The Ethiopian American Youth Initiative, a US-based youth organization with branches in Boston, Grand Rapids, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., calls on Ethiopians and American friends of Ethiopia to join our organization's activities as donors, members, volunteers or supporters.

We're doing many great things at EAYI which you can view on our website: www.ethusa.org.

Some of our interesting projects include:
-The For Kids From Kids Project ~ a project designed to raise money to sponsor 80 orphans annually in Ethiopia through the Abebech Gobena Children's Care and Development Organization
-The Fistula Project ~ a project designed to cover the costs of obstetric fistula repair surgery for women through the Hamlin Fistula Hospitals
-Ethiopian Famine Relief Project ~ a project designed to raise money for immediate food aid as well as to promote long-term solutions for increased food security throughout Ethiopia
-Teens Go Green ~ a project designed to promote environmental awareness amongst teenagers in the US

How to be a part of the EAYI experience
Being a part of our organization is very easy. You don't need to join to work with us either! Helping is as simple as making a donation, sharing your experiences and skills, promoting the organization's work, helping recruit members and collect donations...this list is endless! Our projects, our organization, are nothing without the valuable work and efforts by all our members and donors because they're the ones that ensure our long-term sustainability.

Activities in store
At EAYI we're always working on something new! Along with our core projects, which each of our branches have taken on a respective project to complete, we're working on hosting our First Annual Conference and Second Anniversary in Boston from October 24-26, 2008 as well as a 50-person strong service delegation the 2009 EAYI Delegation to Ethiopia. With so many things in store, its imperative your support for our projects is demonstrated in kind deeds which translate into supporting less fortunate children and women in Ethiopia. Our projects are designed not to simply "throw" money at Ethiopia but to route our funds for meaningful work that provide long-term progress. For example, when we sponsor orphans we're giving them education, clothing, food, etc. When we cover the costs for fistula repair surgery, we're giving Ethiopian women a new life. When sending immediate aid for regions with chronic food insecurity, not only are we ensuring that they eat for today and tomorrow but that we also work on promoting alternative solutions for food localization and security.

Mahandas K. Gandhi: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
Unless you change, unless you demonstrate your commitment to a better Ethiopia change will not occur. We're witnessing this every day in our increasingly complicated world. When you demonstrate your commitment by "walking the talk" you are beginning to act on your own speech which allows the rest of us to move in that direction.

John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
Be a leader! We believe that at EAYI everyone has the opportunity to become a leader through the many management opportunities we have in planning and implementing projects, events, etc. You might not think this, but you can be a leader very easily. How? By acting on your own speech, and acting on it today. If you are able to make a difference in one child's life, or if you're able to restore the life of a woman who has nothing but the clothes on her back, what a leader you are!

At EAYI we're about leadership, commitment and friendship. Join our campaign today by donating or becoming a member. Feel free to contact us at any time for additional information.


Yours truly,
Ethiopian American Youth Initiative
boston ~ grand rapids ~ philadelphia ~ washington, d.c.