When we started Mercy Ethiopia, we had some very strong opinions about what type of organization we would be and what type of organization we did not want to be. All the work we do with Mercy Ethiopia falls under the umbrella of these three guiding principles. There are likely more that could be articulated, but these three are at the very heart of what we do.
Mercy Ethiopia believes in Ethiopian people.
Eyob and children he serves.
Meet Eyob Mamo, Volunteer Coordinator for Mercy Ministry Happy Children's Home, a Mercy Ethiopia supported organization. We believe because Eyob has spent his whole life living, working and experiencing the plight of the impoverished children he serves, he is infinitely more qualified than we are to best address their needs. When it comes to working with MMHCH, we follow Eyob's lead. Our job is helping Eyob tap into financial, material, and personnel resources that will make his job easier and more successful. If Eyob is Batman, Mercy Ethiopia is his Robin!
Mercy Ethiopia believes in perserving the family unit.
At the core of every successful society is a strong family unit. Mercy Ethiopia believes that more must be done to help Ethiopian children remain in Ethiopian families. While adoption is one method of reducing extreme poverty, it cannot be our only response. Mercy Ethiopia assists organizations who work to reunite and support Ethiopian families when this is a safe and reasonable option. Mercy Ethiopia is not an adoption agency and does not seek partnerships with organizations whose sole purpose is to establish orphanages or engage engage in adoption.
Mercy Ethiopia believes education is key to alleviating poverty.
students at MMHCH
Give a man a fish... Teach a man to fish... Any sustainable response to extreme poverty must include an education and training component. Providing education in Mercy Ethiopia projects allows us to offer a hand up, not just a handout. Mercy Ethiopia will assist in emergency response and assistance, but ultimately our goal is to create a stable, secure environment where children can recieve education and training that will allow them opportunities to break the cycle of extreme poverty in their own lives.
