Dir Biyabir 2024 Year-End Fundraiser
For almost 18 years Dir Biyabir, a registered 501 (c)(3) based in California, has been funding highly impactful grass-roots projects in Ethiopia working with our local partner Adheno . Our projects focus on the most deprived and dis-enfranchised populations and include Emergency Relief, Environmental Rehabilitation, Education, and Economic Empowerment (ie micro-enterprises)
We know there are many causes competing for your attention. Our key projects/accomplishments in 2024 are summarized below, and this is the best illustration of our impact on our ground and why we feel we deserve your support. We thank you in advance for your generous donation.
Why You Should Support Dir Biyabir
- 100% of your donation will be allocated to a project in Ethiopia. The Executive team of Dir Biyabir covers 100% of Dir Biyabir’s operating expenses (which are minimal as it is all volunteer-run and has no office)
- We focus on the most deprived and dis-enfranchised populations that are getting no help from governmental or non-governmental organizations. Their tragic plight is never covered by mainstream media
- Projects are designed based on input from the targeted beneficiaries on the ground
- Our projects are high-impact and low cost as we work closely with highly-effective and efficient local non-profits
- Donations to Dir Biyabir are eligible for corporate employee donation match programs via Benevity and other similar services
Key points on the fundraiser
- 100% of your donation is tax-deductible in the US as Dir Biyabir is a registered non-profit. *spotfund will be emailing you a tax receipt
- For larger donations, we encourage you to help us avoid fees by either using Zelle (we are registered for Zelle under dirbiyabir@gmail.com) OR sending a check payable to “Dir Biyabir” to Dir Biyabir P O Box 914, Mountain View, CA 94042. We will issue you a tax receipt.
- If you work for a company that has an employee match program we urge you to request a match for your donation by submitting the *spotfund receipt. If you do request a match please do so as early as possible since the process of releasing the matching funds can take up to 2 months.
Background
In 2024 we focused all our attention on the Amhara region of Ethiopia, and in particular the Northern Shewa area. The Amhara region has been facing a brutal military campaign by the government and civilians have been subjected to countless deadly drone strikes. Hundreds of civilians have died, millions of children are no longer attending school, and hundreds of schools and hospitals have been seriously damaged or destroyed. In addition tens of thousands of Amhara civilians have fled from the Wellega region due to endless rounds of horrific terror attacks by Oromo extremists simply because of their Amhara identity. Tens of thousands of these displaced civilians (mostly farmers) are now housed in terrible conditions in camps all over the Amhara region. It is in this context that the following projects were implemented in 2024
Projects in 2024
1. Emergency Food Relief for Displaced Amhara Civilians at Bakelo Camp
In January - February of 2024 Dir Biyabir funded the purchase and distribution of emergency food and other supplies for the entire Bakelo camp where over 4,674 Amhara civilians (1,219 families) displaced from Wellega were sheltered under terrible conditions and with barely anything to eat. Our local partner Adheno visited the camp and talked to the residents to assess their needs and the following items were purchased and delivered to the camp. A video of this delivery of emergency aid is available here:
Items Delivered
Food: 27,400 kgs Teff grain, 1,1400 kgs corn flour, 9,200 kg raw beans
Bedding: 120 mattresses, 120 blankets, 120 mattress covers (to protect against rain)
Educational Material: 296 text books (printed from pdf), 10 posters of alphabets and numbers, 14 balls
2. Micro-Enterprise for Displaced Amhara Civilians at Bakelo Camp
Most of the displaced Amhara civilians from the Wellega region, are farmers and artisans. The goal of this project was to enable these innocent displaced people to use their skills to generate income for themselves and their families so they are not left dependent on scant aid, and so they have the satisfaction of putting themselves to good use. The project was implemented in 2 phases as follows. Video is available here
Phase 1 (February - March 2024)
The following handicraft material were purchased and distributed:
- basket weaving material for 360 women
- 200 women received sebez (hard dry grass) and sindedo (soft dry grass)
- 160 women received sebez (hard dry grass) and madaberya (colorful plastic material)
- cotton and spinning tools for 60 women
- crochet needles and thread for 20 women
- traditional weaving looms for 15 men
The beauty of this project is that some of these activities support each other. The cotton spun by the women is then supplied to the weavers who make it into beautiful gabis (traditional Ethiopian cotton blankets) that are always in high demand.
