[] What is AYELU?
[] Our Approach
[] Background
[] AYELU volcano

What is AYELU?

AYELU is a UK based charity dedicated to relieving poverty, hunger and sickness in Ethiopia and in particular amongst the pastoralists in the Afar Region.

To facilitate this mission, we forged strong links with the Ethiopian government and the Bureau of Agriculture and Disaster Prevention and Preparedness of the Afar National Regional State. We also have strong links with the elderly and leaders of the Afar community and our team of field staff work hard to implement our projects and deliver your contributions to the hands of the people who need it most.

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Our Approach

At AYELU, we try to give Ethiopians the tools to help themselves, rather than be passive, helpless recipients of donations given to them too little and often too late. Although emergency relief saves lots of lives, it is only temporary, and with the next drought season the problems start all over again.

But when we provide a child with nutritious food, clean drinking water and the opportunity to learn, this child will grow to know how to help himself and his community. Rather than giving a pastoralist family a small food ration, that is not enough for one person, we teach them how to cultivate their lands to provide for their children and their livestock. Both our Orphan Sponsorship Scheme, and Social and Economic Development programme aim at teaching Ethiopians how to help themselves.

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Background

AYELU was founded in 2002 by Mr. M. O. Saleh, a former diplomat and later the Managing Director of a private hospital in London, UK.

After his retirement, Mr. Saleh visited Ethiopia on a business trip. It was the first time that he visited the Afar Region, and was horrified by what he had seen. Hunger, illness, ignorance, lack of services, the list is long. Upon his return to the UK, he set up AYELU to help relieve some of these problems.

Mr. Saleh only lived a few years after establishing AYELU, most of which were spent among the Afar people, and away from his family in the UK. His dedication and enthusiasm were and remain an inspiration to all who worked with him and all who continue to work in AYELU today. He is best remembered through his work that touched the lives of so many Afaris.

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AYELU volcano

AYELU is named after a volcano located in the southern Afar region. It was chosen for being a distinctive landmark in the southern region where AYELU first started its emergency relief efforts.

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