Compassion helps give adolescents hope.

Ethiopia (MNN/Compassion) — One of the few uncolonized African nations, Ethiopia is currently engaged in one of the toughest battles of its culturally rich and storied history — to preserve a hopeful future for its youth.

More than 48 percent of Ethiopia’s nearly 68 million people are under age the age of 15. With soaring unemployment, a land wracked by famine, disease, war and political oppression, most of the country’s youth stand to inherit a bleak future. Consequently, life-skills training classes are a curriculum priority of Compassion International, Ethiopia.

Once Compassion-assisted youth reach adolescence, project workers begin identifying students’ abilities; they also begin teaching life-skills courses rooted in the socio-economic realities of the projects’ communities. The goal is to equip every Compassion-assisted young person with an income-generating skill by the time he or she completes Compassion’s program.

Compassion is teaching barber skills to boys ages 13 and older. This allows them to make a living. Since Compassion International is a Christian organization these young people are hearing about Christ. Your support can help this training continue. So far, 30 young people have been trained in this program.