Brighter Days
for Ezha,
Ethiopia.

A community-led nonprofit uniting the diaspora to transform education, healthcare, agriculture, and livelihoods across Gurage Zone.

Bringing
Dawn to
Ezha
ETB 50M+
Raised since 2022
20,000+
Students Benefited
11,386
Girls Supported
800K+
Healthcare Served
Education Healthcare Agriculture Women's Empowerment Clean Water Vocational Training Cultural Preservation Community Development Education Healthcare Agriculture Women's Empowerment Clean Water Vocational Training Cultural Preservation Community Development
Our Promise

Every dollar raised, every program funded, every life improved. All in service of one community, one vision, and one enduring promise to the people of Ezha.

ETB 50M+
Raised Since 2022
20,197
Students Reached
11,386
Girls Supported
15,000+
Community Engaged
What We've Achieved

Transforming Lives Across Ezha Woreda

Student reading a distributed textbook Education

50,000 Textbooks Printed & Distributed

Reaching nearly 20,000 students across all 38 primary schools in Ezha Woreda with curriculum-aligned books — recognized as a model by the Central Ethiopia Region.

Community health event at Agena Healthcare

ETB 4.5M in Medical Equipment

Life-saving machinery — anaesthesia machines, patient monitors, incubators — donated to Agena Primary Hospital serving 800,000+ people.

Tractor handover ceremony Agriculture

Four Tractors Deployed to Farmers

Modern farm machinery advancing agricultural mechanization, boosting food production and economic empowerment for Ezha farming families.

In the Field

See Our Work in Action

Clean Water Project — Ezha Woreda

Watch the film

Tractor & Farm Machinery Support

Watch the film

Join the Movement

Become a Member of Gaber Support Group in North America

Your membership directly funds development projects in Ezha. Every contribution brings another family closer to a brighter future.

Gaber Support Group in North America

A name rooted in hope. Gaber means "dawn" in Guragigna — and we rise every day to make that dawn real for the Ezha community.

Gaber Support Group in North America, Inc (GSG-NA) is a community-led nonprofit organization dedicated to building a brighter future for the people of Ezha District in Ethiopia's Gurage Zone. Together, we invest in people, strengthen communities and create opportunities for lasting positive change.

The name Gaber is rooted in Guragigna language and means MAY A NEW DAY DAWN UPON US. It embodies the community's enduring hope, optimism and shared aspiration for a brighter future.

To leverage its transformative impact in Ezha District, GSG-NA partners with Gaber Yebego Adragot Dirijit (GYAD), a non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating the multiple socio-economic challenges in Ezha District of Gurage Zone, Ethiopia.

Mission · Vision
01

Our Vision

Gaber Support Group in North America envisions playing a significant role in driving positive change and improving the quality of life across the Ezha region through careful design and effective implementation of appropriate interventions in collaboration with our development partners.

02

Our Mission

The primary mission of Gaber Support Group in North America, Inc. (GSG-NA) is to support the mission of Gaber Yebego Adragot Dirigit, a nonprofit organization established in Ethiopia to enhance the quality of life in Ezha Woreda, Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia, by addressing deeply entrenched socio-economic problems including high unemployment, youth migration, food insecurity, lack of clean water and energy, poor quality of education, youth substance abuse, inadequate health care, and gender inequality.

What We've Done

Our Impact

Completed projects showcasing real change brought to Ezha Woreda through the generosity of our members and donors.

Collaboration of GYAD & GSG-NA

Gaber Yebego Adragot Dirijit (GYAD) is a non-profit organization also established in Ethiopia to improve the difficult living conditions of the people of Ezha in Gurage Zone. Not surprisingly, therefore, the two organizations have similar missions. It is also noteworthy that the founding of Gaber Support Group in North America (GSG-NA) was inspired by the establishment of GYAD in Ethiopia. Therefore, while the two organizations operate independently, they collaborate closely because of the strong alignment and shared purpose of their undertakings. In recognition of this partnership, we are pleased to highlight below several key collaborative initiatives undertaken in Ezha by Gaber Yebego Adragot Dirijit (GYAD) and Gaber Support Group in North America (GSG-NA).

