Yezelalem Minch Children and Community Development (YMCCD) is an Ethiopian non-profit, non-government organization that cares for orphaned and vulnerable children through a comprehensive, community-based program. In Amharic (the primary language of Ethiopia), “Yezelalem Minch” means “never-ending spring.” The name is a reference to Isaiah 58:10-11:
“If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed… The Lord will guide you always; you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Yezelalem Minch was started by and is run by Ethiopian staff. The programs’s stated purpose is to see that orphaned and vulnerable children are cared for – becoming healthy, educated, emotionally stable, and productive citizens for their country, and growing to serve their community. YMCCD works to provide a network of support for community families who are caring for orphans, and to ensure that children’s basic physical needs are met – such as food, clothing, medical care, and education.
The program began in 2001 after Birtukan, a former World Vision sponsor child, began to pursue the ministry vision God gave her by caring for two orphans in her own home. Now with her husband Nesibu, who serves as the managing director of Yezelalem Minch, the organization is reaching approximately 1,200 orphaned and vulnerable children in several communities of Addis Ababa and suburb towns of the Oromia region. Altogether, Yezelalem Minch has reached over 1,800 children. Yezelalem Minch also helps HIV/AIDS affected mothers provide for their children by helping them start small businesses – such as roasting coffee, or making other crafts.
Blue Nile Traders sells Ethiopian coffee and handmade necklaces and then gives 100% of its profits as a donation to Yezelalem Minch. Therefore, Blue Nile is better than just a fair trade brand; it is a direct ministry to support these widows and orphans. Every single cup of coffee you drink is helping Ethiopian women and children.