New Videos! The Tilahun Belay kindergarten is a school for orphans in Tembien."When Michael first returned to Tembien in 2000, he built the school out of mud for immediate usage. He found teachers to help, and he went from village to village around the area to find orphans – some he found living in trees by the river, others he found were about to be shot by their own families because they could not afford to feed them any more. These are the children that Michael saved and recruited for his school.

The mud school, however, was never meant to be a permanent solution. Michael began contacting as many people as he could, in as many countries as possible, to help build an adequate building and get funding to keep the school going. For years there was no help. Michael finally sold his own home to fund the project and was able to build concrete buildings, which have been reinforced with security measures to protect the children from frequent raids and violence that plague the village. In 2006, the new school was finally inaugurated (see videos below).

At the school, the children receive food, education, and a chance at a better tomorrow. After school, the orphans go home with the many generous teachers and staff who help keep the school running. The school has an open door policy and refuses to turn away any orphan who needs help, but while the desire to help is limitless, the budget is not. The classrooms are becoming crowded, and there are further improvements needed on the buildings. Supplies are constantly needed, and there are other future projects in need of funding.