Hope for the Fatherless (HFTF) provides rescue, rehabilitation, and restoration for Ethiopian children trapped in institutions or homelessness on the streets. Founded in 2017 by Belay T. Gebru ("Uncle Ben"), HFTF believes children belong in families, not institutions, and its vision is to see every child thriving in a loving family. HFTF accomplishes this in five primary ways: (1) IN-COUNTRY ADOPTION (In partnership with the Ethiopian government, HFTF screens and trains adoptive families, matches and places orphaned children, and provides post-placement support. Through 2026, HFTF has placed over 300 children with their forever families and trained hundreds of adoptive families currently waiting to be matched.); (2) FAMILY PRESERVATION (HFTF supports a number of single moms and vulnerable children to enable them to stay together and prevent the children from being orphaned, covering expenses for education, necessities, medical care, counseling, and more. In 2026, HFTF more than doubled the number of families it sponsors.); (3) LIFE SKILLS TRAINING (HFTF provides orphaned and vulnerable children with mentoring, tutoring, summer and extracurricular programs, counseling, and life skills training. For children aging out of HFTF and into adulthood, HFTF provides opportunities to attend university or trade school, or to train and apprentice in self-sustaining ventures at HFTF such as the leather workshop and barista program.); (4) RESIDENTIAL CARE (At Hope House, Faith House, and Joy House, HFTF provides children a small, family-like group home with committed caregivers, excellent academic opportunities, and holistic care. In this safe, loving, and peaceful environment, children are able to flourish and heal.); and (5) TESFA MENDER (Tesfa Mender (translated “Hope Village”) is a residential program to rescue homeless children from the streets. Located outside the city of Addis Ababa, Tesfa Mender provides a safe and nurturing place where street kids can rehabilitate, heal, and learn vital life skills and receive job training so that they can become healthy and whole members of their communities.).
More than 5.6 million children in Ethiopia are missing one or both parents. In 2018, inter-country adoption was banned, but there is not yet a strong culture of domestic foster care or adoption. HFTF is working to create a culture within Ethiopia that cares for orphaned and vulnerable children and promotes domestic adoption. As part of this, HFTF and Uncle Ben helped to found the DEBO Alliance—a group of like-minded Christian ministries within Ethiopia working with orphaned and vulnerable children. DEBO’s annual Orphan Summit brings together Ethiopian families, NGOs, businesses, churches, government officials, child-welfare practitioners, and others to educate and discuss ways to increase the growth and impact of family-based services, including domestic adoption, to the orphaned and vulnerable children of Ethiopia. Over the past nine years, culture is changing as Ethiopian families hear & faithfully respond to God’s call to care for the orphan & adopt!
