You may have heard some alarming statistics:

• Childbirth is a top cause of death in girls aged 15 to 18 in developing countries.

• Cycles of poverty, violence and ignorance continue when girls are not educated.

• 80% of human trafficking victims are girls.

But, we also know that educated girls marry later, have children later and have fewer, healthier children. The benefits of education include improved health and enhanced status in the community. Economies grow as more girls are educated. We know that educating girls and empowering women is one of the best investments we can make in developing countries like Ethiopia.

We see an incredible amount of potential in the children of Ethiopia - boys and girls alike. That's why we also support projects like the Tesfa’s Shelter. We want to educate and provide for the youth of Ethiopia to encourage future leaders.

With projects like Prolapsed Uterus Surgeries and Wellness for Women, we're helping to restore health and dignity to women's lives.

You're invited to get to know these projects. We know you’ll be touched by this work and the difference it makes for women and children in Ethiopia!

 We'd like to introduce you to some of the women who have received these surgeries.
Read their stories in our surgeries gallery!

In Harar Ethiopia, Tesfa  Alebachew cares for 84 children who are orphaned, abandoned, do not have any family who are able to care for them, or who have family to live with but the family is too poor to provide for the child.

The cost of a sponsorship for one child for one year is $1000 or there is the opportunity to donate $500 to be a half-sponsor for a child. Any donation you are able to make will help ensure that our organization can meet the financial needs of the 84 children at Tesfa's Shelter.

Please send a message to Tesfa that you value what he is doing and to the children that they are loved.

You can also become a Team Tesfa sponsor and provide a child with shelter, food, clothing, educational supplies, medical care, security and a family. Tesfa's Shelter in Harar, Ethiopia, is home to 84 children who were without family or family that could care for them. As a sponsor, you will be changing a life and touching the heart of a child. You will be helping to ensure they have all they need - not only quality of life but also a hope for the future. LEARN MORE…

Wellness for Women is empowering mothers and breaking generational cycles of poverty in Harar, Ethoipia. It began after our founder became aware that there were 12 mothers of children supported through Tesfa's shelter who were unable to work because of their medical and psychological conditions. Tesfa's wife, Kal, was highly motivated to serve these women and brought this need to Shelley's attention. Our organization has funded a small team in Ethiopia consisting of Kal (a medical doctor and the project lead), a psychologist, and a women's empowerment/gender specialist to design and implement Wellness for Women.  

The team is working together to assess and treat physical and psychological illnesses while providing training in parenting, nutrition, hygiene, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, advocating for themselves, family planning, budgeting, time management, and how to save money. Developing these skills equips the women to start very small businesses. Necessary equipment and supplies are provided to each woman who graduates from the training program. As the women learn new skills and begin to generate money through their businesses, they move toward sustainability and the ability to support themselves and their children. Ongoing guidance, training and support are provided to each of the women who graduate from the program.

An adjacent project, Real Men, was also launched to educate the husbands of women who are in the program. The men learn parenting, communication and relationship skills, and are encouraged - and held accountable - to show up for their families.

Wellness for Women also impacts the children of the women in this program.  The children's stress is significantly reduced because they know their mothers are receiving medical and psychological care and are building hope for the future. They no longer have to fear their mother will die and leave them as orphans. The relationships between mothers and children have improved as the mother's wellness improves, bringing new hope and new joy into the family.

The program empowers the women and, through counselling, they come to believe in their value, see themselves as strong, and develop hope for their future.