By Joan Townsend | Executive Director, Retrak America
Retrak Ethiopia has recently begun a new tradition: a Farewell Ceremony for children who are leaving Retrak and returning to their families. The ceremony celebrates a new beginning for these children, and it gives them an opportunity to express their feelings and thoughts on what they've experienced in our programs. At a recent Farewell Ceremony, the departing boys said that they were extremely grateful for the services that they received at Retrak. It's true that Retrak provided these children with essential services like food, shelter, medical care, education, counseling and recreation. We do our best to give street children a better life, but nothing can compare to the loving care these children will receive from their own families upon their return home.
One of the astonishing things we observed during the ceremony was that some of the boys were asking for forgiveness for the conflicts and fights they had had in the past with other children. The other children forgave them, and their friendships were sealed with a hug.
The ceremony ended by the departing boys cutting a loaf of bread together and sharing it with the other children.
Today is #GivingTuesday! Please make a donation to Retrak today to allow us to help more street children return to caring and stable families.
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