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2022 Map indicating where our patients are from across Ethiopia, our programme officers in Ethiopia ensure that all patients are provided with travel to get to hospitals in order to get the cleft surgery they desperately need. Read more
Take a look at our 2022 highlights, to see how your support helped to changes lives this year. Read more
When Abel's mother fell pregnant, she had to drop out of school, but she hoped that after his birth she would be able to return to pursue her dream of getting an education. However, when Abel was born with a cleft lip and palate, she realised that he would require additional care that would prevent her from returning to school. After hearing from a local doctor about Project Harar, Abel received the life-changing surgery he needed and his mother can now achieve her dream of going back to school Read more
Amen came to Arba Minch General hospital to receive surgery for his cleft lip, he is four months and two weeks old and came with his mother and father. The family found out about Project Harar’s programme from Facebook, his mother told us that her “husband uses the app and he saw one of the posts on Facebook and we followed up on the date of the mission. After that we travelled here so Amen can get his surgery.” Read more
Urgent appeal for children affected by cleft lip and palate in remote and insecure living situations. The impact of civil conflict and the Covid-19 pandemic means that we have more people than ever waiting to access our services. Read more
Our latest newsletter is out! Check out what we've been up to recently ... Read more
In November 2022, a team represented Project Harar in The VirtualGreat Ethiopian, raising money to provide access to cleft lip and palate surgeries in Ethiopia. Read more
Click here to read our newest update, a timeline from January to June! From cleft lip and palate programmes in various cities to partnerships with Tropical Health Education Trust (THET) on a new training programme using simulator equipment, we have had a busy few months at Project Harar. Read more
Breastfeeding has been a mother's primary source of feeding for newborns since the earliest record of human life. It is an important factor for the health, physical development, and survival of a child. However, mothers who give birth to babies with cleft lip and palate will find it difficult to breastfeed their child - read on to find out more about how Project Harar supports breastfeeding mothers.. Read more
In June 2022, Project Harar conducted a surgical treatment program in Debre-Tabor, with one of our partnering hospitals Debre-Tabor Hospital. We had the chance to interview Selam and her mother Thehay about their journey from when Selam was born with cleft lip and palate, to now receiving treatment at 4 years old. Read more
Project Harar, collaborating with Transforming Faces, has been at the start of speech therapy consultations in Ethiopia. In 2019 the very first cohort of medical professionals who trained and graduated to provide speech and language therapy in Ethiopia. Read more
Project Harar continues to provide access to treatment for children with cleft lip and palate, this time in Debre-Tabor. It is absolutely vital that we can continue to provide these services, as environmental and political issues gain momentum in Ethiopia, it is increasingly more difficult for families to seek cleft treatment. We are partnered with the Debre-Tabor Hospital, and in May we were able to treat over 30 families who came from different towns in the Amhara region. Read more
At the start of May 2022, Project Harar interviewed Ayana and her mother Fatuma on their experience utilising our services. They recount Ayana's life and health prior to receiving access to surgery for cleft lip and palate, as well as nutritional treatment. To find out more about the aid Project Harar provides and gives access to, continue reading... Read more
During our recent programme at the Kadisco hospital in Addis Ababa, 6 month old Kassahun and his family accessed surgical treatment for his cleft lip and palate through Project Harar's services. After an 11 hour journey to the Kadisco hospital, they recount their story to our team. Read more
This week, we delivered a copy of 'Don't Ask the Dragon' to Fairlight primary school. This copy was donated by Projects Brighton, and fundraised as part of our current urgent appeal. Now it is a part of their school library! Read more
People with facial differences across the world may face stigma. Where we work — in rural and remote areas of Ethiopia, stigma is prevalent amongst the people we meet who are living with facial difference and accessing our services. Read more here. Read more
Wendemeh and his brother Gatkuoth travel to the Debre Markos specialised hospital in Amhara to receive treatment for the first time at 15 years old. He and Gatkuoth recount their experiences pre-surgery, and how important it is to destigmatise cleft lip and palate and continue to spread awareness and educate people and schools. Read more
