Seven years ago, I visited Ethiopia with a group of educators. Bereket Teshome was our driver and accompanied us on much of our trip. He is a wonderful person, and we all quickly became friends with him. This friendship has happily endured ever since.

In 2020, a vote to give the Sidama region more autonomy resulted in shifting language preferences in the city of Hawassa, Bereket's home city. Bereket speaks Amharic, but not Sidamo--the language that is now preferred in jobs in the area. It is becoming very difficult for him to work to support his family. Tensions, too, have resulted in the killings of many of his friends.

With a young family to support, Bereket is quite desperate for work and feels unsafe. He has an invitation to come work in the United States. I am raising fees to support his work visa fees and airfare, plus incidental costs.

$1200 (flight)

$1140 (visa)

$305 (transportation in Ethiopia)

$500 (emergency buffer)

Total: $3145