Monica Tonna Barthet is a Maltese woman who has completely devoted her life and retirement savings to help Ethiopian youngsters maximise their potential through education and discipline.
Monica Tonna Barthet, who is 72, has given a second life to 23 boys who either lived on the streets or were abandoned by their parents in children’s homes.
After a fulfilling 34-year career with the United Nations she decided to leave everything and volunteer with the Mother Teresa Sisters of Charity of Ethiopia for seven years, aged 70.
Then, she decided to use her life savings to give the group of boys a better childhood by opening her own children’s home.
She had to find ways and means to work around the very rigid and bureaucratic Ethiopian government. The same government does not tolerate missionaries in Ethiopia. Volunteers usually claim they are visiting Ethiopia for a holiday in order to be able to do voluntary work.
After various stumbling blocks she was finally granted the necessary permits to build the home in Addis Ababa, the capital city. She managed to buy the land, build the home and furnish it with all necessities.
A few months later, Angels Children’s home welcomed 14 boys of different ages. The home is licensed as a charity home by the Ethiopian authorities.
Today 24 boys are under Monica’s care and live like a big family. Monica employs a few people to guide the boys along their education plan. Most suffer from chronic diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis or epilepsy but, thanks to Monica’s efforts, their conditions are controlled. One of the boys is completely blind and suffers from tuberculosis. Monica is trying to teach him music and enrolled him in a German school for the blind to equip him with important skills.
She uses informal education to help them garner important life concepts in their free time. The boys attend school in the morning. She pays for their education and trains them in cane skills, agriculture, cooking and music. She believes in learning for life and hopes that through her teaching they become autonomous individuals who will be able to help other people.
Last summer, 11 youngsters from the Jesuit NGO Inygo set off for a volunteering experience in Ethiopia. Among the various tasks, they engaged in voluntary work at Monica’s home.
The group, led by Fr Michael Bugeja, organised games for the boys, shared their daily lifestyle and assisted Monica in the running of the home for a short while. The Maltese youths got to experience the Hoya Hoya fire and the coffee ceremony, two typical Ethiopian ceremonies. Monica ensures the boys learn to appreciate Ethiopian culture. The Ethiopian boys left a positive impact on the youngsters’ lives.
After a few years in Ethiopia, Monica’s funds are running dry and her pension is not perpetual. She needs financial support to ensure that her invaluable contributions are continued when one day she will be gone.
Monica’s sister Margaret Tonna Barthet is appealing to the public to help Monica financially. Among the various needs, Monica needs to purchase a 30-seater bus to drive the boys to and from school, take them on outings, extra-curricular activities and to carry the bulky shopping to feed 30 hungry mouths.
Donations can be deposited in HSBC Angels Children’s Home account number 006 043 020 051.