TranslateAbout Refugium Ethiopia
Born from loss. Built on love.
Refugium Ethiopia is a child-protection nonprofit dedicated to giving vulnerable children a safe home, a real education, and a future they can build for themselves. We began after the loss of a little girl named Mercy — and we carry her name into everything we do.
Protect · Educate · Empower
Our Founder
Amelework “Amilly” Kassahun
Founder, Refugium Ethiopia · Addis Ababa
Abandoned as an infant and facing extraordinary challenges throughout her childhood in Addis Ababa, Amilly eventually received the support and education that changed the direction of her life. She founded Refugium Ethiopia to open that same door for vulnerable girls in Ethiopia.
Read Amilly's storyOur Mission
To protect vulnerable children, strengthen families, expand access to education and opportunity, and empower Ethiopian communities through compassionate care, sustainable development, and economic opportunity.
Our Vision
An Ethiopia where children can grow in safety and dignity, families have opportunities to thrive, and communities have pathways toward sustainable economic opportunity.
Our Core Values
The principles that guide everything we do.
Protection
The safety, dignity and well-being of children come first.
Compassion
Serve children, families and communities with dignity, empathy and respect.
Empowerment
Help people develop skills, resources and opportunities for stronger futures.
Education
Use education, mentorship and practical skills to create opportunity.
Sustainability
Develop lasting solutions through partnerships, employment, entrepreneurship and responsible social enterprise.
Integrity & Transparency
Maintain responsible governance, financial accountability and transparent reporting.
Our Leadership
We are building our founding leadership now.
Refugium Ethiopia is assembling a founding board of directors, a professional advisory council, and a network of ambassadors and partners. If you bring experience in law, medicine, education, nonprofit leadership, finance, fundraising, business or community-building, we would love to hear from you.
Join our founding networkOur 5-Year Vision
- Establish safe, family-centred care for vulnerable children.
- Grow education, mentorship and practical-skills programs.
- Build the founding board, advisory council and ambassador network.
- Launch Mercy Made as a responsible, purpose-driven social enterprise.
- Develop community projects in water, education, agriculture and technology.
Wear the mission
Carry Mercy's story with you.
Our "Protect · Educate · Empower" tee is a quiet way to start conversations and spread the word. Every share helps another child find a safe home.
"In Loving Memory of Mercy — Her Story Inspires Our Mission."
Our anthem
