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 on our Facebook page!

Read about the latest surgical candidate on our blog:

In Harar Ethiopia, Tesfa Alebachew cares for 92 children who are orphaned, abandoned or do not have anyone who is able to care for them. Tesfa, as a volunteer, provides food, shelter, care, love, protection, structure, guidance and a family to these vulnerable children. He had developed a local model of support having mobilized volunteers, local businesses and individuals to provide food (from hotels and restaurants), services for free (haircuts), rent for the shelter and clothing however, COVID, war in the country and hardship in the country dismantled that model of support.

At the beginning of COVID, Hearts for Ethiopia became the only financial supporter of the shelter.  

Tesfa needs your support now. The children need your support now to protect, feed, shelter and care for them until the economy recovers from the pandemic, war and hardship enough for the local model of support to start again and provide at least some of the support needed.

The cost to provide for one child for one year is $1000.  If you are interested in sponsoring a child through Team Tesfa, please visit this link to learn more or to sign up.  Any donation you are able to make will help ensure that our  organization can meet the financial needs of the 92 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 92 children who were without family or family who 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…

Read more about Tesfa on our blog:

Wellness for Women is empowering mothers and breaking generational cycles of poverty in Harar, Ethiopia. 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 funded a small team in Ethiopia consisting of Kal (a doctor and the project lead), a psychologist, and a women's empowerment/gender specialist to design and implement Wellness for Women. The outcome of the 6-month pilot ending at the end of 2024 was so impressive that Wellness for Women has become a permanent project for our organization.

The team works together to assess and treat physical and psychological illnesses while providing training in parenting, nutrition, hygiene, interpersonal skills, advocating for themselves, family planning, building confidence and saving money. Developing these skills equips the women to start very small businesses. The necessary equipment and supplies are provided to each woman for the specific business they will start. 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 families. The women are provided ongoing guidance and encouragement from the team for 6 months after starting their business.

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

The women are empowered and through counselling, group support and training, the women come to believe they have value, they are strong, and they have hope for their future.