The Selamta Family Project is a volunteer grassroots project developed in 2005 to establish permanent, stable family homes for orphaned children and marginalized women in Ethiopia. By providing positive influences in a family and community setting it is possible to build strong citizens, maintain cultural connections, and sustain healthy conditions.



Since the project began, there have been twelve homes built, over a hundred children placed into families, and 18 women who have become heads of households. One hundred percent of the children attend school; many are on the honor roll. The soccer team is winning, and one hundred percent of the children are immunized. In other words, these children and their new mothers are thriving.



Selamta is not an orphanage, but a new life-start from the streets to a unique place within the Selamta Family and society. This model is successful in Ethiopia and is proving to be a sustainable model to re-incorporate women into society, children into families, and produce healthy citizens who are future leaders in their country.