Impacts
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Impacts, initiatives, and testimonies
Impacts, initiatives, and testimonies
This page is dedicated to sharing some of the powerful impacts, initiatives, and stories from the ADDIS Foundation for Community Health. Here, we highlight the heartfelt work of our small but devoted team, the contributions of our volunteers, the partnerships with institutions and organizations that believe in our mission, and the testimonies of the program participants whose lives have been touched.
While these stories and reports don’t capture everything we do, they reflect the commitment and compassion that fuel our work each day. As a small team, we are dedicated to making our efforts as transparent and inspiring as possible, sharing the journey and the milestones we reach, together. Through these glimpses, we hope you feel the impact of every hand, every heart, and every action that drives us closer to a world without preventable blindness.
Impacts: 2024
September, 2024
Hello, Selam!
On behalf of the Addis Foundation for Community Health, our founder, Debrework Damte, wishes you a Melkam Addis Amet (Happy New Year)!
We’re excited to introduce our new #GiveMeFive initiative—a campaign focused on raising funds to support our mission of educating blind individuals and ending preventable blindness in Ethiopia.
Remember, even the smallest contribution can make a big difference. Every bit of support helps us create a brighter future! Click "Donate" at the bottom of this page to make your contribution.
Here’s to a year of positive change and impactful community work!
July , 2024
Addis Foundation was honored to be invited and recognized at Queen Zewditu Hospital’s annual Winter Campaign for our ongoing collaboration with the hospital and its dedicated healthcare providers. Every winter, the hospital’s staff conducts free health screenings for community members who cannot afford care. Through this program, individuals in need of eyeglasses receive them, thanks to donations from the Addis Foundation for Community Health. We are deeply grateful for our longstanding partnership with the hospital, its compassionate healthcare workers, and the resilient patients and community members we’ve supported together since 2018. This collaboration continues to transform lives, one pair of glasses at a time.
Photo taken at Queen Zewditu Hospital’s annual Winter Campaign.
VIDEO-2024-07-06-07-19-08.movVideo taken at Queen Zewditu Hospital’s annual Winter Campaign.
A display showcasing Addis Foundation for Community Health’s impact was featured at Queen Zewditu Hospital’s annual Winter Campaign, highlighting their contributions to the hospital, its patients and community members.
May, 2024
The Addis Foundation for Community Health launched a sponsorship program to support 14 fully and partially blind students who previously attended the Service and Care for People with Disabilities (SPCDA) Boarding School for the Blind in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. After completing elementary school, these students could no longer afford to live on-site and had to move into shared accommodations, often in poor living conditions.
To help, we’ve committed to providing financial support for three months, covering food and housing to ensure they can continue their education without the distractions of hunger and poverty.
Additionally, we are so proud to have financially contributed to the construction of a new library at the SPCDA Boarding School for the Blind. The construction of the library was completed in May 2024.
Check out some photos and a video from the opening of the new SPCDA library ceremony below!
VIDEO-2024-05-19-12-49-09.mp4March, 2024
Addis Foundation for Community Health ambassador Eskedar, along with our dedicated supporter Joann, embarked on a mission trip to Ethiopia. During this trip, they successfully delivered essential resources—including Perkins Braille typewriters, clothing, vitamins, and other supplies—to the students of the Service and Care for People with Disabilities (SPCDA) Boarding School for the Blind in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
This assistance is invaluable to the students and the school, providing them with the tools and support needed to enhance their education and well-being. These donations ensure that the students have the resources necessary to thrive in their learning environment, despite the challenges they face.
February, 2024
The Addis Foundation for Community health had the opportunity to participate in Taste of Ethiopia, an event hosted by the Adewa Cultural Dallas .---and the Addis Foundation—to enjoy the best Ethiopian cuisine in Dallas.
Here, Addis Foundation for Community Health was able to showcase and communicate its mission and initiatives to attendees.
Addis Foundation Founder Debrework Damte, along with coworkers Mesfin and Sherly, tabling at Taste of Ethiopia in Dallas.
Impacts: 2023
Septemer, 2023
Students from the Service and Care for People with Disabilities (SPCDA) Boarding School for the Blind in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia, sing a song in appreciation of our founder, Debrework Damte. Their gratitude highlights the incredible impact of our work. To help continue our mission of eradicating preventable blindness and providing equitable access to education, please click the donate button below to help us make a difference in the lives of these remarkable students and beyond.
