Turning "despair into hope"
(LWI)—Five decades of refugee response, humanitarian aid in times of natural disaster, human rights advocacy, and constantly building livelihoods for vulnerable communities affected by climate change. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has been working in Ethiopia through its humanitarian and development arm, LWF World Service for 50 years. The Ethiopia country program now celebrates these achievements in an anniversary edition of its Annual Report.
LWF Ethiopia started with an invitation from the local LWF member church, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), in 1973. "A missive signed by his Eminence Dr Emmanuel Abraham, President of EECMY, was the catalyst to propel LWF World Service (then Lutheran World Service [LWS]) into action in April 1973. At the time, a severe famine was prevailing in the then Wollo, Gojam, and Tigray provinces that the church took it upon herself to raise the alarm and invite the then LWS to respond and to establish a permanent presence in Ethiopia," recalls LWF Ethiopia Country Representative Sophia Gebreyes.