ICS supports Project Ethiopia!

The Project Ethiopia Board of Directors has established a Matching Grant that will double your donation!  Your donation in any amount is deeply appreciated!

ICS has been a proud supporter of Project Ethiopia since our longtime members Judy Sanderman and Dennis Wilkins came to our Guiding Council meeting in July 2005 and asked for support in the "Retirement Project" they were just beginning to develop.

‘Birthing’ was not easy.  When Judy and Dennis requested to be a service project of ICS, a discussion of possible  risks ensued. Reverend Karen Lindquist said that if we hadn’t asked, ICS members would have tried to find just this kind of service project. Both Rev. Karen Lindquist and Imam Jamal Rahman were enthusiastic about the project, and our Guiding Council agreed to become the fiscal sponsor of the organization.  

Many of our members have been active supporters and volunteers with the organization over the years.  David Heitmiller and Sally Jo Gilbert de Vargas, Associate Ministers, were both on the Board of Directors and Sally Jo still works with the organization as Development Coordinator.  Julia Field has been the graphic designer for many years, and Diane Shalander and many others have helped out with volunteer tasks and events.  Project Ethiopia is now a separate 501(c)3 organization.  

Awoke and Workineh, our Ethiopian Project Leaders, come to ICS whenever they are in Seattle, and they have spoken many times at our services and presented to our members about the important work they are accomplishing to improve the lives of farmers, children, and families in rural Ethiopia with focus on clean water, sanitation, education, economic resilience, and new homes. Project Ethiopia is unique in the way they work cooperatively with community members to identify their most urgent needs and work together.

Project Ethiopia is a volunteer organization that works side-by-side with the community in Dangla, Ethiopia, a remote, rural area in the northwest part of the country. One of the most important attributes of Project Ethiopia is the variety of ways we engage with individuals and communities. Our efforts support primary schools and university students, improvements to create healthy homes with iron roofs, and provide economic empowerment through Farmers' Associations and micro loans.  

Ethiopia is currently experiencing a very challenging time, as the country, including the Dangla region where we operate, is experiencing armed struggle between the government forces and local militia groups.  

Against this backdrop of difficult circumstances, our Project Ethiopia team has been working cautiously to continue to deliver project work.  One important and unique aspect of Project Ethiopia is that due to our over 20 year history and excellent reputation in the area, we are deeply trusted and respected by local civic and religious leaders and by the people in our communities.  With their support, our team has thankfully been able to complete all the Project work slated for 2023, including awarding 100 University Transition Awards (UTAs) in the fall, and completing construction of Densa primary school.

This year, GiveBig donations will support economic resilience and empowerment through two main areas: building of new homes to families most in need, and providing low interest (5%) micro loans to farmers, the majority of whom will be women. Microloans have been used by farmers to enhance honey and dairy production, buy lambs and goats for fattening to sell at festivals, buy chickens and sell eggs at market, and secure garden supplies to grow vegetables for sale at local markets. All of the micro loans we have awarded have so far have been paid in full by recipients within the payment period allotted. 

Ethiopia Board of Directors has established a Matching Grant that will double your donation!  Your donation in any amount is deeply appreciated!