August, 2023
From August 2nd to 3rd, the Addis Foundation for Community Health was honored to participate in the Ethiopian Day Festival in Dallas, Texas. This wonderful opportunity allowed us to engage with the community and share our mission to educate blind individuals and eliminate preventable blindness in Ethiopia. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who visited our booth, shared their thoughts, and generously donated to support our cause.
July, 2023
From July 2nd to July 8th, Addis Foundation for Community Health was able to table at the 40th anniversary of ESFNA. We had the incredible opportunity to engage with our community and share the vital mission of the Addis Foundation: to educate blind individuals and end preventable blindness in Ethiopia. We extended our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stopped by our booth, shared their thoughts, and made donations—even in the sweltering 100-degree heat!
Check out some photos of our founder, volunteers, and supporters!
July, 2023
Addis Foundation for Community Health founder Debrework Damte is interviewed by VOA Amharic. VOA Amharic, is the Amharic-language service of Voice of America. It offers news, analysis, and reports on current events, politics, culture, and international affairs, with a focus on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our information about our mission and initiatives with such a esteemed media network.
January 2023
This January we are celebrating five years of Addis Foundation for Community Health! At this time we’d like to thank our founder Debrework Damte, and the countless team members, community partners, and volunteers that make this work possible. It is through your support that we are able to actualize our mission: eradicating preventable blindness.
Thank you for believing in our mission and standing by us. To help us continue making a difference, please click "Donate" at the bottom of our website to contribute and support our cause.
Impacts: 2022
December, 2022
The recent Addis Foundation for Community Health Fundraiser and Celebration was a memorable event, held both virtually and in person at board member Eskedar’s home. The foundation marked its fourth anniversary with heartfelt gratitude, having raised over $6,000 to support its mission. Five boxes of white canes, Braille materials, and other essentials were shipped to Wolaita Boarding School for the Blind. The event featured a video from Maria Kristic, Chair of the International Committee of the American Council of the Blind, emphasizing the partnership, alongside a message from Ayo Wendimu-Asfaw, founder of Service and Care for People with Disabilities in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
October, 2022
Addis Foundation for Community Health founder Debrework Damte is invited to discuss the non-profit and its mission on the 89.3 FM KNON radio show "Ethiopian Community Radio," based in Dallas, Texas, and hosted by Zewge "Ziggy" Kagnew.
Impacts: 2021
December 2021,
The Addis Foundation for Community Health recently held an eyeglass distribution event at Baro Gambela College in Gambela, Ethiopia. During this event, 200 pairs of eyeglasses donated by the Lions Club were distributed to students, community members, and school staff.
In addition to the eyeglass distribution, the Addis Foundation provided valuable resources thanks to the generosity of Nurse International. We were able to bring free, sustainable, evidence-based nursing and public health course materials to the school, which included medical instruments, medical textbooks, and USB drives containing nursing curriculum from Nurse International.
Baro-Gambela Graduating Student.MOVThe students at Baro Gambela College are filled with gratitude for their new glasses. They share how these glasses have not only transformed their daily lives but have also made a profound impact on their studies, allowing them to see and experience the world in a whole new way. Their heartfelt thanks reflect just how much this gift has improved their ability to learn and thrive.
The students at Baro Gambela College are filled with gratitude for their new glasses. They share how these glasses have not only transformed their daily lives but have also made a profound impact on their studies, allowing them to see and experience the world in a whole new way. Their heartfelt thanks reflect just how much this gift has improved their ability to learn and thrive.
Baro Gambela moma Nn'te.MP4Mama Ngeste, a cherished member of the Baro Gambela community, extends her heartfelt gratitude to the Addis Foundation for their generous donation of eyeglasses. She shares how this simple act of kindness has brought clarity to her life and the lives of so many others, allowing them to see the world—and their future—with newfound hope.
Mama Ngeste, a cherished member of the Baro Gambela community, extends her heartfelt gratitude to the Addis Foundation for their generous donation of eyeglasses. She shares how this simple act of kindness has brought clarity to her life and the lives of so many others, allowing them to see the world—and their future—with newfound hope.
Community members of Baro Gambela are deeply grateful for their new glasses, provided through Addis Foundation’s eyeglass distribution initiative. They share how this gift has brought immense improvement to their lives, allowing them to read, write, and carry out daily tasks with newfound ease. Without organizations like the Addis Foundation, they express, their struggles would have continued, unseen and unaddressed. This support has given them not just clarity of sight, but also renewed hope for a better future.
