Mingi Babies

Ethiopia is in the horn of africa.It's the only

country in africa that has never lost its independence.

'the babies are cursed'

MINGI:

Children like this could be considered a Mingi baby...

The result would be death.

There are many reasons a baby could be considered a Mingi baby... If the child's teeth come in

bottom to topIf they are twins, they will kill one or both of the kids

If the mom and dad are not married

If the parents don't get the right

approval from elders to have a

baby

How could a baby be classified as mingi ?

• If a child is clumsy and chips a tooth, it is considered a Mingi

The Omo River

Where the innocent babies are thrown in, either to drown a slow death, or be devoured brutally by alligators

The Omo river is not the only place these babies are killed, they also kill

them by:

Leaving them out

in the wild to

starve and/or be

eaten by wild

animals

Pushing them off cliffs

There is a concoction that is made by the

medicine man, The herbs that they give the mothers makes the mother ill and in the end...

Or babies that were not approved by the elders to be killed before they are even born

It allows "kumbaso" babies (babies that were created from an affair)

Kills the baby inside her

No one keeps track of how many children are killed

an estimate is 300 a year though...

That's about the size of

one of CHS graduating classes.

Why do the elders do this to their own people?

The elders say:

"If they have the mingi, there will be no water, no food, no cattle, But when they throw the

baby away, everything is good again."

The women don't question

the elders there is no other option.

Why do they do it?

They have a special need

They are scared for their tribe

They think the child will be a burdenBecause they are clumsyOr

“They are not doing this because they are evil,

wild,savaged monsters. They're doing it out of fear. They fear for the lives of others in the

tribe."-Andreas Kosubek

Born and raised in Kara Tribe.

Lale Labuko

The first to break away and go to college.Co-created Omo Child Organization.

Why has Lale Labuko stepped up to help?

He runs two shelters for the children that have been saved.

When he was young and saw his first Mingi Baby killing he was

devastated.

Their goal is to Rescue, educate, and give the children love and homes.

Rescued children live in the shelters where they go to school and are in a safe clean environment.

What is the Omo Child Organization?

For a Mingi baby the shelters are their only option besides death.

What's the future hold for the Mingi Babies?

The Omo Children Foundation is hoping to educate the world about what is happening and to raise future leaders.

One day though they hope that mingi babies will not exist.

They have already saved 35 babies. Saving these babies is harder then it seems.

Omo Child.org www.friendsofsouthomo.com http://bridgesofhope.ca

How can you help ?

visit these sites to find out

more

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