We would love to hear your story!
Share Your Story
Everyone has a story.
Maybe you remember your childhood in Ethiopia.
Maybe you grew up in another country but your heart has always been connected to Ethiopia.
Maybe you are teaching your children Amharic, Ethiopian Fidel, traditions, food, music, or history.
Maybe there is a special Ethiopian memory that you never want to forget.
Meet the Tesfaye Family
For many years, Ethiopia was everything we knew.
Our mornings began with the smell of fresh coffee. Our weekends were filled with family visits, laughter, traditional food, and conversations that seemed to last forever.
The children played outside with cousins and neighbors. Everyone knew everyone.
Life was not always easy, but it was home.
And sometimes, you do not realize how special home is until the day you have to leave it.
“Ethiopia was not just a place where we lived. It was part of who we were.”
THE DAY WE LEFT — AIRPORT
The day we left is a day we will never forget.
Our family and friends came to say goodbye.
There were hugs that lasted longer than usual.
There were smiles—but behind those smiles, there were tears.
The children were excited about the adventure ahead. They talked about airplanes, a new country, and seeing snow for the first time.
But for us, the parents, our hearts were full of questions.
What will our new life be like?
Will we find work?
Will our children be happy?
Will Ethiopia still feel close to us?
As the airplane slowly left the ground, we looked out of the window.
Somewhere below us was our home.
And for the first time, we understood what it truly meant to miss a place.
“We were not just leaving Ethiopia. We were carrying Ethiopia with us.”
A New Country A New Reality
When we arrived in our new country, everything felt different.
The language.
The weather.
The streets.
The food.
Even the way people greeted each other.
During the first months, life was challenging.
Sometimes we misunderstood people because of the language.
Sometimes we missed our family so much that a simple phone call became emotional.
And then came our first winter.
The children were excited.
They ran outside, laughing and trying to catch snowflakes.
But after only a few minutes, they came back inside shivering!
That night, everyone laughed.
It became one of those small family memories that reminded us:
Even difficult changes can become beautiful memories.
The Beautiful Moments We Created
Slowly, our new country began to feel less strange.
We made new friends.
We learned new things.
We found new opportunities.
But inside our home, Ethiopia was always alive.
We cooked Ethiopian food.
We continued our coffee traditions.
We listened to Ethiopian music.
We wore traditional clothes during special celebrations.
We taught our children Ethiopian Fidel and stories about their culture.
One day, our youngest child asked:
“Are we from here or from Ethiopia?”
We smiled.
And we said:
You are connected to both worlds. You can build a future here and still be proud of your Ethiopian roots.”
Today — Grateful and Hopeful
Today, life is different from the life we imagined when we first left Ethiopia.
We have faced challenges.
We have made mistakes.
We have experienced loneliness.
But we have also grown.
We have learned.
And we have become stronger together.
Our children are growing up with opportunities we once dreamed about.
At the same time, we work hard to make sure they understand where their story began. Because success is not only about where you are going.
Sometimes, it is also about remembering where you came from.
“No matter where life takes us, Ethiopia will always have a home in our hearts.”
Our Message to Every Ethiopian Around the World
Your story matters.
Maybe you left Ethiopia yesterday.
Maybe you left many years ago.
Maybe your children were born in another country.
Maybe you miss the streets where you grew up.
Maybe you miss your family.
Maybe you miss the food, the language, the music, or simply hearing familiar voices around you.
You are not alone.
There are millions of stories like yours.
Different journeys.
Different countries.
Different experiences.
But often, the same feeling:
Ethiopia is always in our hearts.