September 2021,
The Addis Foundation for Community Health recently held its second "ADDIS Vegan Plates" fundraiser. Once again, team members and volunteers prepared traditional vegan, gluten-free Ethiopian meals, cooked and packaged in the home of founder Debrework Damte. The event was a success, with 100% of the proceeds supporting the foundation's programs. We extend heartfelt thanks to those who purchased plates and assisted in preparation and delivery.
Your continued efforts and generosity help sustain our mission to eradicate preventable blindness. Every contribution makes a difference—click "Donate" to support!
August, 2021
Thanks to your eyeglass donations, we’ve provided eyeglasses to 20 patients at Queen Zewditu Memorial Hospital who otherwise couldn’t afford them. Your generosity is truly transforming the lives of those with vision impairments.
We continue to accept used prescription and reading eyeglasses in excellent to good condition for distribution during our upcoming mission trip this winter.
Thank you for your ongoing support! Please click 'Donate' at the bottom of this page to support initiatives like this.
June, 2021
June, 2021
We’re excited to share the remarkable story of Ato (Mr.) Mengistu, whose life has changed thanks to your generous support. Ato Mengistu, a middle-aged Ethiopian man, had been struggling with vision loss since childhood, a condition he believed was worsened by smoke exposure from reading by lamp light. Financial constraints and reliance on traditional remedies left him with scars and impaired vision, as seen in the photos. He was unable to seek effective treatment until recently.
Several months ago, Ms. Melat, speaking on Ato Mengistu’s behalf, reached out to us for assistance. Thanks to your support and the ADDIS Foundation for Community Health’s Board of Directors, he received vital care, including clinic visits and pairs of glasses that restored his vision. In his video message, Ato Mengistu joyfully reads Bible verses and distant text for the first time in years, expressing his profound gratitude and sharing blessings for all who helped make this possible.
Special thanks to Ms. Melat Melese for her dedicated support, from securing resources to coordinating visits and producing videos and photos that document Ato Mengistu’s journey.
We deeply appreciate your support, which crosses oceans to make an enduring difference in Ethiopian lives. Thank you, and we hope you’ll continue standing with us in our mission to prevent blindness and support visually impaired individuals across Ethiopia!
Listen to the testimony of Ato-Mengistu here!
Photo of Ato Mengistu getting his eyes examined in preparation for receiving his new eye glasses.
Impacts: 2020
September, 2020
As part of our critical interventions to prevent blindness, Addis Foundation for Community Health donated Vitamin A and multivitamins to Queen Zewditu Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. These vitamins were distributed to patients and community members who couldn’t afford them, helping to address nutrient deficiencies that impact eye health. Over 200 individuals have benefited from this initiative, receiving essential support to improve their vision and overall health.
October, 2020
The Addis Foundation for Community Health conducts its first "ADDIS Vegan Plates" fundraiser in October-December 2020, and once again in August of the same year. Addis Foundation for Community Health team members and volunteers prepare traditional vegan and gluten free Ethiopian food for purchase. Cooked, packaged and prepared in the home of Addis Foundation founder Debrework Damte, all proceeds supported the foundation’s initiatives. These include providing multivitamins through the Vitamin A Distribution Program and donating paracetamol to Queen Zewditu Memorial Hospital to aid in COVID-19 care. We are incredibly thankful to everyone who bought plates, helped with food preparation, and delivered meals. Your generosity continues to fuel our mission to end preventable blindness!
Remember, even the smallest contribution can make a big difference. Every bit of support helps us create a brighter future! Click "Donate" at the bottom of this page to make your contribution
Check out some great reviews and feedback we received from awesome individuals that purchased a vegan plate from us!
March, 2020
Addis Foundation for Community Health makes its first shipment of of braille paper to the Ethiopian National Association of the Blind (ENAB)! The donation of the paper enables ENAB to produce braille books in Amharic and other local languages to students in the Addis Ababa area! We are grateful for our partnership with ENAB, and are in deep reverence for all thier hardwork!
January, 2020
The Addis Foundation for Community Health is thrilled to partner with Baro Gambela College through our workforce capacity-building initiative. Thanks to the generous support from Nurse International, we were able to provide Baro Gambela College with sustainable, evidence-based nursing and public health course materials at no cost. This partnership marks an important step in expanding access to quality education and equipping future healthcare professionals with the resources they need to make a lasting impact.
