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Gadisa Birhanu, founder of Testimony 2540, knows there is power in a name. As an NGO, Testimony 2540 serves street children in Addis Ababa and provides them the means to attend school and become successful with the talents God has given them. So why Testimony 2540? Simple. The Testimony of Gadisa, himself, and Matthew 25:40. Gadisa grew up homeless and an orphan; a street child. Instead of letting the situation control him, Gadisa put himself through school and eventually graduated university. As he says his testimony “will inspire and give hope to the children to dream big. When they grow up and become successful their life will be a testimony and inspiration to other orphans.” For most of his life, Gadisa has had a passion and dream to open a haven for street children because he knows their pain. He knows how it feels to be hungry and to be homeless. Gadisa, also, knows the potential each child has and wants to provide a place to where their God-given abilities and talents will flourish. This leads to the 25:40, referring to Matthew 25:40 where Jesus says, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (NIV)." The street children of Addis Ababa are in need and Testimony 2540 wants to be there for the least of these, or in the words of Gadisa, “when you help, feed and visit the kids, that means you’re feeding, visiting and helping God and testifying the word of God.” Testimony 2540 is focused on the area of Addis Ababa to begin with, but has goal to reach all of Ethiopia and, eventually, all of East Africa.
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We are delighted to share an amazing interview that our Gadisa Birhanu, the founder of Testimony 2540, which encapsulates the essence of our mission and the incredible journey that led to the establishment of our NGO. In this interview with Etv | Ethiopia | News - YouTube, Gadisa opens up about his personal experiences as a street child and his unwavering determination to make a difference in the lives of others.
Gadisa's story is one of inspiration, resilience, and faith. Growing up homeless and orphaned, he faced immense challenges. However, through his unwavering commitment to education and his unyielding faith in God, Gadisa overcame adversity and graduated from university. His personal testimony serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that with determination and the right support, even the most difficult circumstances can be overcome.
Message from our Founder: A Testimony of Hope and Transformation
In his interview, Gadisa expresses his deep passion for helping street children in Addis Ababa. He shares his vision of providing them with the means to attend school and nurturing their God-given talents, enabling them to become successful and inspiring individuals. Gadisa firmly believes that their transformed lives will serve as a testimony and inspiration to other orphaned children, breaking the cycle of despair and offering them a future filled with promise.
Furthermore, Gadisa emphasizes the significance of Matthew 25:40, where Jesus teaches us the importance of serving the least fortunate among us. He believes that by helping, feeding, and visiting these vulnerable children, we are not only assisting them but also testifying to the word of God and uplifting the lives of those in need.
At Testimony 2540, we are dedicated to turning the dreams of street children into realities. We strive to provide them with a safe haven, where they can thrive, develop their talents, and receive an education. We are grateful for the support of our donors from abroad, and we envision a collaboration with the government to expand our reach and impact.
He also mentioned his lifelong dream has been to establish a haven for street children, understanding their pain and the potential they possess. Through Testimony 2540, he aims to create an environment where these children can thrive and reach their full potential. While Testimony 2540 already has donors from abroad, Gadisa recognizes the importance of government cooperation to reach even more children. He has been in the process of building the Testimony Village, with design and other preparations underway. He hopes that the government can provide more land, allowing the Testimony Village to become a reality in the near future.
His Interview with EBC - Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation,one of the country's largest media outlets. In the interview, he shared his personal journey as a former street child and highlighted how his commitment to education and faith in God propelled him to his current position. He emphasized the importance of the Feeding Center, which serves as a vital resource for these vulnerable children. Gadisa expressed his gratitude for the support from donors abroad and expressed his desire for increased government cooperation to expand their reach and impact.
We invite you to watch Gadisa's inspiring interview on our website. Witness his journey, hear his powerful message, and join us in our mission to transform the lives of street children in Addis Ababa. Together, we can make a difference, one child at a time.