Bridge of Hope (BoH) was founded by Timotheus Augustburer and his wife Magdalena in 2001, aiming to provide help and support for orphans, vulnerable children, and communities in Ethiopia.

Phases of Development Interventions

BoH has completed 4 phases of integrated development programs, each phase covering 5 years. The 5^th phase is currently under implementation that commences as of January 2023 and latsts at 2027. These program phases are:

-          Phase I: 2001 – 2006

-          Phase II: 2007 – 2011

-          Phase III: 2012 – 2016

-          Year 2017 was an interim year wherein preparations were made for the next five year phase.

-          Phase IV: 2018 – 2022, and

-          Phase V: 2023 – 2027.

-          The first phase program implemented was named “Gondar Community Focused Childcare Project”, which was a 5-year program implemented from June 2001 to May 31 2006. Direct beneficiaries of the program were 120 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) from Godar city and its surroundings.

-          Various infrastructure development was undertaken in the 20 hectares compound at the 1^st program phase. These included construction of a G+2 administrative building, a standard clinic, 4 blocks of children’s residence, a kindergarten, 2 tukuls, a cafeteria, guards’ house, a shade for the dairy farm and a store, a shade for poultry farm, store for agricultural tools and products, and wood and metal workshop. Construction of a borehole and 3 shallow wells along with reservoirs, and extension of 4286 meters of pipelines for water supply were also undertaken in the compound.

-          The once barren 20 hectares of land which was given to BoH by the government was transformed into a beautiful village with modern buildings, service giving facilities, plants and animal farms and above all a home for 120 OVC and a working place for 37 permanent staff. 

-           Various office furniture and equipment were purchased and supplied for all the new facilities in the compound. 

Major Program Accomplishments of the First Phase

-          Selection and admission of the 120 OVC and their care and management, offer training on modern child care and management (to BIE staff, staff from private kindergartens, community representatives, government staff and other stakeholders), provision of healthcare in the newly established clinic and other facilities, educating the admitted children as per their ages and grades,

-          Promotion of horticulture, dairy farm, poultry, beekeeping, animal fattening and crops production to support the OVC and generate income for the organization. 

-          Established the wood and metal workshop that was used to train jobless youth on vocational skills and produced various furniture for consumption in the compound and sell to other customers, 

-          Terrazzo tiles producing machine was purchased and terrazzo tiles were produced and used for footpath in the compound and sold to generate income for the program. 

-          Sewing machines were purchased to practice tailoring that enabled mending of cloths for the OVC and produce cloths for the children and local people. 

-          Various soil and water conservation methods were practiced in the compound to fight natural resources degradation and educate the local community on techniques of soil and water conservation to maintain sustainable food production on their farms.

-          The compound at Samuna Ber served as a best site for demonstration of integrated agriculture and natural resource conservation to the local community.