We deeply admire the college’s commitment to advancing healthcare education in Ethiopia and are excited to contribute to this shared mission.
January, 2020
The Addis Foundation for Community Health is excited to collaborate with Ethiopia’s Nordic Medical Center through our workforce capacity-building initiative. With the generous support of Nurse International, we’re providing Nordic Medical Center with sustainable, evidence-based nursing and public health curriculum resources at no cost. This partnership marks a significant step toward enhancing access to quality healthcare education, empowering future healthcare professionals with the vital resources they need to drive lasting change.
Nordic Medical Center is a premier healthcare provider in Ethiopia, known for delivering high-quality, patient-centered medical care. Dedicated to bridging international standards with local expertise, the center offers a wide range of services, including emergency care, specialized consultations, and advanced diagnostics. With a commitment to building a skilled, locally trained healthcare workforce, Nordic Medical Center is working to improve Ethiopia’s healthcare landscape through excellence in service and innovation. We deeply respect their mission and are honored to support this shared vision for advancing healthcare in Ethiopia.
Addis Foundation for Community Health Founder Debrework Damte pictured with staff from the Nordic Medical Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
January, 2020
The Addis Foundation for Community Health received a certificate of appreciation from the Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) for our contribution of evidence-based nursing and public health science curricula from Nurse International.
HERQA plays a vital role in Ethiopia by ensuring that higher education institutions meet standards of quality and relevance. By evaluating and accrediting institutions, HERQA promotes programs that align with Ethiopia’s developmental goals and addresses the nation’s healthcare and workforce needs. We’re honored to support HERQA’s mission, helping to advance education and public health in Ethiopia.
January, 2020
In collaboration with its longstanding partner, the Ethiopian National Association of the Blind (ENAB), the Addis Foundation for Community Health hosted a white cane distribution event in Addis Ababa. This initiative provided white canes to community members who would otherwise be unable to afford them, empowering individuals with vision impairments to navigate their daily lives with greater independence and confidence.
One of the powerful testimonials came from "Dawit" Aynachinen Melshelin, who expressed deep gratitude for his new white cane, saying, "You gave me my eyes back" (ኣይናችንን መለሽልን). His words reflect the profound impact of the Addis Foundation’s work in restoring independence and dignity to those living with vision impairments.
To allow us to continue such impactful initiatives, please click "Donate" at the bottom of this page to make a financial contribution.
White Canes Distribution Program at the Ethiopian National Association of the Blind (ENAB), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Impacts: 2019
Febuary, 2019
A pivotal conversation in February 2019 with Miriam Chickering, Founder and CEO of Nurse International, opened doors to incredible opportunities for workforce capacity-building programs, empowering healthcare professionals in Ethiopia
We’re grateful to have received a donation of evidence-based nursing and public health science curricula from Nurse International to introduce to higher education institutions in Ethiopia. This collaboration brings impactful knowledge and training to the next generation of healthcare providers, advancing our mission to prevent blindness and improve public health.
Miriam Chickering, Founder and CEO of Nurse International, and Addis Foundation for Community Health Founder Debrework Damte.
Image of USB's containing evidence-based nursing and public health science curricula donated by Nurse International.
January, 2019
During an annual mission trip to Ethiopia, Addis Foundation for Community Health founder Debrework Damte partnered with Baysh Kolfe, a dedicated and brilliant group of volunteers committed to improving healthcare access for those in need. Together, they provided over-the-counter pain medications, vitamins, and personal care items to community members in Addis Ababa. This collaboration between Addis Foundation and Baysh Kolfe continues to ease the burden on underserved communities, making a meaningful difference in the lives of many.
A certificate of recognition from Baysh Kolfe, a local humanitarian organization in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
A certificate of recognition from Baysh Kolfe, a local humanitarian organization in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Addis Foundation for Community Health founder Debrework Damte and Baysh Kolfe volunteers.
ADDIS Foundation donated over the counter pain medications, vitamins, and personal care items to members of Baysh Kolfe.
ADDIS Foundation donated over the counter pain medications, vitamins, and personal care items to members of Baysh Kolfe.
Impacts: 2018
December, 2018
On December 7, 2018, Debrework Damte founded the ADDIS Foundation for Community Health. On this day, it was officially incorporated as a nonprofit organization, registered with the State of Minnesota.
ADDIS Foundation for Community Health is exempt from federal income tax under IRS 501(c)(3). All donations are tax-exempt as provided by law.
FEIN 83-2752912
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