Taste of Hope, Make A Dinner Date To Make A Difference

Hosanna Foundation is a non-profit organization located in Los Angeles, California, whose purpose is to fill the gap in Ethiopia with local community care systems by providing transitional/supportive systems for targeted homeless populations which include orphans and street children. Their goal is to assist people in underdeveloped nations receive education, information and services that will promote fundamental improvements in their lifestyles. Hosanna desires to take people out of their present situation which is filled with poverty and hopelessness, and provide opportunities that lead to a better life style.

Hosanna Projects

Hosanna House is an orphanage, established in 2005 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to care for homeless girls who have lost their parents because of AIDS related diseases. At present, Hosanna House is home to 12 orphaned girls providing shelter and education. Hosanna plans to expand its successful program to include more young orphan girls in the future.

"Since I have come to Hosanna House I have been able to attend my school and get the type of love and attention I never received before." - Helen Belay, Hosanna House Orphan

"Without the love and care of Hosanna House these children would be vulnerable to exploitation by human traffickers." - Dottie Laster, Human Trafficking expert and Consultant.

"Hosanna Soccer League" - is a program that was created to support boys whose parents are too poor to send them to school. As a result, they end up on the street and get involved in illegal activities. Through the lure of soccer, this program has been able to keep these young boys away from drugs and engaged in education.

"Thank you for all you are doing to help me. I enjoy my new clothes, my shoes, and my school supplies, and all that you promised to do in the future."- Fuad Fedlu, Hosanna Soccer Player

"The worst thing for me is to see how many children need and want to enter our programs and not having enough means to take them in. We must expand quickly to accommodate the needs of the children." Tersit Asrat, Executive Director and Founder of Hosanna Foundation and Broadcasting

Website: www.hosannafoundation.org

What and Who

Hope Community Services is a Non-Government Organization in Mekelle, Ethiopia. It was established by a couple, Gebre M. Beyene and Connie Bisrat, who are both naturalized U.S. citizens of Ethiopian origin that returned after 20 years living in the U.S.A to help the most needy in Ethiopia: orphans, the blind, destitute, elderly and the handicapped.

Website www.orphansofethiopia.org

How It Started

The Ethiopian government gave HCS eight acres of land to start an orphanage. American kids pooled their money from Bat Mitzvah gifts, birthday gifts, and selling baked goods, as well as, donated their pocket money for the orphanage. The parents, moved by the generosity of their kids, also contributed funds graciously which enabled Gebre and Connie to start the orphanage.

Orphanage Objectives

Laura Brewer during a visit at Hope Community Services.

To provide orphans with a family atmosphere where they can fully develop physically, emotionally and spiritually so that they will be contributing members of society.
To enable the orphanage to be self-sustaining in less than five years.
To provide a library and study area to neighborhood children.
To open a clinic to the surrounding semi-rural community with a particular focus on children.

I have attached a photo of some young gals who are Ethiopian nationals going to school in Mekelle who started a non profit after learning about Taste of Hope.

Hope for a Drop of Water was started by four young college students who go to the University in Mekelle Ethiopia. Upon meeting and hearing about Taste of Hope they were inspired by what we were doing for their country. Taking this another step further they decided to Make a Difference too! These young ladies started a non-profit to raise funds to build wells in remote areas. Click on the picture above to learn more! You can support their efforts by sending your donation to Taste of Hope with “Hope 4 a Drop of Water” in the memo section of your check! Hope for a Drop of Water is another work in Ethiopia Taste of Hope Supports.


*Brenda Felkner with the family she sponsors.*

In the seven years Saba has been living in the U.S., she has strived to financially help family, childhood neighbors and friends who are in need in her homeland. Taste of Hope has created a sponsorship program which provides not only for those she knows personally, but many more who are in hardship including widows, orphans, HIV+ single moms, handicapped and infirmed.

Through our sponsorship program, you will have an opportunity to personally impact lives such as these through your sponsorship commitment, as well as develop a relationship through correspondence.

Your commitment to sponsor an individual or family through Taste of Hope helps us to fulfill our mission to “generate resources and connect people around the world.”

Currently, Taste of Hope through “Sponsorship Fund” is providing basic needs for over 75 individuals. Our goal is to move them into sustainability through education, learned skills, and micro businesses.

This is Almaz. She is a young mother of 23 who is HIV+. Fortunately, her daughter pictured with her is free from the virus. Her husband died 1 year ago and she was forced to beg for money and food. She writes to her sponsor: “Your support has freed me from worry…I am happy that I don’t have to beg to survive.”

Sponsorship donations impact directly the lives of people like Almaz by providing food, clothing and shelter-the basic needs of life. Your help is needed and is a blessing. Please consider making a sponsorship commitment today to change a life!

Henok (Sammy) plays a critical role in helping Taste of Hope distribute and monitor funds in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Design by Marjoni Maketing