Lola Children’s Home is a homegrown non-governmental humanitarian organization registered with certificate number 1500 by the federal government of Ethiopia agency for civil society organizations. Lola was established in 2009 and is based in Mekelle mainly to improve the lives of orphan children, especially Children affected and infected with HIV, and provide them with a bright future. It’s located at Hadinet sub city, Mekelle, Tigray.
Lola mainly operates within Five programs which are Children’s Home, Daycare, community outreach, local adoption, and training and psychosocial support. Through all those programs so far we have provided service for more than 14,000 households in the Tigray region, especially Mekelle city.
Through our community outreach program, we have been actively working in emergency response, especially after the war broke out in the Tigray region. We have been providing food and NFI, health care services, scholastic materials, feeding services, clean water distribution, cash-based interventions, psychosocial support, and temporary shelter for OVC and GBV survivors and vulnerable women.
With all the experience, interest, committed staff, and infrastructures we have, we provide a very limited service compared to the wicked and vast problems due to financial constraints and lack of partners.
Objective
To effectively meet the health, physical, emotional, educational, and recreational needs of full and semi-orphan children especially affected with HIV to introduce alternative child care to the institution and community.
Vision
All children and young people living a healthy and happy life and reaching their full potential despite the difficult health and/or socio economic circumstances they find themselves in.
Mission
To improve the lives of children with health problems and/or with socioeconomic challenges as well as empower families and communities committed to caring for vulnerable children.
My name is Abebe Fantahun and I am the Founder of Lola Children’s Home that is based in Mekelle, Tigray-Ethiopia.
I lost my parents during the infamous famine of 1984 and as a result I was forced to be one of the many street children in Mekelle. Street life is tough for children. I was saved by the grace of the lord as I got accepted by an orphanage that changed my life for the better.
By working hard at my schools, I got accepted to the top university in Ethiopia-Addis Ababa University and earned my Bachelors and Masters Degree. Following my graduation I started working for a Non-Profit organization in Addis Ababa.
Despite the decent salary and living condition, I could not stand still and do nothing as I kept thinking about the children in the streets of Mekelle. The thought kept on coming time and again so I decided to return back to Mekelle and give back to the community.
Lola Children's home was established 12 years ago with a single child. With the help of generous people around the globe, Lola now provides home care, day care and community outreach services to 85 children.
At the moment with the help of many kind people we are serving children of different ages with Children’s Home, daycare and community outreach programs.
In recent months, Tigray has been devastated by a hideous war and my people endured death, displacement and starvation. The displaced include children and mothers who are in need of Food, Water, clothing, hygiene and shelter.
Lola is building an emergency rehabilitation center to support the most vulnerable, children, pregnant and lactating mothers to have access to shelter, health services, food, water and hygiene.
I would love to invite beloved friends and families of Lola to the best cause of humanity happening at Lola Children’s Home. Please extend your helping hand once again and Kindly share this with your family, Friends.
Thank you
Abebe Fantahun
Executive Director