Stories | October 1, 2025

ECDC Donates Over 150 million Birr in Educational Materials to Schools

First shipment, including laptops and accessories from ECDC’s Virginia office, supporting schools and universities, marks significant progress toward establishing 100 computer labs in schools in Tigray region.

Arlington, Va. (Sept 30, 2025) – The Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) today donated educational resources valued at more than 150 million Ethiopian birr to schools and universities in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tigray Bureau of Education.

The first round of support includes laptops and other accessories, shipped from ECDC’s Virginia office in the United States, made possible by a donation collected from friends and supporters of ECDC’s overseas programs. Along with desks, books, and other electronic equipment, the shipment will benefit schools and four universities identified by the Bureau of Education (see list below). Two of the universities prioritized in the distribution, Ayder University and Axum University, host teaching medical schools, a contribution expected to accelerate the restoration of health education in Tigray, a sector in urgent need of support.

Ms. Frehiwot Amare, the ECDC’s representative in Addis Ababa, stated that the resources were mobilized from diverse contributors to support secondary schools, universities, and teaching hospitals directly. Dr. Kiros Guesh, Head of the Tigray Bureau of Education, noted that the Bureau is working closely with local schools to ensure the donated technology helps students recover from years of disruption caused by conflict.

ECDC Founder and CEO, Dr. Tsehaye Teferra, expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to facilitating the logistics and distribution of the items. He appreciated the Bureau of Education’s support in securing these laptops for the schools. He also highlighted that the MoU includes the establishment of computer labs in 100 schools, ensuring a long-term educational impact across the region.

Beyond this initiative, ECDC has played a pivotal role in Tigray’s post-conflict recovery, extending its support beyond education into humanitarian aid. Over the past few years, the organization has assisted internally displaced people, farmers, hospitals, and universities through cash transfers, food distribution, seed supply, medical donations, and the rehabilitation of damaged schools. While education remains at the heart of its overseas mission, the scale of humanitarian need in the region has driven ECDC to broaden its support.

Dr. Tsehaye also underscored ECDC’s initiatives in the Horn of Africa, including a partnership with two non-profits, Haben and HPN, to establish a computer and learning center in a Sudanese refugee camp. The center offers displaced youths computer classes and psychosocial services, expanding opportunities for recovery and resilience beyond Ethiopia’s borders.

“This first shipment is only the beginning,” Dr. Tsehaye said. “With the continued support of our partners and friends of ECDC, we will sustain and expand our role in rebuilding education and meeting urgent humanitarian needs.”

Dr. Tsehaye noted that although ECDC was originally established to support immigrants and refugees in the United States, over the years, it has also been actively engaged in supporting education and humanitarian efforts in Ethiopia. ECDC has distributed more than one million textbooks to regions across the country. In northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region, the organization has built two schools, established a public library in Axum, and is currently finalizing the restoration of its fourth school, Sa’asse Secondary School, in response to a request from the community. Just last month, ECDC also provided emergency food assistance to 360 households in Kola Tembien, Central Tigray.

At the handover ceremony held at the Axumite Heritage Foundation, Dr. Kiros Guish, Head of the Tigray Bureau of Education, Sisay Girmay, Head of the Central Zone Administration, along with representatives from universities, community members, and religious leaders, expressed their gratitude and called for continued support for the region devastated by conflict.

Education bureau and government representatives later visited Axum University to witness firsthand one of the newly established laboratories made possible through the donation. Haben Tigray, a registered non-profit, will provide technical support and training of trainers.

 

Details about the donation:

The following 33 schools will receive laptops in this round: Adi-Hageray Preparatory, Maekel Adiyabo (25), Adi-Wejerat Preparatory, Wejerat (25), Agbe Preparatory, Tanqumelashe (25), Agazi Preparatory, Adigrat (25), Ahsea School, Ahsea (25), Alamata Secondary School, Alamata (25), Axum Secondary, Axum (25), Beles Preparatory, Tahetay Koraro (25), Biruh-Tesfa Preparatory School, Korem (25), Bizet Secondary School (25), Chercher Preparatory, Chercher (25), D/Hafash Preparatory, Naeder (25), Dera Preparatory, Atsbi (25), Edega Berhe, Adyet (25), Endabaguna Preparatory, Tahetay Koraro (25), Endamossa Preparatory, Erob (25), Enticho Preparatory, Enticho (25), Gelfand Family, Endafelasi (25), Gijet Mesnado Preparatory, Seharti (25), Hakfen Mesenado Preparatory, Laelay Koraro (25), Hawzien Preparatory, Hawzien (25), Kalamino Special Secondary School, Hadenet (25), K/Gaba Preparatory, Asgede (25), Mai-Tsebri Secondary School, Tselemti (25), Megab Preparatory, Hawzien (25), Mezber Fitwey Welay, Ahferom (25), Neksege Preparatory, Neqsege (25), Raei Melles Preparatory, Ganta-Afeshum (25), Raesi Alula Preparatory, Hagereselam (25), Saa’se Secondary School, Adi Kelebes (25), Sebeya Preparatory, Gulomekeda (25), Werkamba Preparatory, Keyhtekli (25), Wukero Maray Preparatory, Tahetay Miachew (25).

In addition to the 25 laptops allocated per school, the following Universities will each receive 30 Mac laptops: Axum University STEM School (30), Raya University STEM School (30), Adigrat University STEM School (30), and Mekele University STEM School (30).

Furthermore, the medical teaching institutions — Mekele University, Ayder Teaching Hospital, and Axum University Teaching Hospital — will each receive 50 Mac laptops.

Additional laptops will be distributed to Edna Foundation, Haben Tigray, and ECDC’s Axumite Foundation Library. Desktop computers have also been provided to Maikenatal Public Library (32) and Haben Tigray, for redistribution as outlined in the MOU. Other donated items include textbooks, children’s book bags, reading glasses and computer accessories.

About ECDC:

ECDC, a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) established in 1983 in Virginia, USA, has been supporting refugees and immigrants in rebuilding their lives in the United States. In addition to its federally funded operations in the US, it raises funds from its supporters in order to provide humanitarian support in Ethiopia and Sudan, through its overseas arm, the Axumite Heritage Foundation also established in 1993. ECDC is a registered non-profit in Ethiopia with an office in the capital Addis Ababa.

 

 About ECDC’s Revive Initiative:

One of the key pillars of ECDC’s revitalized overseas program, the Revive Initiative, is promoting digital education solutions to expand access to learning in underserved and remote areas.

ECDC is working to establish 100 Computer Literacy and Incubation Centers (CLIC) across schools in Tigray. These centers are designed to enhance digital literacy and equip students and communities with essential skills for the digital age, ensuring that Tigray’s education system is prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The campaign was launched to raise funds to establish these CLIC Centers—Community Learning and Innovation Centers—which will serve as vital hubs providing access to education, e-learning, and essential resources for communities in need. The centers will be integrated into schools, and the project will be implemented under the guidance of Tigray’s Bureau of Education. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the bureau, which has been actively selecting the schools and will oversee the distribution of laptops. (Reporting by Lullit Paulos, ECDC).

 

For inquiries, contact:

Lullit Paulos <lpaulos@ecdcus.org> or write to Overseas Programs Coordinator: overseasprograms@ecdcus.org