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Message fhcanada.org 1Ethiopia LEKA DULECHA Mid-Year Community Update 2025This year marks the beginning of our partnership in Leka Dulecha, Ethiopia! So far, we’ve laid a strong foundation by meeting with local leaders, local government ocials, and community members to create a plan for their community’s development. This process identies the community’s strengths, challenges, and hopes for the next 10 years. Leka Dulecha is actively leading this eort, ensuring lasting change.The focus is on health, education, and livelihoods. Children are enrolled in the sponsorship program and community engagement is high. They’ve gathered data through interviews and focus groups, and worked together to understand the challenges in their community. This new approach, called systems thinking, helps them nd smart solutions that make a bigger impact. Their vision? “An inclusive and resilient socioeconomic system where communities in Leka Dulecha enjoy good quality of life.”In northern Ethiopia, FH Canada is also partnering with the Government of Canada to provide urgent support to 13,050 people aected by conict—bringing clean water, protection, and relief.And in Sasiga Mid-Highlands, families have celebrated their 10 years of progress and are continuing their own development journey with hope and resilience!POPULATION105,590PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS48,126Written by FH Ethiopia Prepared by FH Canada23 COMMUNITIESLeka Dulecha is excited! They told me they appreciate how FH listens to their voices rst and that participating boosted their self-esteem and gave them condence to own their development.— Gemechu Abdissa, FH Ethiopia West Region Monitoring and Evaluation CoordinatorWalking with Leka Dulecha20342024

fhcanada.org 2Welcome to Leka Dulecha!An interview with Gemechu Abdissa, FH Ethiopia West Region Monitoring and Evaluation CoordinatorWhat inspires you to work with FH’s communities?Working with FH partner communities, I feel I am responding to God’s calling so that children, families, and communities are protected, cared for, and given opportunities.Tell us about Leka Dulecha Leka Dulecha is in West Ethiopia, marked by rugged terrain and owing rivers. Most of the population earns a living through farming, so you’ll nd many farms and animals driving through the countryside. Here, conict between the government and anti-government groups disrupts life—often closing markets and basic services. Kids are frequently pulled out of school, putting girls at risk of early marriage. Clean drinking water is inaccessible. Even though the land has potential, it’s producing less and less food as the soil has become more acidic, making it dicult for farmers to make ends meet.What strengths does Leka Dulecha already have?With the strengths I see already, I know Leka Dulecha will overcome these challenges! When Ethiopia faced intense conict, the people of Leka Dulecha supported each other. The communities have also already begun conservation agriculture practices to improve their crop production. They are ready to take the next step in their development, and they are committed to working together.What hope do the families and leaders of Leka Dulecha have for their community?They are excited! They told me they appreciate how FH listens to their voices rst and that participating boosted their self-esteem and gave them condence to own their development.They want to see their families and youth empowered with quality education. They dream of new job opportunities for their youth and of having clean water accessible. Is there anything you’d like to share with FH donors?Thank you! We simply couldn’t do what we do without amazing people like you. With your support, we can signicantly expand our reach in the communities we serve. We’ve started this new journey with Leka Dulecha—all thanks to you.From the CommunityParticipating has built their sense of self-esteem and given them condence to own their development.— Gemechu

fhcanada.org 3Laying the Groundwork for Lasting ChangeLeka Dulecha has ocially joined partnership with FH Ethiopia, marking an exciting beginning full of collaboration. Together with government leaders, churches, and community-based organizations, they’ve developed a plan for the rst year of their journey. Early eorts focused on health, education, and livelihoods, with child sponsorships already underway. Community members are actively involved in both planning and execution, ensuring the work is locally led and sustainable. By coming together from the start, the community is building ownership and momentum to help reach long-term goals and create meaningful, lasting transformation.A New Way of Seeing: Systems ThinkingTo better understand where they are—and where they want to go—Leka Dulecha started to use systems thinking as a new approach. Through data collection, interviews, and group discussions, they explored how their culture, economy, and other community strengths can be leveraged to transform their community. They’re seeing both their strengths and weaknesses more clearly as opportunities for growth and change! This approach empowers community members to identify the root causes of poverty and work together to address them. Priority issues include social services, income, land, women’s rights, and youth support—areas now targeted for impact through informed, unied action.of the community relies on farming and agriculture90%community members participated in a workshop to map out the community’s strengths and challenges18Local leaders gathered in focus groups, where they developed a plan for the rst year of their partnership with FH Ethiopia.Leka Dulecha Launches Partnershipcommunity representatives interviewed and participated in focus groups340

4Sasiga Mid-Highlands Celebrates!For 10 years, families worked tirelessly to reach their sustainability goals. They weathered the pandemic, armed conict, and more. Farmers applied innovative techniques to convert swamps into farmland, boosting production and livelihoods. Savings groups empowered women to provide food, clothing, and school fees for their children. Men now engage in their communities, neighbours care for the vulnerable, and more children excel in school. Sasiga now has the capacity to face future challenges with condence. That’s resilience! A New Partnership with the Government of CanadaFood for the Hungry Canada is partnering with the Government of Canada and FH Ethiopia to address the crisis in northern Ethiopia.The Ethiopia Humanitarian Response project will target critical WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) needs, prevention of gender-based violence, and provide immediate assistance to individuals and families aected by conict.The ultimate goal of this project is to save lives, restore human dignity, and reduce suering for 13,050 people aected by the crisis in northern Ethiopia.Thank You! FH Canada, FH Ethiopia, and the families of Leka Dulecha thank you for your generous support! Your gifts are laying the foundation for long-term change—supporting Leka Dulecha as they embark on a journey of transformation. Your commitment is equipping families and community members for the journey ahead.At the end of partnership with FH, Sasiga Mid-Highlands celebrated their progress with song and dance!Celebrating Partnerships, Old and New@fhcanada @foodforthehungrycanada @fh-canadafhcanada.org/storiesFollow your impact all year long.Now every corner of my personal life and community is bright—I feel very happy!— Garame, farmer and parent, Sasiga Mid-Highlands