Students reading textbooks in class
Education✅ Completed 2024
Students' Textbooks (Grade 1–8) Printing & Distribution

Prior to this initiative, primary school students in Ezha Woreda had no textbooks aligned to the new national curriculum. Gaber organized a major fundraising drive, raising over ETB 5 million from members, supplemented by existing funds to reach a total investment of ETB 10,350,961. The result: 50,000 textbooks and teacher guidebooks printed and distributed to all 38 primary schools. The Central Ethiopia Region recognized this as a model initiative to be replicated across the region.

50,000Books Printed
20,197Students Benefited
38Schools Reached
ETB 10.3MInvested
Medical equipment donated to Agena Primary Hospital
Healthcare✅ Completed 2024
Medical Equipment Donation to Agena Primary Hospital

ETB 4.5 million invested to equip Agena Hospital with life-saving technology: anaesthesia machines, OR tables, OR lights, electrosurgical units, patient monitors, infant radiant warmers, incubators, phototherapy machines, and electrocardiography equipment. The hospital serves over 800,000 people from Ezha and four neighbouring Woredas.

ETB 4.5MInvested
800,000+People Served
Tractors deployed to Ezha farmers
Agriculture✅ Completed 2024
Agricultural Mechanization: Four Tractors Deployed

Gaber facilitated the procurement and deployment of four tractors — two 85HP and two 10HP — to advance agricultural mechanization in Ezha Woreda. Subsistence farming is the primary livelihood for most families, and this support directly boosts crop production and food security across the Woreda.

4Tractors Deployed
117,000+Farmers Impacted
Schoolgirls supported with reusable sanitary pads
Girls' Education✅ 3 Rounds Complete
Reusable Sanitary Pads for 11,386 Schoolgirls

Over three rounds, Gaber distributed reusable washable sanitary pads to every female student from Grade 6 through Grade 12 and Agena Construction & Industrial College. Each set is designed to serve a girl for an entire school year, removing a critical barrier to attendance and academic performance. Budget: ETB 2,683,000.

11,386Girls Supported
3Rounds Completed
Blanket distribution ceremony for elders
Community Care✅ Completed 2023
Blankets for 450 Elders & Impoverished Members

Gaber's first major act of giving — funded by a 250,000 ETB donation from Artist Abraham Wolde and family — delivered blankets to 450 of the most vulnerable members of the Ezha community. Recipients were carefully selected in cooperation with local administrative and sector offices.

450People Helped
ETB 250KCommunity-Donated
Reference books donated to schools
Education✅ Completed
2,383 Reference Books to 6 High Schools & College

A diverse collection of 2,383 general knowledge and reference books donated to six secondary schools and Agena Industrial and Construction College — sourced through in-kind donations, Gaber purchases, and contributions from Zagol Book Bank. Total investment: over ETB 550,000.

2,383Books Donated
7Institutions
Teachers in the six-day training program
Teacher Training✅ Completed
Six-Day Teacher Training with Wolkite University

A comprehensive six-day training program for middle and secondary school teachers in English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, and General Pedagogy. Topics included classroom management, active learning, technology integration, and pedagogical techniques. 152 teachers benefited.

152Teachers Trained
6Days of Training
Large community gathering at Ezha Woreda
Community✅ Completed
Woreda-Wide Community Discussion — 15,000+ Engaged

A landmark community dialogue organized across all 28 rural Kebeles and Agena town — bringing together over 15,000 community members to discuss cultural values, ethical development, and the future of the Gurage community. Socio-cultural, Ethics, and Development committees were established in all 29 Kebeles.

