Little by little, our students’ Moms are beginning to earn an income. In addition, they are developing a sense of pride and dignity by earning their own money.

At present, 40 of our students’ Mothers have joined the Mothers Cooperative at Fresh & Green Academy where they are able to come together and work on their crafts. They weave beautiful scarves, and make other items such as shoes, handbags, and jewelry. In addition, our Moms are able to make a contribution by helping out at our school with meal preparation and other tasks.

The Mothers Cooperative is not only a place where the students’ Mothers can come to create and work, but is also a place where they have formed a sisterhood. This sisterhood gives them hope that they will be able to thrive and take care of their families. These women are able to make a living. Finally, their dreams of a better life are coming true.

Sunday, October 28, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Venus De Milo, 75 Grand Army Highway, Swansea, MA  02777

Sunday, November 11, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza, 801 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, RI  02886