In the heart of Ethiopia, in the town of Gode, we work for people in need, restoring their hope and dignity.
Our mission focuses on supporting the local community through education, skills development, and material assistance.
We believe that everyone deserves a chance for a better life.

“In the Heart of Ethiopia: My Month with Mission of Hope”

Near Ethiopia’s northern borders, in the Somali region along the Shebelle River, lies the small town of Gode.
At the turn of June and July, I spent one of the most precious months of my life there, volunteering with Mission of Hope.
Many people have asked me why I chose such a journey – and why specifically there.
This mission is led by Sister Joachim, whom I first met during her stay in Poland in the 1990s. At that time, she was the Superior of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s Sisters).
Her story is strikingly similar to that of St. Mother Teresa. After many years of service in Ethiopia, Sister Joachim heard what she describes as a “call within a call,” just like Mother Teresa in India: to go to those who had been forgotten and abandoned.

Her adventure in Gode began about eight years ago. She was invited there by the local bishop to support a Spanish priest from Fidei Donum. She agreed. After five years, Fr. Christopher was transferred to Sudan, leaving her alone to run the Mission of Hope center.

Three years ago, I learned about her work and the urgent need for support. That’s when the idea of volunteering slowly took root in me.

The mission today relies on nine local staff members: five caregivers/teachers, a driver responsible for the plantation, a helper, and a weaving instructor. Volunteers from abroad are always welcome, as their presence allows the mission to expand its activities.
One of the most important initiatives is PROJECT TAMARA, which employs about thirty women who, under the guidance of the weaving instructor, create delicate, beautiful shawls. Meanwhile, around seventy of their children are cared for in a nursery or a three-grade school. Understandably, this activity has become the mission’s most visible and recognized program. Men also find employment in fieldwork.

When the mission began, many of the women working there had been forced into “cafés” (a local euphemism for brothels), as they had no other way to provide for themselves and their children. Sister Joachim’s work restored not only their income but, above all, their dignity.
What strikes the most is the depth of poverty—poverty that goes far beyond material lack and strips away humanity itself.
Basic education for the weavers’ children opens a window of hope for the future. The school, however, requires significant investment, especially in the training and formation of teachers. In my view, this is one of the most important tasks around which we can build greater engagement for the mission. Education and formation offer real hope for a better life.

In short, Mission of Hope is about rebuilding humanity, restoring dignity, and laying the foundation for proclaiming the Good News. Material help is crucial, but it can only ever be temporary.
Finally, it must be said that the mission operates almost like a miracle. It receives no regular financial support from the Church or other organizations. It survives solely on donations from people like you and me.

Marlena Rigo