Project Mercy

Project Mercy, Inc. is a Christian, non profit organization located in Yetebon, Ethiopia, founded in 1977 by Marta Gabre-Tsadick and Deme Tekle-Wold. Over the past eleven years, Project Mercy's original mission has been expanded to include community development and self-help programs.

Yetebon, Ethiopia

Yetebon is a small village located 9 km from Butajira, and is about a two hour drive south of Addis Ababa. It has a population of about 70,000 people. Yetebon is the home of the Gurahge people who are tradesmen, herdsmen, and farmers. Project Mercy sits on 53 acres of land, donated by the elders of Yetebon. The people Project Mercy serves in Yetebon are predominantly Muslim believers. There are many mosques and Ethiopian Orthodox churches in the area.

History

In 1974, Marta Gabre-Tsadick, her husband, Demeke Tekle-Wold, and their children were all forced to flee Ethiopia, barely escaping the chaos of the emerging Marxist government. Marta, the first woman senator in the Ethiopian government, had been identified as a supporter of Emperor Haile Selassie, and because of this, her execution was assured. After hearing this news, Marta and Deme made the decision to flee to Kenya. After first finding help there, the family soon moved to the United States. Eventually, they all would become U.S. citizens, but Marta and Deme knew they would someday return to help the people in Ethiopia. So in 1977, they established Project Mercy in Yetebon, the birthplace of Marta's father. It was started to provide emergency relief and relocation help to refugees. They wanted to "one day return to their homeland to do everything they could to educate its future leaders in restoring its rich heritage" (casefoundation.org). Marta eventually had the opportunity to return to Ethiopia. She received word that a few of the elders of Yetebon wanted to meet with her. The elders expressed to her how they feared for their children's future because there was no hope (people were dying from preventable diseases, the community was illiterate, and there was no clean water or usable roads). Project Mercy is affiliated with Share Our Strength (SOS). Share Our Strength works with organizations like Project Mercy to identify the most efficient ways of expanding existing social services, and to replicate exemplary models. Project Mercy was originally started as a school for children, grades K-10. In December 2002, Project Mercy used the $20,000 donation (from SOS) to feed 600 people for six weeks, focusing on severely malnourished children and their parents. In 1983, Marta wrote and published a book, Sheltered by the King, which describes the hardships she and Demeke, along with their children, endured while fleeing Ethiopia to find safety in the U.S., and eventually establish Project Mercy.

Programs

When it started, Project Mercy provided emergency relief and relocation assistance to African refugees. Project Mercy enlarged its initial focus and, for over two decades, it not only provided emergency relief aid, but has expanded its help to educational assistance and support for refugee evangelists. Project Mercy provides social services, including emergency feeding, job training, health care, including HIV/AIDS education, irrigation systems, agricultural development, orphan support, and education. Project Mercy not only responds to crises, but also focuses on self-sufficiency, sustainability and measurable impact.

chool

"Education is so important- it is the "key" to empowering the children, their family, and ultimately, the community."

- Marta Gabre-Tsadick (December 13, 2005)

Project Mercy provides education through formal and informal schooling and literacy outreach programs. Even though Project Mercy was originally started as a school for grades K-10, they are currently expanding, and a high school is being built so students can continue with 11th and 12th grade at Project Mercy instead of having to travel to the nearby town of Butajira to continue their education. In conjunction with the school is a feeding program, providing all students with breakfast and lunch.

Orphanage

Marta and Deme did not start out with the intention that Project Mercy would also be an orphanage, but quickly they saw families' needs for a home for their children that they could not provide. Project Mercy now has anywhere from 50-75 kids living on the compound at any given time.

Hospital

Project Mercy completed construction of a new hospital in 2004. Not only do they provide health care, but Project Mercy is becoming more and more involved in providing instruction and encouraging better hygiene. These programs are directed at all the people of Yetebon, but especially new mothers. They also educate people on public health issues such as sexually transmitted diseases, malaria prevention and intestinal parasites, so the people of Yetebon will become more aware of health risks and take the information back to their villages.

Church

Project Mercy's church is open to the public, and has non-denominational Christian church services held in the school compound every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. They are entirely in Amharic, and everyone is more than welcome to attend. A translator can be supplied for those who desire to have the service translated into English.

External links

* [http://www.projectmercy.org Project Mercy - Home ] at www.projectmercy.org
* [http://www.strength.org Share Our Strength - Ending Childhood Hunger in America ] at www.strength.org

Citations

Personal Letter From Marta Gabre-Tsadick, December 13, 2005.
* [http://www.casefoundation.org/leaders/marta_deme/qa# Case foundation - Marta & Deme Q+A ] at www.casefoundation.org
* http://puravidacoffeewoman.blogspot.com/2006/12/project-mercy-or-at-our-mercy.html
* [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/5236.htm Charity Navigator Rating - Project Mercy ] at www.charitynavigator.org
* [http://cie-wis.org/lse2006/2006/07/project-mercy.html LearnServe Ethiopia 2006: Project Mercy ] at cie-wis.org
* [http://www.theafricamonitor.com/articles/november2005/31105/the_light.htm The Africa Monitor- The light of Ethiopia ] at www.theafricamonitor.com
* [http://cindybeads.com/hospitalPM04.htm New Hospital at Project Mercy ] at cindybeads.com
* [http://www.strength.org Share Our Strength - Ending Childhood Hunger in America ] at www.strength.org
* https://marriottschool.byu.edu/alumni/portal/featured/index.cfm?siteareaid=14