The GoFundMe Campaign, a crowdfunding campaign by Eshetu Melese, an Ethiopian comedian tops the headlines as it raised more than 1.6 million US dollars in less than 48 hours.
The sources of the amassed fund are 15,200 separate donations. One of the donations made a payment of 10,000 US dollars, which is the highest single payment.
The fund amounting to £1.35 million, was raised to build medical assistance structures for the people in Ethiopia under the banner of the GoFundMe campaign.
It is designed to support Mekedonia, an Ethiopian charity organization, to raise 2 million US dollars. The campaign said that it was meant to make a difference in the lives of countless elderly and mentally challenged people who live under dire circumstances on the streets. It was to help Mekedonia to build homes for the homeless.
The organization plans to complete the construction of Mekedonia Home for the Elderly and Mentally Disabled. It is a charitable nursing home facility for elderly and mentally challenged people. Other than that, the organization plans to build a new shelter home.
The 2 million target amount will finance the doors and windows of the new building.
The new building is set to be built on 3,600 sq meters of land and has a 12-story building plan. There is a total of 739 windows and 888 doors required for the building.
The cost of one window is estimated at 80,000 Ethiopian birr, the official currency of Ethiopia, which is equivalent to 1490 US dollars. The cost to implement one door is estimated at 106,000 Ethiopian birr, which is equivalent to 1975 US dollars.
Therefore, completing the installation of all the doors and windows will cost around 2.3 billion Ethiopian birr.
In addition to the 1.6 million US dollars, the comedian has aided the charity to raise donations from local banks. However, the details of the amount that was raised in this manner have not been released yet.
About Mekedonia
What Is Mekedonia Humanitarian Association?
Mekedonia Humanitarian Association is a non-profit, non-governmental independent humanitarian organization in Ethiopia. It was founded 13 years ago in 2010 by Benyam Belete, a renowned charity worker in Ethiopia.
The fundamental purpose of Mekedonia is to support critically disabled people, mentally unhealthy people, and senior citizens.
It functions primarily from Addis Ababa, the capital and largest city in Ethiopia, and is headquartered in Ayat Condominium.
Mekedonia offers services such as housing, counseling, clothing, and food.
Mekedonia Home for the Elderly and Mentally Disabled
The organization runs a home named Mekedonia Home for the Elderly and Mentally Disabled, which is basically a shelter for people who are old and who are mentally ill.
The shelter home looks after the inmates by providing them with food, and clothes. It also ensures that they live in clean and hygienic conditions and are equipped with the necessary educational and medical facilities for those who are in need of it.
What Does Mekedonia Aim To Do?
The official website of the center quotes its goals as
- To help the disabled with rehabilitation to develop their physical and mental capacities.
- To help the inmates with encouragement to carry out their daily activities.
- To assist the most number of elderly and disabled people with
- Opportunities for education
- Opportunities for training
- Opportunities for employment
- To help the target people find employment opportunities in society.
- To help the target people to retain the job.
- To help the target people to fulfill their requirements to completely participate in the everyday life of society.
- To work on inclusive and integrated community development.
- To work on the improvement of biodiversity.
- To work on the improvement of livelihood.
- To work on public awareness
- To educate the public to accept the disabled community and the marginalized elder people.
- To educate the public on the capabilities of the elderly and disabled.
- To educate the public about the needs of the elderly and disabled.
- To educate the public about the problems that the elderly and disabled face in society on a daily basis.
Mekedonia shelter home has staff who have proven experience in fields such as
- Vulnerable groups
- Tertiary education
- Public relations
- Media affairs
- Data management
Earlier in 2016, the shelter home received a donation of 16 million US dollars from Sheik Mohammed Ali Al-Modi, a businessman from Saudi Arabia. It was utilized for the construction of the house for the elderly.
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About Eshetu Melese
Who Is Eshetu Melese?
Eshetu Melese is a comedian from Ethiopia with a huge fan following. Melese was born in Addis Ababa. His father passed away when he was a toddler.
He grew up in Adama in Ethiopia as his family had moved there following the death of his father.
Eshetu Melese holds a bachelor’s degree in Theatrical Arts that he pursued from Addis Ababa University.
After college education, he started a job as a radio program host in Yegna, a radio drama. Later he became a stand-up comedian by doing 1-hour long comedy shows.
He soon grew into stardom as he took special care to not hurt or offend racialized and gendered communities. Rather, what he chose to do in his performances was to focus on the political situation of the nation.
He sarcastically presented the existing ethnic conflicts and other corrupt and unfair federal political agendas, activists, and relevant issues.
Melese performs in colleges, universities, and other educational institutions around Ethiopia.
Eshetu Melese: Net Worth
Eshetu Melese is estimated to have a net worth of more than 380 thousand US dollars. The major source of his revenue is generated from his YouTube channel.
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