Project Mercy is an Ethiopian organization that empowers rural communities by addressing the holistic needs of every human being. Through a set of complementary programs, we focus on five areas of impact that catalyze thriving communities - education, health, nutrition, infrastructure and economic empowerment. Our approach is informed by the individuals we serve and is centered around community ownership and local government engagement. Whilst each of our programs stand independently, they all benefit from the mutual impact they have on society.

Celebrating over 45 years of impact, the organization was founded in 1977, by the late Marta Gabre-Tsadick, the first female Senator of Ethiopia, alongside her husband Demeke Tekle-Wold and their American friends, Fran and Chuck Dickinson.

The organization was initially set up to provide emergency relief aid and relocation and educational assistance to African refugees. In 1993, there was a transition to the current phase of the organization when the communist era fell in Ethiopia. Marta and Deme were invited to Yetebon - a remote kebele (county) in Ethiopia - by its elders. Alongside the elders, they launched a set of initiatives to address the challenges that the community faced. The elders invested their land into the program, as well as their time and knowledge. This was the beginning of the organization’s bottom-up approach.

Today, Project Mercy is led in Ethiopia by Bete Demeke, the son of Marta and Deme, who is continuing their legacy and building out the programs so that they transition to full community ownership.