Providing Compassionate Assistance, Strengthening Communities, and Restoring Hope
Introduction
TESFA Refugees with Disabilities Association believes that every refugee with a disability deserves to live with dignity, safety, and hope. Displacement, conflict, poverty, and disability often combine to create severe humanitarian challenges, leaving many refugees without adequate food, shelter, healthcare, education, or social support.
The Humanitarian & Community Support Program is designed to provide timely humanitarian assistance while promoting long-term resilience, inclusion, and community participation. The program focuses on meeting immediate humanitarian needs while empowering individuals and communities to recover, rebuild, and become self-reliant.
TESFA works closely with government institutions, humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, local and international NGOs, faith-based organizations, community leaders, volunteers, and donors to ensure that refugees with disabilities receive fair, inclusive, and dignified humanitarian assistance.
Background
Refugees with disabilities are among the most vulnerable populations during humanitarian emergencies. They often experience greater barriers in accessing food, healthcare, shelter, education, sanitation, protection services, and humanitarian information.
Many live in poverty, lack family support, or are excluded from aid distributions because of inaccessible facilities or communication barriers.
TESFA was established to ensure that humanitarian responses are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the unique needs of refugees with disabilities. Beyond emergency assistance, TESFA also promotes community solidarity, resilience, and social inclusion.
Why This Program Matters
Humanitarian support is essential because it:
- Saves lives during emergencies.
- Reduces suffering.
- Protects vulnerable individuals.
- Promotes dignity and inclusion.
- Supports recovery and resilience.
- Strengthens community solidarity.
- Improves health and well-being.
- Reduces poverty and vulnerability.
- Encourages hope and self-reliance.
- Ensures no refugee with a disability is left behind.
Vision
A compassionate and inclusive society where refugees with disabilities receive timely humanitarian assistance, enjoy equal opportunities, and actively participate in resilient and supportive communities.
Mission
To improve the well-being of refugees with disabilities by providing inclusive humanitarian assistance, strengthening community support systems, promoting social inclusion, and building resilient communities.
Goal
To ensure that refugees with disabilities have access to essential humanitarian assistance, protection, and community support services that improve their quality of life and promote dignity and resilience.
Objectives
The Humanitarian & Community Support Program aims to:
- Provide emergency humanitarian assistance.
- Improve access to basic needs and essential services.
- Promote disability-inclusive humanitarian response.
- Strengthen community resilience.
- Support vulnerable households.
- Promote volunteerism and community participation.
- Improve disaster preparedness and response.
- Strengthen social cohesion.
- Protect vulnerable individuals from abuse and neglect.
- Mobilize community resources and partnerships.
Our Services
TESFA delivers a wide range of humanitarian and community support services.
Emergency Relief Assistance
Providing immediate support during emergencies, including:
- Food assistance.
- Drinking water.
- Clothing.
- Blankets.
- Bedding.
- Hygiene kits.
- Kitchen utensils.
- Emergency cash support (subject to funding).
- Temporary shelter materials.
Food Security and Nutrition
Supporting vulnerable households through:
- Food distribution.
- Nutrition education.
- Community kitchens.
- Home gardening initiatives.
- Livestock support.
- School feeding advocacy.
- Nutrition screening.
- Referral for severe malnutrition.
Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs)
Supporting safe and dignified living conditions by facilitating access to:
- Temporary shelter.
- Shelter repairs.
- Household furniture.
- Mattresses.
Mosquito nets. - Solar lamps.
- Cooking equipment.
- Winter clothing where needed.
Community Support Services
TESFA strengthens community networks through:
- Community outreach.
- Home visits.
Peer support groups. - Caregiver support.
- Community dialogue.
- Family counselling.
- Social inclusion activities.
- Volunteer programmes.
Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency
Preparedness
Preparing communities for emergencies by promoting:
- Disaster awareness.
- Emergency response planning.
- First aid training.
- Community emergency committees.
- Inclusive evacuation planning.
- Early warning systems.
- Climate resilience education.
Social Protection and Referral Services
TESFA connects beneficiaries with:
- Government social protection programmes.
- Cash assistance initiatives.
- Legal aid services.
- Healthcare providers.
- Education services.
- Livelihood programmes.
- Child protection services.
- Gender-based violence support services.
Community Volunteer Programme
TESFA mobilizes volunteers to:
- Visit vulnerable households.
