YAGForLife has selected A Glimmer of Hope Foundation as our implementation partner because of the tireless efforts and integrity A Glimmer of Hope has demonstrated in its philanthropic work for Ethiopia.

A Glimmer of Hope is a family foundation founded by Donna and Phillip Berber, primarily focused on making a sustainable difference in the lives of the rural poor of Ethiopia by way of its innovative direct aid, self-help approach.

Glimmer founder Donna Berber (with her YAGForLife t-shirt), Nasser Mohammed - Glimmer employee in Ethiopia, and Melaku Sahlu - a YAGForLife member at a meeting in Addis.

By June 2006, the foundation had funded 2,007 projects designed to directly impact more than 1.9 million Ethiopians living in poverty in remote, rural villages. It launched its national aid program in Ethiopia in 2001.

Recognizing that poverty comes in many forms, the foundation also uses its entrepreneurial and cost-effective approach to help socially excluded young people in the United Kingdom and Austin, Texas by supporting projects that build self-esteem, offer positive choices and develop life skills.

In the UK and Austin, the foundation funds a variety of projects ranging from after-school and arts programs to health and nutrition education and summer camps. It has helped tens of thousands of young people since launching the operations in 2001 (UK) and 2003 (Austin).

A unique aspect of A Glimmer of Hope’s approach is 100 percent of donor funds are directed to its project partners and the communities in need. This is made possible by the income arising from the foundation’s endowment being used to cover all operating overhead.

In Ethiopia, A Glimmer of Hope’s goal is to help the Ethiopian people lift themselves out of poverty by engaging at the village and district level with integrated development projects that reflect the true needs of those communities.

The foundation does not write checks to national government opting instead to fund and partner with local indigenous development organizations.

The former US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tibor Nagy, has described A Glimmer of Hope’s approach as “the most effective approach to private assistance I have seen.” In the May 2004 edition of the Foreign Service Journal, he wrote the US government should partner more with innovative emerging NGOs, such as A Glimmer of Hope.

With a population of approximately 70 million people and an average per capita income of just $110 per year, Ethiopia is one of the five poorest countries in the world.