Living with facial difference in Ethiopia

Project Harar is part of Face Equality International is an alliance of over 30 NGO'S (Non-Governmental Organisations), charities and support groups. The mission of the alliance is to mobilise the many groups and organisations, big and small, national and international, which support and represent people with facial differences and disfigurements. The alliance aims to create the critical mass and solidarity needed to gain global attention for the campaign for face equality.

For #IFEW2022, International Face Equality Week, we have gathered a collection of case stories that focus on lived experience for people living with facial difference in rural Ethiopia and created some informative pieces about why International Face Equality week is important for our cause.

Stigma against people with facial difference often stems from a lack of awareness about cleft lip and palate and complex facial disfigurements.

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 have in alleviating these problems?

Here is the report made by Face Equality international on why face equality should be a human right.

Why do people with facial difference face stigma in rural Ethiopia?

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 at 15 years old accesses cleft treatment

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

Kumaaol recieves speech therapy after surgery

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

Official 2020 Complex Surgical Programme Film

We have released our official film from our 2020 Complex Surgical Programme in Ethiopia - Sifan and Tirusew's story Read more

Latest

Why do people with facial difference face stigma in rural Ethiopia?

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.
Wendemeh at 15 years old accesses cleft treatment

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.
Kumaaol recieves speech therapy after surgery

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...
How the UK Government Kickstart Scheme has created mutual growth opportunities: Q&A with Rafaella

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.