Restoring Hope in Tigray

After years of conflict and turmoil in Tigray, its churches are stepping up and becoming the beacons of hope. One of our podcast correspondents, Gabbi, traveled to Ethiopia to witness the impact of Samaritan’s Purse work in the country firsthand. One program called Tesfa for Tigray addresses physical and spiritual needs by providing the people with hot meals, biblically based counseling, and a safe space, where kids can be kids again.

While visiting one of the churches, Gabbi spoke with Dr. Hemen, the Tesfa for Tigray program manager. Dr. Hemen shared why this program is so important for the vulnerable women and children who were left feeling hopeless after their homes and livelihoods were destroyed. Strong believers help lead this program within the churches and remind those who attend that this world is not their home—they can have the kind of hope that is eternal.

“Children have seen a lot of things that they shouldn't have. They're in so much pain and so much is going on. So, we created this safe space, realizing that they need all the support from us. A physical treatment or any kind of treatment alone is not enough, and we need to get into their hearts.” — Dr. Hemen

With God, we can have a hope and a future. And this program is helping those in Tigray be able to envision this truth in their own lives. Now, kids—whose innocence was stripped from them— are laughing and playing again. Mothers have been hired on as caretakers, enabling them to make an income and provide for their own families.

“[Kids are] drawing pictures—when they first come—of war, of soldiers, of the heartache and the brokenness that they saw, because that's what's in their minds and their young minds don't know how to process it. But after group counseling, one-on-one counseling, praying with these caretakers, being loved by them, being able to jump rope, being able to play traditional Ethiopian culture games again in a safe environment, they're starting to smile. They're starting to talk.” — Gabbi Bouquet

A caretaker named Aster and her daughter, Sarah, were deeply blessed by this program. After fleeing their home when the war broke out, the months and years that followed were dark—they had lost all hope. But God sustained them, and He led them to Tesfa for Tigray.

Aster had previously been a teacher, so it was a natural fit for her to step into a caretaker role, getting the chance to share God’s love with kids and pour into the next generation in Tigray. Aster felt like she had purpose as she began working again as did her daughter.

“And then [Sarah] told us, ‘I love this program, and I hope one day that I can start my own because I want to help kids that have been in places like me in the future.’ And so that to me was just a testimony to the work that we were doing that even just a few weeks into that program, a child's life was already changed so much.” — Gabbi Bouquet

Please pray for the women and children whose lives are being transformed by God’s love through Tesfa for Tigray. Pray for the churches in in this region as they faithfully continue to carry out this program. If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.