Ethiopia is home to more than 100 million people and is one of the lowest-income countries in the world. Many families, especially in rural areas, live under very modest conditions. Through our partner association Finote Ethiopia e.V., we strive to help improve living conditions and expand educational opportunities in a sustainable and respectful way.
Thanks to our long-standing personal networks in Ethiopia, support reaches those who need it most, directly, transparently, and without unnecessary intermediaries.
Finote Ethiopia e.V. focuses on four key areas:
While school attendance is officially compulsory in Ethiopia, many schools lack basic infrastructure. Outdoor classes, overcrowded classrooms, and shortages of teaching materials are common. At the same time, many children cannot attend school because they must contribute to their family’s livelihood.
Finote Ethiopia e.V. is committed to helping change this reality. We firmly believe that education is the foundation for progress, opportunity, and long-term development. Through targeted support, we hope to create better learning conditions for children and young people.
Extreme poverty affects many households, and social safety nets are limited. Single mothers, orphans, the elderly, and homeless individuals often have no reliable support system.
We focus on promoting self-help and equal opportunities. By strengthening vulnerable groups, we aim to empower people to build more stable and independent lives.
Ethiopia has experienced severe deforestation in recent decades. While about 30% of the country was forested just a few decades ago, today the figure is under 3%. Firewood remains one of the main energy sources for cooking, heating, and construction, partly due to limited and inconsistent access to electricity.
Our association works to protect the environment by promoting reforestation, supporting tree-planting initiatives, and providing alternative cooking technologies and sustainable energy options wherever possible.
Although Ethiopia’s economy continues to grow, much of the financial benefit does not reach local communities. Tourism, however, has tremendous potential to create meaningful, people-centered economic opportunities.
We support sustainable and community-based tourism that benefits local families directly, creates new jobs, preserves natural resources, and strengthens entire regions. This form of tourism is not only responsible—it is transformative.
You can learn more about Finote Ethiopia e.V. by visiting: www.finote-ethiopia.org
In Ethiopia, bachelor’s degrees are generally tuition-free. However, students must cover essential study costs on their own, textbooks, photocopies, materials, and other living expenses, which can be a significant barrier.
Master’s programs, on the other hand, must be entirely self-financed, typically costing €600–700 per year, not including additional living expenses.
In partnership with the Tourism Faculty of the University of Gondar, one of the country’s largest universities, Finote Ethiopia e.V. provides scholarships to talented tourism students who would otherwise be unable to continue their studies.
When you travel with us, you automatically contribute:
For every participant, we donate US$50 directly to the scholarship fund.
This amount covers one full month of living and study expenses for an Ethiopian tourism student.
Further details on the scholarship program can be found here:
https://www.finote-ethiopia.org/stipendienprogramm-fur-tourismusstudenten-an-der-university-of-gondar/
