How We Turn Compassion Into Action
Supporting People With Dignity, Fairness and Hope
At the Shimeles Abera Foundation (SAF), we believe meaningful change begins by recognizing the dignity of every person.
The Foundation was established in memory of Shimeles Abera, whose life reflected integrity, humility, generosity and service to others. What began as a desire to honor his memory has grown into a commitment to serve individuals and families facing difficult circumstances.
Our work is guided by a simple purpose: to transform compassion into practical support and create Hope, Compassion & Opportunity for the communities we serve.
What We Are Doing
Our programs currently focus on three interconnected areas where timely support can make a meaningful difference.
Health & Wellness Support
No One Should Face Illness Alone.
Serious illness can affect much more than a person’s physical health. It can place enormous emotional and financial pressure on an entire family.
Through our Health & Wellness Support Program, SAF seeks to assist individuals and families experiencing medical hardship. Depending on the circumstances, available resources and eligibility, support may include assistance with medical expenses, treatment-related needs, referrals and other forms of health-related support.
We also recognize that mental and emotional well-being are important parts of overall health. Our broader vision therefore includes promoting mental wellness, reducing stigma and helping connect people with appropriate psychosocial and community-based support.
Elder Care & Assistance
The elders in our communities deserve to age with dignity, respect and connection.
SAF works to identify vulnerable older adults, particularly those experiencing isolation, financial hardship or difficulty meeting essential daily needs.
Our approach may include companionship and home visits, assistance with basic necessities, support in coordinating medical needs and opportunities for greater community connection.
For us, elder care is about more than providing material assistance. It is about reminding older members of our community that they are valued, respected and not forgotten.
Youth & Education
Education can change the direction of a young person’s life.
Through our Youth & Education Program, SAF seeks to help students whose potential may be limited by financial hardship or difficult family circumstances.
Depending on available resources and assessed need, assistance may include educational materials, school-related support, mentorship and opportunities that encourage personal development, leadership and continued learning.
Our goal is not simply to help a student through one difficult moment, but to help create opportunities that can lead toward a more hopeful and independent future.
How We Select Beneficiaries
We understand that requesting assistance can be difficult. Every application represents a real person, a real family and a real situation.
For that reason, SAF aims to make beneficiary selection fair, respectful, transparent and based on demonstrated need.
Receiving an application does not automatically mean that assistance can be provided. Each request is reviewed individually against the Foundation’s program priorities, eligibility requirements and available resources.
Our general process includes:
1. Application
Individuals or families seeking assistance are asked to submit an application and provide information about their circumstances and the type of support requested.
2. Initial Eligibility Review
Our team reviews whether the request falls within one of SAF’s program areas and meets our current eligibility requirements.
At this stage of our development, the Foundation is strategically prioritizing assistance to residents of Addis Ababa. Applications outside our current geographic service area may therefore be declined even when the circumstances are compelling.
As the Foundation grows and develops additional resources and partnerships, we hope to expand our reach.
3. Supporting Documentation
Applicants may be asked to provide documents that help us understand and verify their circumstances.
For medical assistance, this may include medical reports, hospital documentation, treatment recommendations, cost estimates, referral information or a social-work assessment.
For educational assistance, documentation may include school information, evidence of enrollment, educational expenses and information about the student’s household circumstances.
Requirements vary depending on the type of assistance requested.
4. Needs and Vulnerability Assessment
We consider the applicant’s overall circumstances rather than relying on a single factor.
This may include the urgency of the situation, financial circumstances, household vulnerability, availability of other assistance, the potential impact of SAF’s support and whether the request falls within the Foundation’s current capacity.
5. Verification and Review
Where appropriate, information may be verified with relevant institutions or through additional documentation and follow-up.
This process helps us protect Foundation resources and ensure that assistance reaches people who meet the applicable criteria.
6. Decision and Communication
Following the assessment, applicants are informed of the outcome.
Approval depends not only on eligibility but also on available funding, program capacity and the Foundation’s priorities at the time of review.
Unfortunately, this means that we may sometimes be unable to assist an applicant even when there is genuine need.
Fairness Matters to Us
SAF believes charitable assistance should be provided responsibly.
Beneficiary selection should not depend on personal relationships, favoritism or social status. We seek to use consistent criteria and documented information when evaluating requests.
At the same time, we recognize that every person’s circumstances are different. Our process therefore combines clear eligibility requirements with careful consideration of individual circumstances.
Our responsibility is twofold: to treat applicants with compassion and to use the resources entrusted to us responsibly.
Protecting Dignity and Privacy
People should not have to surrender their dignity in order to receive help.
Beneficiary information is collected for legitimate program purposes, including eligibility assessment, verification, service delivery, monitoring and accountability.
We seek to handle personal information responsibly and respectfully.
We also believe there is an important distinction between telling someone’s story and exploiting someone’s hardship.
When beneficiary stories or photographs are considered for public communication, fundraising or awareness activities, appropriate consent and safeguarding principles should guide their use.
The people we serve are not statistics or fundraising materials. They are individuals with families, aspirations, challenges and rights.
What Happens After Assistance Is Approved?
Our responsibility does not necessarily end when assistance is provided.
Depending on the program and type of support, SAF may follow up to understand whether the assistance was delivered as intended, whether additional coordination is necessary and what outcomes were achieved.
This helps us learn from our work, strengthen our programs and remain accountable to beneficiaries, donors, partners and the communities we serve.
Why We Cannot Help Everyone — Yet
One of the hardest realities of charitable work is that the number of people needing assistance can be greater than the resources available to help them.
SAF is a growing Foundation.
We therefore have to make careful decisions about where our resources can have meaningful impact. Some applications may fall outside our geographic priorities, some may not meet program eligibility requirements, and in other situations our available resources may already be committed.
Declining an application does not mean that we believe a person’s hardship is unimportant.
It means we must balance compassion with responsible stewardship so that every commitment we make is one we can responsibly fulfill.
Every Contribution Becomes Part of the Mission
Our ability to serve grows when individuals, families, volunteers, institutions and community partners choose to stand with us.
A contribution can help a family facing medical hardship.
A partnership can strengthen services available to vulnerable elders.
Educational support can help a student remain focused on building a better future.
A volunteer can give something equally valuable: time, knowledge and human connection.
And sharing our mission can introduce SAF to someone who may become tomorrow’s donor, volunteer, partner or supporter.
Looking Ahead
We are building SAF with a long-term vision.
Our current focus is intentionally targeted so that we can strengthen our systems, establish responsible programs, learn from the communities we serve and build sustainable partnerships.
Our ambition, however, reaches further.
We envision a Foundation capable of serving communities beyond Addis Ababa and expanding access to health and wellness support, dignified elder care, and educational opportunities for young people across Ethiopia.
Growth must be responsible. We want to expand not simply because the need is great, but because we have developed the capacity to serve people well.
A Foundation Built on Memory — and Focused on the Future
The Shimeles Abera Foundation carries forward the memory of one life through service to many others.
Every person supported, every elder visited, every student encouraged and every family given hope represents another step in that journey.
We know we cannot solve every challenge.
But we believe that when compassion is combined with responsible action, even one intervention can change the direction of a person’s life.
That is the work we are building.
That is the legacy we seek to continue.
Hope. Compassion. Opportunity.
Join Us
Whether you are seeking assistance, interested in volunteering, considering a partnership or wishing to support our programs, we invite you to learn more through the Shimeles Abera Foundation website.
Together, we can turn compassion into action — one person, one family and one opportunity at a time.
