Stigma against those living with facial difference exists across the world. Where we work — in rural and remote areas of Ethiopia, stigma is extremely 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
Meet Dr. Kalkidan Esayas, new Executive Director of Project Harar in Ethiopia. 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
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
"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
We are looking for an enthusiastic and agile minded individual to join our UK team as an Administration and Fundraising Assistant via the UK Government Kickstart scheme. Based in Brighton. Read more
"Abdii has a twin sister and three older siblings, but he is the only one who was born with a cleft lip... We are so happy that he was able to get treatment, we were so worried at first that we planned to sell everything that we had — even though we didn't have much — to afford private treatment." Read more
Read about families who have accessed our services around nutrition for cleft lip and palate. Read more
Nutrition is a vital part of cleft care. A cleft lip and palate can make feeding for infants extremely difficult, this is often combined with food insecurity which affects rural and disadvantaged areas of Ethiopia. Read more
Now that Gammachu is treated I am so happy, I cannot stop smiling. My son is one of the lucky children to have received treatment at such a young age. When he grows, he will go to school and he can achieve his dreams — feeling comfortable in how he looks. Read more
"I always felt sad and I really tried my best to get him help but I didn't know where to go. He has not been able to attend school — no one can understand his speech apart from me. When I heard that treatment was available and for free, I was happy beyond words. I am hopeful that now he will be able to attend school and make friends." Read more
We are pleased to announce that we have received a partnerships for global health grant from THET (Tropical Health and Education Trust) - supporting a multidisciplinary surgical training programme, including surgical, anaesthetic and nursing training, in collaboration with Yekatit-12 Government Hospital, Addis Ababa. Read more
"I was also born with cleft lip, I had surgery when I was child. I was always worried that one of my children would be born with one too... My son is a happy child now and not aware of the communities discrimination, but I know the experience — and when I heard of this opportunity I was so happy, beyond words.” Read more
It’s amazing to see that what I dreamed of for our child has come true. My daughter is beautiful and she was always beautiful. It made me really happy when I saw her face for the first time after the surgery. And I know when she grows up and hears the story of how she got treatment, she will feel lucky that she was to receive it at this young age. She will feel happier than me. Thank you for all you did for our daughter and our family. Read more
"I want to highlight the profound difference your support makes to the families who access our services. By helping infants access surgery for cleft lip and palate at an early age you are giving them a significantly better chance at life, enabling them to rejoin their community, to make friends — perhaps for the first time — and to go to school." Read more
The Big Give Christmas Challenge is now closed. Thank you to everyone who donated to our Big Give campaign, together we have raised an incredible £32,400.75 including Gift Aid. Which will help us to provide vital services to families living in rural and remote areas of Ethiopia. Thank you! Read more
Project Harar continue to deliver life changing access to surgery for infants and children in rural areas of Ethiopia, who are impacted by cleft lip or palate. Read about our latest programme here. This programme was in Project Harar's birth place, Harar, in the Oromia region. Read more
Though traditional foods in Ethiopia vary from region to region, there are many common foods that are consumed across the country. We visited some market places and farms in and around Addis Ababa to find out more... Read more
Last in our nutrition mini series we have a closer look at vegetables and their availability across Ethiopia — specifically collard greens, including a quick and easy recipe! Read more
Take a look at some of our highlights of 2021 so far... Read more