Who we are
Like a mother, for children who have none to lean on
Ende Enat Vulnerable Women and Children Care and Support Association is an Ethiopian resident charity born from volunteer work in the public schools of Jimma Town. Our name is our promise: to care for vulnerable children and women the way a mother would.
Ende Enat at a glance
The essential facts about the organisation, in one place.
- Full name
- Ende Enat Vulnerable Women and Children Care and Support Association (እንደ እናት)
- Meaning
- “Ende Enat” is Amharic for “like a mother”
- Legal status
- Ethiopian resident charity (non-profit), registered in 2010
- Founded
- 2000, as a volunteer gender club at Setto Primary School in Jimma
- Founder
- Muluwork Tadesse, teacher
- Head office
- Jimma Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
- Expansion
- Addis Ababa — Asko and Addis Sefer areas — from 2026
- Who we serve
- Orphans, children on the street, children and mothers affected by HIV, children with disabilities, girls at risk and destitute mothers
- Programmes
- Education, psychosocial support, livelihoods for mothers, health and nutrition, child protection and legal support, community volunteers and shelter
- Reach so far
- 3,408+ children and family members across 12 public schools and 7 kebeles in Jimma Town
- Key partners
- U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, PXL University College (Belgium), Jimma University and Jimma Town government offices
- Languages
- Amharic and English
Our story
In 2000 a teacher, Muluwork Tadesse, started a gender club at Setto Primary School in Jimma for pupils who came to class hungry, without uniforms or on the edge of dropping out. Teachers, students and Jimma University charity clubs joined in, collecting school materials and supporting orphans and children living on the street.
The work spread to Hibret Primary School — kindergarten classrooms were renovated and built, a science library set up, school fences repaired. From 2007 we partnered with the Jimma Town Anileye Mothers Self-Help Federation to open container shops, support children on the street, establish school gender clubs and provide HIV care and counselling.
In 2010 the volunteers formally established the association as an Ethiopian resident charity. Since then, with support from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, PXL University College in Belgium, Jimma University and many individuals, we have reached thousands of children and family members with education, psychosocial, health, legal, shelter and livelihood support across twelve schools and seven kebeles.
Milestones
- 2000
A gender club at Setto Primary School
Volunteer teachers begin supporting vulnerable pupils with uniforms, school materials and a safe space to talk.
- 2003
Hibret Primary School
Kindergarten classrooms renovated and built, furniture and play materials supplied, a science library opened.
- 2007
Container shops and HIV care
Partnership with the Anileye Mothers Self-Help Federation brings income-generating shops, life skills, counselling and support for children on the street.
- 2010
Registered as a charity
Ende Enat Children and Women Care and Support Association becomes a legally registered Ethiopian resident charity.
- 2011–2021
Educational and psychosocial support in public schools
Comprehensive care for highly vulnerable children across 12 schools and 7 kebeles with the U.S. Embassy, PXL University College and Jimma University.
- 2026
Expansion to Addis Ababa
A new office and programmes for children on the streets of Asko and Addis Sefer with their mothers.
Our mission
To reduce vulnerability among highly vulnerable children and their families by delivering quality, community-based care — education, psychosocial support, health and nutrition, protection, shelter and livelihoods — and by strengthening the systems that sustain it.
Our vision
Ethiopian children and women with equal opportunities for health, education, development and well-being — growing up in dignity, never on the street.
Our values
The best interest of the child
Every decision protects children from discrimination, stigma, exploitation, abuse and neglect.
Community-based and community-led
Frontline community members design, deliver and evaluate the work with us.
Family-centred
We strengthen the capacity of mothers and guardians to care for their own children.
Gender equity
Girls and women are prioritised, and boys and girls are represented equally in every service.
Culturally appropriate
Care that respects the faiths, customs and languages of the families we serve.
Privacy and confidentiality
Children's information is protected, except where a child's safety requires action.
Governance and accountability
Ende Enat is governed by a volunteer board and run by Ethiopian staff based in Jimma. Programmes are planned with government countersignatories — the Women and Children Affairs, Education, Health, Finance and Labour and Social Affairs offices of Jimma Town — and monitored through quarterly reports, joint supervision visits and participatory evaluations with donors and community committees.
