The establishment of Bereka Hope for Generation was not born in a boardroom, but from the shared experiences and profound conviction of its founders. While the official registration was secured with the Federal Civil Society Agency, the spirit of Bereka began much earlier.

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Our founding members were a diverse group of Ethiopian development professionals, social workers, and community leaders. They shared a common frustration with top-down development approaches that often failed to create lasting change. They witnessed firsthand the immense potential and resourcefulness within Ethiopia's rural and peri-urban communities, potential that was frequently overlooked by traditional aid models.

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The Catalyzing Vision

Driven by a unified belief that sustainable development must be community-led, the founders envisioned an organization that would act as a catalyst, not a commander. They chose the name "Bereka," meaning "blessing," to reflect their philosophy: that the true blessing is empowering people to become self-reliant and to build their own futures.

The founders were guided by several key principles from the very beginning:

1. Grassroots First: They committed to working with communities, listening to their self-identified needs rather than imposing external solutions.

2. Integrity as a Non-Negotiable: In a sector where trust is paramount, the founders instituted a core value of absolute transparency and a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, principles that remain the bedrock of our operations today.

3. Focus on Systemic Issues: Instead of short-term relief, they aimed to address the root causes of poverty—lack of education, clean water, economic opportunity, and environmental degradation—through integrated, thematic programs.

 

From Vision to Reality

The formal registration under Proclamation No. 1113/2011 (and later re-registered under Proclamation No. 1113/2019) was the crucial step that turned this shared vision into a legal entity capable of action. This official status provided the framework to mobilize resources, build partnerships, and begin the tangible work of empowering communities in selected regions.

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Though the original founders have since transitioned, with some moving on to other endeavors and others forming the initial Board of Directors, their foundational ethos continues to guide every project we undertake. The mission to increase the participation of the poor in Ethiopia's socio-economic progress, through a commitment to grassroots empowerment, remains our true north.

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We honor their legacy by staying true to the core values they instilled and by continuously striving to be a genuine blessing—a "Bereka"—for the communities we serve.