About Us
We transform the lives of sponsored children through education and mentoring, preparing them to be leaders of the future.
HMCHA works in a destitute rural area of Ethiopia which has no electricity or running water and few roads. The Oromo people who live in these communities have asked for our help to improve their lives.
Holistic Ministry of Children of the Horn of Africa (HMCHA) is a non-profit public charity qualified under the IRS Code 501(c)(3) in the U.S. and is also registered with the Office of Charities in Ethiopia as a foreign charity.
THE PROBLEMS
THE solutions
EDUCATION
Rural schools in Ethiopia lack materials and qualified teachers to ensure that students master expected skills for their grade level. Where HMCHA serves, the average class size in grades 1-8 is 64 children (1). As a result, only half finish eighth grade and 40% of those go to high school.
[1] Ethiopia Demographic & Health Survey 2016
EDUCATION
HMCHA child sponsorship is a proven way to help an individual child attend school and flourish. HMCHA’s Ethiopian staff members visit schools and homes to help ensure success for our children. Our goal is to empower them to achieve and to create change in their lives and communities while growing in their faith.
WATER
93% of villagers spend hours everyday fetching water from a river or public tap far from their homes(1). Often, girls do this work, meaning it is hard to find time to study or even to go to school. Only 6% treat the water before drinking it, and this filthy water results in illness and even death (1).
[1] Ethiopia Demographic & Health Survey 2016
WATER
HMCHA installed a solar-powered generator that supplies water to 4 villages. In each village public taps make it easier for families to get clean water close to home.
SANITATION
Only 7% of rural homes have soap and water for hand washing (1). 9 out 10 rural families have no access to sanitary toilet facilities(1).
[1] Ethiopia Demographic & Health Survey 2016
SANITATION
HMCHA staff is teaching parents and children about the importance of hand washing and building latrines in order to prevent disease. Because of this, 36 latrines and many more hand-washing stations (tippy taps) are now present at family homes.
Success Stories
Community Celebrates HMCHA’s New Primary School HMCHA is excited to announce the opening of our primary school in the village of Keteba. There are 2 buildings with 4 classrooms. On January 3 children in Kindergarten and Grade 1 were eager to start their classes and meet their teachers. Forty registered for this year; a grade […]
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Zerihune’s student days ended, but his education is paying off! Here is the letter he wrote to his sponsor to thank her for his years of sponsorship with HMCHA. First of all, I would like to thank you. How are your families? My families and I are fine too. This is what I would like […]
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Wubalem was in 2nd grade when a couple in Minnesota sponsored her. HMCHA already knew her mother who had received two sheep from HMCHA when elders identified her as one of the poorest people in the village. Later, Wubalem was placed on the list of waiting children. One of her chores was to take the […]
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We are grateful for the vision of our founder, Megersa Kumbi. Megersa, a refugee living in the United States, saw in his dreams a mountain in his home country of Ethiopia. He felt God telling him to go there to help His people in need. He dreamed this over and over, but resisted the call. […]
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HMCHA started in 2007 with 6 sponsored children. Negessu was one of those, a small boy from a destitute family who wanted to go to school. Perhaps he dreamed of going to the city, but in the end his heart told him to stay and help those in need right where he was. He graduated […]
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Minnesotan Paul Jacobson met Eshetu at the bridge HMCHA was building over the Wadecha River in 2013. They became instant friends. Paul asked us if he could sponsor Eshetu, an orphan being raised by his uncle. Eshetu has dreamed of becoming a doctor since the 7th grade. In Ethiopia, a series of exams at various grade […]
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Adanu is the middle child in a family of 3. When she was 6 her father died. Her brother was 13 and her younger sister was 3. Adanu’s mother was desperately trying to feed her family from the proceeds of their tiny farm. In the end, she decided that Adanu would be the one to leave home […]
Read moreImpact
100%
of sponsored HMCHA children finish first grade
2700
people provided with clean spring water in 4 village
1200 +
books available in the community center we opened
Get Involved
Join our HMCHA family. We welcome your involvement in several ways. Growing up in poverty means facing challenges in many areas of life, but there are ways to help.
Efrem Getu
is a smiley 8-year old in 2nd grade. He would love to be able to eat everyday. There are 4 in his family.
Tsehay
is 12 and in 6th grade. She has 3 sisters and her parents have a tiny piece of land, so they work as day laborers to try to earn enough to feed their family.
Ashabiro
is 8 and in 2nd grade. Abandoned by his parents, he lives with his grandfather, who is too poor to supply his basic needs, including food and school supplies.
