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A young Ethiopian girl at golden hour in a rural village

In Memory of Mercy

Her Story. Our Inspiration. Our Mission.

Mercy was a dear childhood friend of our founder. Like our founder, Mercy was an orphaned child. Their shared experiences gave them an understanding of what it meant to grow up without the protection, stability, care, and family support every child deserves.

Tragically, Mercy experienced abuse as a child and passed away far too soon. Her loss had a lasting impact on our founder and strengthened her desire to help vulnerable children facing difficult circumstances.

Mercy's story became part of the inspiration behind a larger mission: to help change the experience of vulnerable children by surrounding them with care, love, protection, hope, education, and an opportunity to build a future.

Changing the experience of childhood

We cannot change what Mercy experienced. But we can create something different for the children who come after her.

Care

A safe and stable environment, nutritious food, healthcare, education, protection, and people children can trust.

Love

Kindness, encouragement, belonging, positive relationships, and knowing that someone genuinely cares.

Hope

The opportunity to heal, rebuild confidence, dream about the future, and believe that tomorrow can be different.

A Chance at Life

Education, technology, skills, mentorship, opportunity, and the support children need to build brighter futures.

What we want every child to know

I am safe.

I am loved.

I matter.

I belong.

I can learn.

I can dream.

I have a future.

Mercy's Legacy

Mercy's life will not be remembered only by the tragedy of how it ended. We choose to carry forward what her life inspired.

Her memory lives through every child who finds safety, every child who receives an education, every child who discovers hope, every family that becomes stronger, and every young person who receives an opportunity to build a future.

This is for Mercy.
This is for every child.

Care • Love • Hope • A Chance at Life

Our anthem

Refugium Ethiopia Official Song