It feels fitting that S.US would take root in Ethiopia—the country that firstimprinted images of suffering on my young mind back in 1984. Today, it is where that early promise comes to life. On my visit in 2025, I met Fidel, and I saw how seeds of change, planted through memory and compassion, can grow into a movement for the unseen and unheard.
Fidel is Ethiopian, and his life has been shaped by the resilience and hardships of the communities where he grew up. Before joining Global Hope Network International (GHNI), he worked in community development and local leadership roles, standing alongside families facing poverty, displacement, and instability. Yet his most formative work began at home—with his beloved wife, Alem, and their five children—where his calling to restore dignity to the unseen first took root. Today, at GHNI, that calling finds its full expression: Fidel works to support the hidden and hurting, ensuring that every unseen story is acknowledged and honored.
Can you describe the challenges in your community?
In my community, the challenges are vast and complex. We see young girls walking for hours simply to fetch clean water. We see mothers enduring homelessness while trying to raise their children alone. We see women carrying deep trauma from civil unrest. These realities demand more than sympathy; they require action. I chose not to stand idly by or offer empty words.
What was the turning point moment for you personally that changed this mission from concern into action?
The shift came the day when my wife and I met a single mother of two struggling to survive. Rather than offering temporary relief, they provided a small flask and a basket of bread, simple tools she could use to begin selling tea and bread on the streets. Watching her navigate the harshness of street vending with one child walking beside her and the other strapped to her back was both heartbreaking and galvanising. That moment refused to let me go.
What vision did that moment birth?
From that single act of empowerment emerged a bold, transformative vision: a vocational training centre equipped with day care services specifically for single mothers. This centre became a sanctuary, a place where trauma is gently healed,
children find safety and nurturing, and women are equipped with the skills and confidence to build sustainable, independent futures.
How would you define your mission now in one collective statement?
Our mission has evolved into a movement of restoration and empowerment. We believe that when humanity unites for a just cause, the impossible becomes possible. A brighter future awaits, one where dignity, sustainability, and hope are not distant dreams but living realities.
What do you believe about the future ahead?
There is hope on the horizon, and in the power of collective compassion, we find the strength to create a world where every child is safe, and every woman can rise.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fidel-aklilu-wataro-546a4a71/
https://globalhopenetwork.org/our-impact/ethiopia/