What We Do

Our Mission

Loving Hope is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to protecting and empowering women and girls in Ethiopia. The organization supports survivors of harmful gender-based practices, including FGM/C, child marriage, sexual violence, and other forms of injustice and exploitation. We work with other local leaders in feminist advocacy to create a safe and healing space that offers both emotional, psychological, and physical support, healing, and resources.

It is a sanctuary and healing space for all women and children influenced by a feminist healing justice theoretical framework, grounded in grassroots and localized efforts. This organization is grounded in survivor experiences, and supports survivors involvement in their own healing. This is an anti racist, anti ableist, anti stigma, anti oppressive, anti discrimination space ('Mupotsa-Russell, C. (2022).

Location

We have chosen Debre Birhan as the first location for our nonprofit. Situated just northeast of Addis Ababa, Debre Birhan is close enough to the capital for practical access to resources and transportation networks, yet far enough to maintain a sense of privacy and safety for those seeking support. The city’s growing infrastructure and central location make it an excellent base for regional outreach while remaining grounded in a close-knit community context. Culturally, Debre Birhan reflects both urban and rural influences, creating opportunities to engage with diverse populations through education, healing, and advocacy programs. Its moderate size allows us to build genuine relationships with local partners, schools, and health centers. This is essential to create trust and foster trauma-informed work. Starting in Debre Birhan allows us to establish a strong foundation for our programs, including our 24/7 crisis hotline and community workshops, before expanding to other parts of Ethiopia. We will have another location that will not be labeled or marked as affiliated with Loving Hope, as to provide further security to any women or children who need even more discretion.

What We do

At Loving Hope, we are dedicated to creating a world where women and girls can live free from harm, fear, and discrimination. Our organization provides both immediate and long-term refuge for survivors of gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), child marriage, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence and/or injustice. We believe that every woman and child deserves safety, dignity, and the chance to heal in a supportive, compassionate environment.

Our first center, located in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia, serves as a sanctuary for women and children seeking safety and recovery. The facility provides short-term crisis relief, including emergency shelter, trauma counseling, and medical referrals for those escaping imminent danger. For those in need of extended support, we also offer long-term residential care, where women can rebuild their lives at their own pace. The center can accommodate up to 20 women and their children for overnight stays, providing private, secure living spaces that feel more like home than a shelter.

Unlike many temporary crisis programs, Loving Hope does not impose a maximum length of stay. Instead, we take a person-centered, trauma-informed approach, evaluating progress every month and collaboratively developing individualized care plans. Our goal is for each woman to eventually leave feeling emotionally strong, financially independent, and empowered to live a joyful and self-sufficient life.

To support this healing journey, our facility is fully staffed and holistic in design. We provide nutritious meals through our in-house kitchen, and our daycare program ensures children are safe, cared for, and engaged while their mothers attend counseling sessions or skills-building workshops. Our outdoor space offers a safe, open area for children to play and for residents to connect with nature. This is an important part of emotional recovery and grounding.

In addition to residential care, Loving Hope offers day programs and community workshops open to local women and girls. These workshops focus on personal growth, emotional well-being, healthy relationships, financial literacy, and self-advocacy. We also host peer support groups that foster connection, trust, and shared healing among participants.

Every member of our team—from counselors and social workers to kitchen staff and drivers lead with empathy, compassion, and cultural understanding. We believe that true healing happens when people are met with respect, kindness, and care. At Loving Hope, we strive to create a space that not only offers safety from harm but also nurtures resilience, self-discovery, and empowerment.

Our mission is simple: to walk alongside women and girls as they rediscover their voices, reclaim their power, and reimagine their futures with hope and wholeness.