Weekly meeting

Maureen Burnett and Jo Middlemiss are first cousins and close friends. They both grew up in Glasgow before going their separate ways through careers, marriage, children and grandchildren.

Maureen had a long career in catering and Jo worked as a teacher and relationship counselor and coach.

Jo followed Maureen’s lead out to Ethiopia and together they set up EMP after getting to know the community of the Buccama Clinic: a community that comprises a small band of religious sisters, a dedicated staff  and many many people dependent on the clinic for their needs.

They travel out to Ethiopia every year. They live and work at the Clinic for the best part of a month, whilst seeing how things are going, how the money which they fundraise for all year is being spent and what the needs are for the following year.

When they started 9 years ago they only thought to provide a few basic and extras. Mattresses, some medicine, drinking vessels and plates and other basics that seemed to be needed.

9 Years later, after many ups and downs, EMP pays the salaries for the  18 members of staff, two extensions have been built, 2 wards and a lab, the water pump has been replaced, and an essential robust 4×4 has been acquired. The work goes on.