More than four million children in Ethiopia have been orphaned by AIDS in a country with no societal safety net. While some of these children are cared for by extended family members, most end up either on the streets or in overcrowded, substandard orphanages.

Selamta offers a unique, simple approach: we create new, lifelong families for children who have lost their own families through AIDS or other tragedies. Over the past six years, we have tested the power of a formula that takes children from the streets, reunites them with lost siblings, stabilizes them emotionally, and creates a new family around them. In the process, we have established new family homes in a constellation around a center that serves newly arriving children and the community at large.

Selamta is a unique and successful model, and our mission is to grow into a platform for positive change throughout Ethiopia, Africa and beyond.

We need your help. Learn how you can be a part of the Selamta project–help us help our world’s greatest asset: our children.

Why should you help Selamta? Simply put, Selamta works: it is a simple model for change that is remarkably effective. It can be replicated anywhere, not only in Ethiopia, but all over the developing world.

You can sponsor a child or a household. You can donate your time or skills. You can travel to Ethiopia and volunteer on site. You can raise money through your school, group, or organization. We want and need your help.

Together, we can help the world’s most valuable asset: our children.

New Family Members at Selamta

This summer we welcomed three new members into our Selamta family! Masamancho, Mahawi, and Meheret have been embraced by the children and women of Hosanna House and have entered a new, joyful phase of their young lives. Congratulations also to our head mama Eskedar on her new baby, Mikiyas. Eskedar has done such a wonderful job training all of our Selamta moms because she is such a great mom herself. We couldn’t be more delighted for her and her beautiful family!

Young Entrepreneurs

What do you get when you combine smart, entrepreneurial kids with a micro-loan? Thriving businesses! A group of our young ladies approached us and asked if they could have a loan to start a hair- braiding salon for the summer. We were happy to help them get their first business started! It was a great learning experience and confidence 
builder. Robel worked with his older brother to make sandals out of used car tires. He sold them at the markets this summer, where they were very popular. If you’d like to buy a pair, contact mia@selamtafamilyproject.org and she can bring a pair back for you.

Your small donations can make a big difference in the lives of our Selamta children. Please make a contribution today!