15,000+Attendees
29Kebele Committees
Student receiving award at ceremony
Higher Education✅ 3 Years
Motivation & Awards for Grade 12 Students

Motivational sessions for 1,680 Grade 12 students over three years. 100 university-bound students received awards of ETB 10,000–15,000; 320 students received transport allowances of ETB 3,000 each. Over 320 students enrolled at Agena Construction and Industrial College — a historic enrollment milestone.

1,680Students Reached
100University Awards
Guragigna preschool textbooks
Language & Culture✅ Completed
370 Guragigna Textbooks for 80 Preschool Centres

Gaber printed and distributed 123 Level-I and 247 Level-II Guragigna textbooks to all 80 community-managed preschool centres — before this, the centres had no books at all. The initiative preserved the local language while directly benefiting 1,836 preschool children.

370Books Distributed
1,836Children Benefited
80Centres
Looking Ahead

Upcoming Projects

Projects we are planning and actively working to fund. Your support makes each one real.

Projects

Consistent with its mission, GSG-NA supports projects that contribute to improving the quality of life of the people of Ezha. We are delighted to report that the donations collected from members and supporters of GSG-NA have been used to support a range of development initiatives in Ezha District in collaboration with Gaber Yebego Adragot Dirigit in Ethiopia. These include the purchase of tractors, acquisition of textbooks for elementary and secondary schools, the procurement of essential medical supplies, and the purchase of sanitary pads for schoolgirls.

There is a pressing need for additional resources to sustain and expand these efforts. Your support will help address many critical challenges and achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of the people across Ezha District.

Newly equipped operating room at Agena Primary Hospital
Healthcare🔄 In Planning — 2025
Healthcare Service Improvement — Agena Hospital Phase 2

Agena Primary Hospital serves over 800,000 people but faces critical shortfalls: no neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), insufficient operating rooms, no X-ray imaging, no blood transfusion services, and inadequate emergency supplies. This project addresses these gaps through targeted equipment procurement, infrastructure upgrades, and capacity-building training for healthcare professionals. Priority: OR unit, NICU, and emergency unit.

ETB 5.5MBudget
800,000People to be Served
12 Mo.Duration
Garment training session at Agena Polytechnic
Vocational Training🔄 In Planning
Garment Training & Self-Employment — Agena Polytechnic

Agena Polytechnic College's Garment Production Department relies on outdated machinery that hinders effective training. This project will procure modern sewing machines and provide capacity-building training for 68 trainees and 5 trainers — equipping youth with marketable skills and fostering self-employment in the textile sector.

73Participants
ETB 3.2MBudget
Farmer working the land with a tractor
Agriculture🔄 Active 2024–25
Agricultural Productivity Scale-Up — Farm Machinery

Building on the initial tractor deployment, this expanded project further mechanizes farming through additional machinery support, farmer training, and agricultural extension services. The Woreda has abundant fertile land with significant unrealized potential for cereal crops, enset, mango, avocado, and pineapple. Funded in partnership with Gaber Support Group in North America.

117,000Farmers Targeted
ETB 10.3MBudget
Students in an Ezha Woreda classroom
Education🔄 In Planning
Education Development Project — Expanded Phase

An 18-month education project targeting all 38 primary and 6 secondary schools in Ezha Woreda. Outcomes include expanded textbook supply (16,716 books for Grade 1–6), continued sanitary pad distribution, enhanced teacher training, tutorial programs, and increased community and parent engagement.

18,724Students to Benefit
ETB 19.8MBudget
Community collecting water in Ezha Woreda
WASH🔜 Planned
Clean Water & Irrigation Infrastructure

Field assessments of four irrigation potential areas and three potable water projects have been completed. The next phase moves from assessment to construction — bringing clean drinking water and irrigation infrastructure to communities relying on unsafe water sources, addressing urgent health and agricultural challenges.

4Irrigation Sites
3Water Projects
Agena public library renovation
Culture & Literacy🔜 In Progress
Agena Public Library Renovation & X-Less Society Program

Construction and renovation of the public library in Agena Town is underway, with a book collection campaign that has gathered 2,000+ books. In parallel, the "X-Less Society" program with ERGEB education company delivers a rapid-impact curriculum to 186 teachers and 3,152 students across Agena schools.