- Ethiopian resident charity, registered in 2010
- Volunteer board and community committees in every kebele
- Quarterly programme and financial reporting to government and funders
- Lean administration: at least 80% of project budgets go to direct services
Registration: Ende Enat Vulnerable Women and Children Care and Support Association is a legally registered Ethiopian resident charity operating in Jimma Town, Oromia Region, with programmes expanding to Addis Ababa in 2026.
Our people
The team behind Ende Enat
Ethiopian staff, a volunteer board, advisors and community volunteers.
Staff
Muluwork Tadesse
Founder
Partners and supporters
Over the years we have worked closely with academic institutions, development organisations, professionals, volunteers and local communities. Their support has shaped the implementation, training, technical quality and sustainability of our programmes.
Partner organisations and institutions
U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa — PEPFAR Small Grants Program
Supported the implementation of small-scale community-based projects and initiatives.
Jimma University
Collaboration in education, community engagement, technical support and capacity building.
Jimma University — School of Nursing
Community health activities, training, awareness creation and professional engagement.
Jimma University — Department of Social Work and Sociology
Trainings and the involvement of graduating students and interns in community-based activities.
Jimma University — Department of Psychology and Psychiatry
Professional consultation, technical support and expertise on psychosocial and mental health support.
PXL University College (Belgium)
Collaboration in education, knowledge sharing and community development, and student volunteers.
Jimma OSA
Participated in supporting and strengthening community-focused activities.
Jimma Agricultural College
Collaboration, training and technical knowledge sharing.
DEC Project, Jimma
Supported community-based initiatives and contributed to programme implementation and coordination.
Jimma Town Anileye Mothers Self-Help Federation
Partner in container shops, school gender clubs, life skills and HIV care since 2007.
Individuals and professionals who advised our programmes
- Jan Vally — Hasselt, BelgiumSupport, advice and assistance in strengthening the organisation's activities and programmes.
- Dr. Makita Wondafrash — Jimma UniversityProfessional advice, guidance and support to the organisation's programmes.
- Dirbe Mekonnen — Jimma UniversityBoard Chairperson for External Relations; guidance in coordination, networking and external relations.
- Palistina Jamal — Jimma University, School of NursingProfessional support, advice and assistance to community-based activities.
- Amenti — Jimma UniversitySupport and guidance in the organisation's activities.
Our partnership approach
Collaboration lets us combine community knowledge with professional expertise — and create interventions for vulnerable children and women that are more effective and more sustainable.
Frequently asked questions
Plain answers to the questions donors, partners and journalists ask us most.
What is Ende Enat?
Ende Enat Vulnerable Women and Children Care and Support Association is an Ethiopian resident charity based in Jimma Town, Oromia Region. It provides education, psychosocial, health, protection, shelter and livelihood support to highly vulnerable children and their mothers, working through public schools, kebele offices and community volunteers.
What does “Ende Enat” mean?
Ende Enat (እንደ እናት) is Amharic for “like a mother”. The name is the organisation's promise: to care for vulnerable children and women the way a mother would.
Where does Ende Enat work?
Since 2000 in Jimma Town, south-western Ethiopia, across twelve public primary schools and seven kebeles. From 2026 the organisation is opening an office in Addis Ababa and starting programmes in the Asko and Addis Sefer neighbourhoods.
When was Ende Enat founded, and is it registered?
The work began in 2000 as a volunteer gender club started by teacher Muluwork Tadesse at Setto Primary School in Jimma. The volunteers formally registered the association as an Ethiopian resident charity in 2010.
Who runs Ende Enat?
A volunteer board governs the association and Ethiopian staff in Jimma run its programmes, together with trained community volunteers and community committees in every kebele. Programmes are planned with the Jimma Town government offices for women and children, education, health, finance, and labour and social affairs.
How is Ende Enat funded and how is the money accounted for?
Ende Enat is funded by partner grants — including support from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa and PXL University College in Belgium — and by gifts from individuals in Ethiopia and abroad. At least 80% of project budgets go to direct services, and quarterly programme and financial reports go to government offices and funders.
How many people has Ende Enat reached?
More than 3,400 children and family members have received comprehensive care through Ende Enat's programmes in Jimma, and about 600 pregnant mothers have been referred for safe hospital delivery.
Support
Your gift keeps a child in school and a mother in business
Ende Enat is funded by partners and private individuals from Ethiopia and around the world. Every contribution goes to uniforms, meals, counselling, medicine and start-up capital for mothers — with lean administration and full transparency.