DESTA ETHIOPIA
is a UK-registered charity (no. 1194896) that operates without political affiliation, or religious or ethnic bias, to support people in need across Ethiopia. Its founders, Lisa Shekede and Stephen Rickerby, began working in Ethiopia in 2013 in the field of cultural heritage preservation, specialising in the conservation of the country’s famous rock-cut painted churches. Having gained much from Ethiopia’s culture, they felt it necessary to give something back. Desta, meaning ‘joy’, inspires and guides the charity’s mission. As much as helping people in the present, we also seek to sustain their future.
Why ETHIOPIA?
In many parts of Ethiopia, the lives and livelihoods of people are under threat. With climate change, drought frequency is increasing, putting rural communities in peril. Food insecurity is an ever-present risk. Conflict has brought untold tragedy to countless thousands of people. Many are displaced and are struggling to survive. The most vulnerable – especially women and children – are also the most affected. Our mission to give something back is now a far greater undertaking than ever before.
What we do
Our efforts depend on the dedication of Ethiopia-based friends, colleagues and other volunteers. They liaise with church committees and local administrators to identify people most in need, ensure the equitable disbursement of funds, and keep meticulous accounts. Help is given to rural families living in poverty, people fleeing conflict, vulnerable street children, the old and the sick. DESTA ETHIOPIA also works with small local charitable initiatives to provide school equipment and materials for poor or displaced children, simple meals for street children, equipment for hospitals which were targetted during the war, and accommodation and support for victims of gender-based violence. We have no paid staff, no consultants, and no middle-men, so every penny of the funds we send out goes directly to support these causes.
Why we need your help
The Pretoria peace agreement brought a cecession of conflict in Tigray in November 2022 but Ethiopia continues to experience regional conflict, economic instability, and the effects of climate change. Rebuilding lives devastated by war is a daunting task in these circumstances but DESTA ETHIOPIA intends to offer support for as long as this is required. To keep our vital work going, we need your help. Even modest donations can mean the difference between life and death. As a small charity with local contacts we have the flexibility to identify critical situations as they arise, enabling us to provide swift and effective assistance where other, large
organisations and charities cannot.
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Desta Ethiopia 