Who We Are
A Mission Built on Persistence, Dignity, and Vision
Tikuret was forged by one woman's unwavering determination to serve and uplift children with special needs along with their families.
Sister Asayech Yirega
A Vision Carried by Conviction, Sacrifice, and Unshakable Purpose
As a trained nurse and sociologist, she continued responding where others could not—eventually opening her own home to orphaned children and families in crisis, even when doing so came at personal cost. Over the years, that same determination led to the founding of Tikuret and the growth of projects that now provide care, therapy, education, and opportunity to hundreds of lives.
Even when war, economic hardship, and funding loss, her commitment never wavered. When support became uncertain, she sold her own home to keep the work moving forward.
Today, her leadership continues to shape what Tikuret is building next: a future where children with special needs are not hidden, but valued—and where mothers are given the dignity, tools, and support to rise alongside them.
We won't stop until every family with a special needs child is uplifted and supported
A Beacon of Hope
God's House
More than a building
It's a place where every child is valued, every family is welcomed, and where hope springs forth.
When COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill and civil war disrupted Ethiopia, building a new facility seemed nearly impossible. Yet in the middle of uncertainty, God’s House was completed—a project shaped by resilience, faith, and extraordinary perseverance.
The name reflects both God’s welcoming spirit and the remarkable way this space came to life despite overwhelming challenges. Built to a high standard during a time when even basic progress was difficult, it stands as a testament to what can happen when vision and purpose remain steady.
Today, children who were once overlooked walk through these doors into a place of care, dignity, and belonging. Mothers who once carried their burdens alone now find support, community, and renewed confidence within these walls.
Acacia Cafe
Beyond a cafe, an opportunity for the community to come together and provide sustainability
The Acacia Cafe is a space where opportunity is created for mothers within the Tikuret community. We intend to provide a meaningful, steady source of income for women while supporting programs for children with special needs.
Through daily operations, mothers are developing practical skills, build confidence, and contribute directly to their families’ stability. At the same time, the café supports the broader Tinkuret mission by generating income that helps sustain programs for children with special needs.
12,000+
community members impacted over 17 years
344
individuals directly supported today
54
mothers earning through active programs
20+
children receiving daily care and meals
Our Mission for Today
The Gifted Hearts Center
This future medical center will be Africa's first comprehensive special needs facility.
When Mothers Thrive, Families Win
At the heart of Tikuret’s work will be the Gifted Hearts Center—a place where children with special needs receive daily care, nutrition, and support while their mothers gain the freedom to work, learn, and build a future.
Now under construction, this center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will exist to remove an impossible burden many families face: choosing between caring for a child and earning an income.
The Gifted Hearts Center is the first facility of its kind in Ethiopia, designed to serve both children with special needs and the women who care for them.
Inside the center, children receive structured daily support in a safe and dignified environment, while mothers participate in vocational work that generates real income for their families.
This is not temporary aid. It is a working ecosystem built to restore dignity, strengthen households, and create long-term stability.
Expanding the Mission
Acacia Village
We have a vision for the future. Will you join us?
What began as one God-given vision has already proven something powerful: when children with special needs are treated with dignity and mothers are equipped with opportunity, lasting change becomes possible.
The next step is building a comprehensive medical and training center designed to serve children with special needs on an even greater scale—while preparing others to carry this work forward.
This future facility is envisioned as one of Africa’s first centers of its kind: a place where medical care, therapy, education, and professional training come together under one roof. It will not only serve local families, but also welcome professionals from across Africa to learn, train, and return to their communities equipped to create impact of their own.
Support our long-term vision