- Support older persons.
- Assist persons with severe disabilities.
- Organize community clean-up campaigns.
- Conduct awareness sessions.
- Support emergency responses.
- Mentor children and youth.
Key Activities
The Humanitarian & Community Support Program carries out:
- Emergency relief distributions.
- Community needs assessments.
- Household vulnerability assessments.
- Home visits.
- Community dialogue meetings.
- Volunteer recruitment and training.
- Hygiene promotion campaigns.
- Nutrition awareness sessions.
- Disaster preparedness workshops.
- Inclusive community events.
- Cash assistance referrals.
- Community clean-up campaigns.
- Tree planting activities.
- Blood donation campaigns.
- Disability awareness campaigns.
- Community solidarity events.
Target Beneficiaries
The program primarily supports:
- Refugees with disabilities.
- Women with disabilities.
- Children with disabilities.
- Older persons with disabilities.
- Refugees with chronic illnesses.
- Single-parent households.
- Child-headed households.
- Survivors of conflict and violence.
- Caregivers.
- Vulnerable host community members where appropriate.
Expected Outcomes
TESFA expects to achieve:
- Improved access to humanitarian assistance.
- Reduced vulnerability.
- Better food security.
- Improved shelter conditions.
- Increased community participation.
- Stronger volunteer networks.
- Improved disaster preparedness.
- Greater social inclusion.
- Improved health and well-being.
- Stronger community resilience.
Success Indicators
The success of the programme will be measured through:
- Number of beneficiaries receiving humanitarian assistance.
- Number of food distributions conducted.
- Number of households supported.
- Number of volunteers trained.
- Number of community outreach activities completed.
- Beneficiary satisfaction.
- Reduction in humanitarian vulnerability.
- Increased community participation.
- Improved disaster preparedness.
- Strengthened partnerships.
How We Implement This Program
TESFA delivers this programme through:
- Community-based assessments.
- Inclusive beneficiary identification.
- Partnerships with humanitarian agencies.
- Volunteer engagement.
- Community outreach.
- Home visits.
- Referral mechanisms.
- Monitoring and evaluation.
- Accountability to affected populations.
Strategic Partnerships
TESFA collaborates with:
- Government disaster management agencies.
- Refugee response institutions.
- UNHCR.
World Food Programme (WFP). - UNICEF.
- International Organization for Migration (IOM).
- Local and international NGOs.
- Faith-based organizations.
- Community-based organizations.
- Private companies.
- Donors.
- Volunteer networks.
Sustainability Strategy
To ensure long-term impact, TESFA will:
- Strengthen community resilience.
- Promote self-help and mutual support groups.
- Develop community volunteer networks.
- Encourage local resource mobilization.
- Build partnerships with humanitarian actors.
- Support livelihood programmes that reduce long-term dependency.
- Promote disaster preparedness and climate resilience.
- Monitor programme effectiveness and continuously improve services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who can receive humanitarian assistance from TESFA?
Priority is given to registered refugees with disabilities and other highly vulnerable individuals, depending on available resources and programme criteria.
Does TESFA provide assistance throughout the year?
Support is provided based on identified needs, emergencies, available funding, and partnerships.
Can I volunteer in this programme?
Yes. Community members, professionals, students, and partners are encouraged to volunteer and support humanitarian activities.
Does TESFA distribute cash assistance?
Cash assistance may be provided through partner organizations or specific projects when funding is available.
How can I request support?
Individuals can contact TESFA through the office, website, email, or community representatives for assessment and referral.
Get Involved
Every act of kindness makes a difference. You can support this programme by:
- Donating food, clothing, or household items.
- Sponsoring emergency relief activities.
- Volunteering your time and skills.
- Partnering with TESFA on humanitarian projects.
- Supporting vulnerable families through financial contributions.
- Organizing community fundraising campaigns.
- Promoting inclusion and solidarity within your community.
Together, we can provide hope, dignity, and opportunity to refugees with disabilities and build stronger, more compassionate communities.
Contact the Humanitarian & Community Support Program
TESFA Refugees with Disabilities Association
📧 Email: humanitarian@tesfa.com.et
🌐 Website: www.tesfa.com.et
“Together, we extend compassion, restore dignity, and build resilient communities where every refugee with a disability is valued, supported, and empowered.”
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