In 2021, Kumaaol was received at Yekatit-12 Hospital through Project Harar's services for access to surgical treatment and speech therapy sessions. Read on about his time at the hospital in Addis Ababa, and later on partaking in speech therapy sessions with the support of health workers and his family... Read more
The UK Government Kickstart Scheme provided funding in 2021 and 2022 to create new jobs for 16 to 24 year olds, who may have been at a disadvantage due to less employment opportunities for reasons such as the Covid-19 Pandemic. Read more
We first met Gudina and his family on February of 2021, where he was finally able to access surgery for his cleft palate. Gudina was three years old. Following his surgery, delayed as a response to the impact of Covid-19, we interviewed him and his father over the phone to catch up with Gudina. Read more
Why are some people in rural communities facing ostracization due to the cleft condition? Why is there a lack of education surrounding their condition, and what role does Project Harar in alleviating these problems? Read more on what it is like to live with facial difference in Ethiopia... Read more
Read about how we are using new and innovative technology to provide training around microsurgery, air-way management and other medical areas to students at Yekatit-12 Medical College, Addis Ababa Read more
When Bisrat was born with a cleft lip her parents took her to the nearest hospital, but they were told that their baby could not be treated. Now at the age of three Bisarat has received treatment for her cleft lip, now she will be able to play with other children without fear of bullying. Read more
Two year old Endale's mother and father travelled over an hour on foot to reach their first method of transport, It took them a further 10 hours to reach the hospital for Endale's cleft treatment. Read more
It is vital that children born with cleft conditions receive treatment as soon as they are eligible, so that they do not face further developmental barriers in relation to nutrition, speech, language and in the long run — access to education. Over March and April 2022 we have helped over 200 families from the most remote areas of the Amhara Region access cleft lip and palate treatment. Read more
Help raise £150. A signed copy of Lemn Sissay's new children's book, Don't Ask the Dragon, will be donated to a local primary school, in Brighton, whilst a child in Ethiopia will be able to access life changing treatment for a cleft condition. Read more
Meet Yeneneshe, age four and her mother Sifaan, Yeneneshe was able to access her first surgery for her cleft lip in April 2022. Read more
The Amhara region is currently greatly affected by food insecurity and civil conflict, combined with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, vital health care services, such as those provided by Project Harar have been limited to those living in the region over the past 14 months. What are we doing about this? Read more
Brother and sister, Tigist and Adane, were born with cleft lip and palate. We met the family in March 2022, when Ten year old Tigist was having her surgery for her cleft palate and her three year old brother Adane was having his first surgery for his cleft lip in the Amhara region. Read more
The story of one of the many displaced families living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. In March 2022 Nyalam was finally able to reach treatment for both her son and daughter, who were born with cleft conditions. Read more
In March 2022, South Sudanese refugees from the Gambella region with cleft lip or palate were received by Project Harar in Addis Ababa, they were provided with access to surgery and treatment. They travelled large distances and endured harsh living conditions in the refugee camps, and many children suffered of cleft. This is their story. Read more
"The journey was difficult we had to walk for almost six hours to get transport from our village, we walked there to the near town to get a bus. This is the reality for families living in our area. But it was a journey of renewed hope it’s exciting for my daughter even though it was a long way." Read more
Seven year old Ibsaa came with his grandfather from a rural area of Oromia, it took them almost a full days journey to reach Ambo city for Ibsaa's cleft treatment. Ibsaa lost his parents when he was small, his grandfather raised him. Read more
I'm delighted to join Project Harar as a Board Member as the charity enters its 21st year. Project Harar is a charity close to my heart, I have been following its journey closely over the years with my late husband Jonathan who founded the charity in April 2001. I am inspired to join Project Harar in the next part of its journey, in its mission to help families from the most difficult to reach areas in Ethiopia reach the vital treatment they need." Read more
Meet Liz, our Fundraising and Administration Assistant in the UK office. Read more