3,152Students in Program
2,000+Books Collected
The People Behind the Work

Our Team

Visionary leaders with deep roots in Ezha Woreda and decades of experience across aviation, humanitarian work, healthcare, and community leadership.

Endale Bika Seba
President — Gaber Support Group in North America
Endale Bika Seba

Chief Air Traffic Controller in the Ethiopian Aviation Industry for over 20 years, managing supervision, training, and statistical oversight. Led the Ethiopian Air Traffic Controllers Association for 4 years and organized the African Middle East Air Traffic Controllers Conference. Former General Secretary of the Ezha Woreda self-help organization. Led a fundraising campaign that rebuilt 17 homes destroyed by fire in Ezha Woreda. His dedication makes him an inspiring force for Gaber Support Group in North America.

Tigineh Mersha, PhD
Board Member — Education & Strategy
Tigineh Mersha, PhD

Tigineh Mersha, PhD, Professor Emeritus at the University of Baltimore in Maryland, USA. He earned a BBA from Addis Ababa University and both an MBA and a PhD from the University of Cincinnati.

During his extensive academic career at Illinois State University and the University of Baltimore, Dr. Mersha taught undergraduate and graduate business courses while conducting research in operations management. At the University of Baltimore, he served as Chair of the Department of Management and International Business for a decade.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Mersha has provided management consulting and executive training in continuous performance improvement for senior managers and professionals in both Ethiopia and the United States. He has also supported development initiatives in Ethiopia with a particular focus on improving the quality of education in rural communities.

Dr. Muluemebet Ketete
Board Member — Medical Research
Dr. Muluemebet Ketete

Dr. Muluemebet Ketete is an experienced medical doctor and cardiovascular research professional with over 30 years of expertise in clinical care, cardiac rehabilitation, and clinical research. She earned her medical degree from Havana University in Cuba in 1984 and began her career as a General Practitioner at Zewditu Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she served for a decade.

She later continued her career in the United States at Howard University Hospital, where she held multiple roles — including Cardiac Rehab Coordinator and Clinical Research Coordinator — for over 20 years. She currently serves as a Cardiovascular Research Scientist, focusing on the evaluation, analysis, and reporting of cardiac safety data for clinical trials.

She has contributed to numerous scientific publications on cardiovascular health, is fluent in Amharic, English, and Spanish, and is an active member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). She also serves as Treasurer for Inspire Ethiopia, a nonprofit dedicated to improving access to quality education in rural Ethiopia.

Yohannes Alemu
Organizing Team — Boston, MA
Yohannes Alemu

Cardiovascular Technologist (BSC) based in Boston, Massachusetts. His true passion is finding ways to give back to the community — believing that even small acts of kindness make a massive impact. Dedicated to Gaber Support Group in North America's organizing team, he uses his organizational skills to help provide support to those in need. For Yohannes, helping people isn't just a hobby — it's a calling.

Admasu Yilma Kore
Board Member
Admasu Yilma Kore

A dedicated board member of Gaber Support Group in North America contributing to governance, strategic direction, and community outreach. Committed to advancing Gaber's mission of serving the Ezha community through integrated development programs across education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.

Feleke Shebeta
Board Member — Finance & Strategy
Feleke Shebeta

Feleke Shebeta worked for Ethiopian Airlines in the Medical Unit as an Administrative Assistant for 20 years. He graduated from Unity University with a degree in Marketing Management and is currently working for Amazon.

🌟
Join Our Team

We are always looking for passionate professionals to volunteer their expertise for the Ezha community.

Get Involved

Become a Member

Join a growing community of diaspora and supporters committed to transforming Ezha Woreda. Your membership is a pledge for brighter days.

Why Join

Together, We Are Gaber

Gaber was built on voluntary membership. Every member who joins Gaber Support Group in North America directly powers projects changing lives in Ezha Woreda. Members can contribute through regular dues, one-time pledges, or in-kind support.

