Imagine living in a nation so poor that even curable diseases end with the unnecessary deaths of thousands. Parents watch their children suffer through fever and infection, only to eventually die from vaccine preventable and treatable diseases. Mothers in Ethiopia walk hours on foot carrying supplies and even children, only to be informed of the absence of doctors and supplies. Such doleful situations stretch across the entire nation, but finally the new O-Ambassadors club at Pikesville High School is making an effort to aid the Ethiopians.

            The club, established this year, works to address healthcare issues in third world countries that do not have proper funding to provide their citizens with adequate healthcare. Curable diseases such as measles, chicken pox, mumps and polio still devastate populations in many areas of Ethiopia, killing primarily infants and children less than five years of age.

            "The aim of the society is to raise money for children's hospitals in Ethiopia. Also, the money collected helps train healthcare workers there so that they know how to actually help the children," Sabah Mukhtar (’13), the president and founder of the O-Ambassadors, said.

            The club's president, with the help of Ms. Ladson, devised a plan for officially raising the money to help those in need. The mission of the organization compares to that of the club. Both aim to see Ethiopian children receive quality and affordable health care services using local resources and health care professionals. 

            "We are working together with the Gemini Healthcare Group. It's a non-profit organization that raises money for hospitals in Ethiopia, which is exactly what we were looking for,” Sabah explained. “So far, they raised $150,000 for the children and are now building a hospital, which is hard with the limited resources." 

            Though many United States immigrants fail to remember their roots, Sabah works diligently to help those in her native country. Taking pride in her Ethiopian heritage, she wants to do all she can for those struggling in the nation she left behind. 

            "Being Ethiopian I've had first hand experience with issues in the healthcare system there. People die there from diseases that seem ridiculous. Even simple things like getting a flu shot are impossible because there are no resources," Sabah said. 

            While many clubs in PHS offer students the opportunity to take part in a good cause, the O-Ambassadors club differentiates itself in focusing on a global issue, not a local one.

            "There are many clubs at

 Pikesville that have important causes, but this is different because we are focused on only children. We want all of the children in third world countries to be healthy enough to live a good life, and that’s not possible yet," Sabah said.

            To become a member, one must attend a meeting and sign up. Members discuss how to make students aware of the problems that Ethiopians face every Thursday in room SH1 at 2:30 p.m.

            "There is no reason for the deaths of so many children in Ethiopia, especially since the sicknesses are curable. That's why we are trying to help raise money, so that the suffering will stop," Sabah stated.