Phase 2 (June 2024):
- June 4 to 6, 2024: 3 day entrepreneurship training given to 26 women and 8 men (34 total)
- Material and startup capital given to the 34 training participants based on their expressed interest:
- 15,000 birr (260 USD) deposited in bank account for each of 25 women after they completed their training
- 9 sewing machines purchased and distributed to 1 woman and 8 men
3. Nutrition, Education & Micro-Enterprise for Displaced Kids in Debre Birhan
The founder or the Ras Abebe Aregay Library in Debre Birhan, Mezemir Girma, had taken it upon himself to provide various services to displaced Amhara kids residing in various camps in Debre Birhan. These are kids who have suffered horrible trauma as they fled extreme violence at the hands of Oromo extremist terrorists who were killing people just for their Amhara identity.
a) A 13 week program kicked off on April 13, 2024 funded by Dir Biyabir. Video available here
This 13 week program provided the following for over 50 IDP kids at Ras Abebe Aregay Library:
- Warm healthy lunch of vegan Ethiopian food
- Purchase 400 stuffed toys that the kids make (toys to be distributed to small kids at the Bakelo IDP camp). Kids will use the money they earn for stationary and other necessities
- Shoe shine ("listro") equipment for 20-30 kids who want to work and earn extra income
b) In July - August 2024 Dir Biyabir funded another 6 week program through Adheno, for the “Kiremt” ie summer season when school is closed. Video available here
The Kiremt program was held for 40 kids and lasted for 6 weeks and occurred during the time when schools are shut down for the summer break. This 6 week program included:
- Breakfast for all kids 3 days a week
- Tutoring in Amharic writing, English, Math, and Computer Skills for all kids.
- The kids who had been writing their personal stories of their horrific experiences in Wellega in an earlier program at the library for psychosocial support, re-wrote their stories with improved hand-writing as part of the Kiremt program. With the improved hand-writing Mezemir was able to read and translate some of their stories which he has posted on his blog at https://mezemirethiopia.blogspot.com/2024/10/ so others can hear their tragic story.
- Blankets were purchased for all kids to keep them warm in the cold and wet Kiremt weather
- School uniforms were purchased for 28 kids (the rest had received uniforms last year)
- Stationary including exercise books, pens, pencils, and erasers were purchased for 54 kids (40 kids from the summer program plus 14 kids who came from the Bakelo camp)
- A visit was organized for the kids on July 15 to the Debre Birhan Seedling Station which is run by Adheno on the Debre Birhan College of Teacher Education campus. The Adheno seedling station manager provided a guided tour for the kids
- At the end of the Kiremt program, there was a 2 week break followed by a closing program on September 8 2024 where they all celebrated International Literacy Day at Ras Abebe Aregay Library with members of the community and guests
4. College Scholarship for Top 12 High-School Graduates in N. Shewa
The “N.Shewa Biruh Aemiro” Scholarship Program is the brainchild of longtime Dir Biyabir member and generous supporter. The goal is to support the top students in N.Shewa (whose families are mostly farmers) and ensure they get all the resources they need to succeed in their college education including a a new laptop computer. In 2022 and 2023, the top 7 students (based on scores on the national 12th grade exam) were awarded this scholarship. It should be noted that in 2022 and 2023 a dismal 3% of tested students were able to even pass this exam. In 2024 with additional funding from another donor, the program was expanded to include 12 students: the top 6 girls and the top 6 boys based on their scores.
Names of scholarship winners are posted at various high-schools in the area, and this scholarship program has already become a big incentive for high-school students throughout N. Shewa to perform well academically. Video available here
5. High-School and College Sponsorship for Girls
Dir Biyabir continued support for a school sponsorship program that was kicked-off in 2012. Girls in N.Shewa who want to attend school but are unable to afford even basic school material are identified and supported by this program. In 2014 Dir Biyabir had sponsored 139 elementary school girls and 28 secondary school girls, and the sponsorship program has continued ever since. For high-school students, Dir Biyabir sponsorship starts at 9th grade and covers all of high school, then continues to the end of university or college/technical training for each sponsored girl that continues her education.