📊

Transparent Reporting

Receive regular updates, audit reports, and impact stories showing exactly how your contributions are used.

🗳️

Community Voice

Members participate in key organizational decisions, shaping Gaber's strategic direction and priority projects.

🤝

Network of Change-Makers

Connect with passionate diaspora professionals who share your commitment to the Gurage community's development.

🌍

Direct Impact

Your membership funds real projects — textbooks in children's hands, medical equipment saving lives, tractors feeding families.

🏆

Recognition & Events

Members are recognized at community events and annual gatherings celebrating Gaber's milestones.

📜

Legacy of Goodwill

Be part of a historic movement — building a structured, lasting institution for Ezha for generations to come.

Apply for Membership

Fill out the form below and our team will be in touch within 3–5 business days.

Give Today

Support Our Projects

Every donation goes directly to transforming lives in Ezha Woreda. Choose a project and scan the QR code to donate instantly.

💳

Donate securely by card via Stripe — 100% of every donation goes directly to projects. Scan a QR code or tap “Donate Now” for any project below.

📚
Education — Textbooks & School Supplies
Help print textbooks and supply learning materials to 20,000+ students. ETB 200 covers one student's textbooks for an entire year.
Scan to Donate Scan the QR code to donate to the Education – Textbooks & School Supplies project via Stripe
or
🏥
Healthcare — Agena Hospital Upgrade
Support Phase 2: NICU equipment, OR upgrade, X-ray facilities, and blood transfusion services for 800,000+ people. Every dollar saves lives.
Scan to Donate Scan the QR code to donate to the Healthcare – Agena Hospital Upgrade project via Stripe
or
🌾
Agriculture — Farm Machinery & Training
Fund additional tractors, irrigation equipment, and farmer training to boost crop production for 117,000 families. Transform subsistence into sustainability.
Scan to Donate Scan the QR code to donate to the Agriculture – Farm Machinery & Training project via Stripe
or
🪡
Vocational — Garment Training Project
Fund modern sewing machines and training for 68 youth at Agena Polytechnic — empowering them with marketable skills and self-employment in textiles. Budget: ETB 3.2M.
Scan to Donate Scan the QR code to donate to the Vocational – Garment Training project via Stripe
or
💧
Clean Water & Irrigation Infrastructure
Help build clean water infrastructure and irrigation systems for communities without safe water access. Move assessed projects from planning to construction.
Scan to Donate Scan the QR code to donate to the Clean Water & Irrigation project via Stripe
or
🎗️
Girls' Education — Sanitary Supplies
Keep girls in school by funding reusable sanitary pads for Grade 6–12 students. ETB 235 provides one girl with a full year of washable pads — removing a key barrier to her education.
Scan to Donate Scan the QR code to donate to the Girls Education – Sanitary Supplies project via Stripe
or
🏛️
Agena Public Library Renovation
Help renovate the Agena Public Library — restoring shelving, furniture, and quiet reading spaces so students and the wider community have a modern place to learn and study.
Scan to Donate Scan the QR code to donate to the Agena Public Library Renovation project via Stripe
or
General Donation

Give Where the Need is Greatest

A general donation allows Gaber to allocate funds to the most urgent project at any given moment.

Support a Project

Your donation goes directly to this project. Every amount makes a difference.

💚  You can donate any amount you like — starting from $5. You'll choose your amount on the secure Stripe page.

Card donations are processed securely by Stripe. Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle are coming soon. 100% of every donation goes directly to projects.

Reach Out

Contact Us

Questions, volunteer interest, partnerships, or media — we'd love to hear from you.

Get in Touch

Whether you're a community member, diaspora supporter, donor, or professional wanting to volunteer — your message is welcome.

📍

Address

940 Taylor Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

🕐

Response Time

We respond within 2–3 business days. For urgent matters, add "URGENT" to your subject line.

Send a Message

For general inquiries, partnership requests, media, or volunteer interest.