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Introduction - A story of small steps
At the age of 20, Nigisti Gebre Selasie, a local girl from Gondar, decided to dedicate her life to the street children of her home town. Against all odds and the initial resistance of her family, Nigisti started working in her own neighbourhood. In 2004 her organization, YenegeTesfa, was enlisted as a local NGO.
Today Nigisti runs a small orphanage and different reintegration programs aimed at organizing basic needs but also housing, schooling and vocational training for street children.
On the following pages, you will read about the different programs and about how you can get involved.
You also read how Yenege Tesfa has changed the lives of street children in Gondar by giving them some hope of a better future - a "Hope of Tomorrow".
Background
According to a recent UNICEF report, Ethiopia has one of the largest orphan populations in the world: 13% percent (4.6 million) of all children are missing one or both parents, 800,000 of whom were orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
In a country with a fast-growing workforce and no jobs, these children face a grim future. This website is about YenegeTesfa, a local aid initiative and NGO based in Gondar, Northern Ethiopia. YenegeTesfa - meaning "Hope for Tomorrow" in Amharic - is a community-based, privately funded, non-sectarian and non-profit organization providing help to street orphans - the most vulnerable group of street children.
Philosophy - How we work
Yenege Tesfa was born out of the simple philosophy that children who have lost their parents, mostly because of HIV/AIDS, deserve our help. At the best we believe this help should be organized in the local community and based on the willingness of a voluntary committee. YenegeTesfa is not the work of one person. The project would never have grown to its present size without the unselfish and volontary help from many sides.In "YenegeTesfa", people with different backgrounds work together:
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Nigisti Gebre Selasie - manager YT
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Kassahun - staff member
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Etenesh Awoke (working at an insurance company) - accountant YT
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Fenta Telahun (teacher) - committee member YT
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Zufan Tekle Michael (teacher) - committee member YT
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Gebre - guardian shelter YT
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Mulat - guardian shelter YT
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Dr Mulat Abegaz - landlord shelter YT
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Ato Menker - volunteer YT (in Addis Ababa)
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Lea Van Litsenborgh - volunteer YT
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Jakob Smits - volunteer YT
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Nicole Kurtain - volunteer YT
Our rules of engagement
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We work as volunteers, this gives us respect and acceptance.
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We are non-political and non-religious, all children in need are treated equally.
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With the help of partners and private donations, we provide basic supplies, education and vocational training to stimulate a way back to the mainstream society and the job market.
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With the help of partners and private donations, we provide a healthcare program. All children are treated free of charge at the local hospital.
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Most of our volunteers and street workers are Ethiopian citizens and part of the local community. We are working together with volunteers from other counties as well.
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We coordinate our programs with the municipality, the 'kebele' administration, the local HIV/AIDS Secretariat Office, UN World Food Programme and Beletu.
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We seek partnerships with other NGO's and charitable societies.
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Updates»
Updates added on the homepage, in the news section and in the projects section.
2008.05.09
Pictures online»
Check here for new pictures
2008.05.09
New website»
The new version of the website is online!
2008.03.17
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