Empowering the Forgotten: Tesfazghi Foundation’s Mission to Restore Dignity to Stateless CommunitiesIn a world where borders often define belonging, millions of people live in the shadows stateless, displaced, and forgotten. At the Tesfazghi Foundation, we are committed to changing that narrative. Founded in 2021 with the profound meaning of our name, “Hope of God,” we have grown from a small initiative into a beacon of hope for vulnerable women, children, and families worldwide.
Our mission is clear: to inspire humanity both locally and globally by addressing major challenges like extreme poverty, disease, and educational disparities, while expanding economic opportunities and improving public health.
The Heart of Our Work: Stories of ResilienceEvery day, we witness the unbreakable spirit of those we serve. Take Gebre’s journey, a father who fled Eritrea with his wife Teka after the tragic loss of their young daughter to illness. Facing indefinite military service and dire poverty, they braved smugglers and perilous borders to reach safety in Ethiopia’s Mai-Aini refugee camp.
These stories aren’t isolated; they represent the thousands of Eritrean refugees and stateless individuals we support through legal aid, education, and empowerment programs.Our focus extends across East Africa and the global diaspora, where statelessness strips people of basic rights. In regions like Uganda, South Sudan, and Rwanda, we operate programs that restore legal identity and open doors to opportunity.
For instance:
- Legal Empowerment Clinics in Kampala, Uganda, have supported over 1,200 stateless women and youth with birth registration and ID recovery.
- Refugee Documentation Drives in Juba, South Sudan, partner with UNHCR to help displaced families reclaim their identities.
- Education Access Initiatives in Kigali, Rwanda, provide scholarships and mentorship for stateless girls, achieving an 85% retention rate in secondary education.
These efforts are rooted in compassion and driven by partnerships, ensuring sustainable impact for refugees, women, and children facing systemic barriers.Building Brighter Futures TogetherSince our inception, we’ve helped countless individuals—women without income, elderly men without family, and children in crisis—access food, shelter, healthcare, and education.
Our community development projects build water sources, improve sanitation, and boost local economies through training.
We’ve raised funds through digital campaigns, secured grants, and expanded outreach to amplify unheard voices.
But our work is far from done. As we approach the end of 2025, we’re ramping up efforts to support over 500 individuals in need, from mobile health clinics to advocacy for women’s health equity.
Philanthropic initiatives, like those inspired by leaders such as Melinda French Gates, remind us that collective action can accelerate change.
Join Us: Your Support Makes the DifferenceAt Tesfazghi Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, every contribution fuels real transformation. Whether through monetary donations via Zelle (info@tesfazghi.org), checks mailed to our San Jose address, or legacy gifts in your will, your generosity creates lasting hope.
- Donate Today: Visit tesfazghi.org/donate for secure giving options.
- Get Involved: Volunteer for legal drafting, media, or grant writing, or partner with us for corporate matching.
- Leave a Legacy: Include us in your estate plan to echo your values across generations.
Together, we can empower the stateless, uplift the forgotten, and build a future rooted in dignity, equity, and hope. Thank you for standing with us your compassion changes lives.