Mekelle University

College of Social Sciences and Languages

Department of History and Heritage Management

M.A Thesis Proposal on:

A Biography of Abebech Gobena

Prepared by:

Assefa Yirga

Adviser:

Haile Muluken (PhD)

November, 2017

Mekelle, Ethiopia
Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................4
1.2. Statement of the Problem...........................................................................................................7
1.3.1. General Objective................................................................................................................8
1.3.2. Specific Objectives..............................................................................................................8
The specific objectives of the study will be to:..................................................................................8
1.4. Research Questions......................................................................................................................8
1.5. Significance of the Study.............................................................................................................9
1.6. Delimitation of the Study.............................................................................................................9
1.7. Organization of the study ...........................................................................................................9
1.8. Research Method.........................................................................................................................9
1.8.1. Research design.......................................................................................................................9
1.8.2. Data Gathering Tools..............................................................................................................10
1.8.3. Data Type and Sources........................................................................................................10
1.8.3.1. Primary data:.......................................................................................................................10
1.8.3.2. Secondary Data:...................................................................................................................10
1.8.4. Key Informal Interview...........................................................................................................10
1.8.5. Field Observation.............................................................................................................11
1.8.6. Methods of Data Analysis........................................................................................................11
1.9. Reliability and validity of the study............................................................................................11
1.10. Ethical Consideration..............................................................................................................12
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................................13

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ABE: Alternative Basic Education
AGOHELM: Abebech GobenaYehetsanat Kebekabena Limat Mahiber
AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
CLT : Charitable Lead Truest
CRT: Charitable Remainder Truest
CSP: Charity and society Proclamation
NGO: Non-Governmental Organization
CRDS: Catholic Relief and Development Society

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 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Charity is the act of giving money, food, or other kinds of help to people who are poor, sick, etc,
( Morgan, 2008). On the other hand, Charities have been human practice for thousands of years
(winspireme.com/a-brief-history-of-charitable-giving-infrographic).charities has been in the
form f food, money, medical care, education, freedom of taxes, etc. The root of charity was from
church. Then individuals began to establish charitable giving. If we take the long view of
charities, we can find both continuity and change. Before the late 1940s, charities were central to
welfare provision in a range of areas such as hospital services (charity Commission, 2008).

The non-profit sector now encompasses 1.5 million organizations. From university to hospitals
to Humanitarian services organizations alone accounts nearly one third of public castrates, with
so much choose , donors tend to consider to question as they decide where to invest and goals
and their effectiveness. This is the degree to which a potential guarantee delivers results over ti.
Charities effectiveness depends on your goals as donor. Effectiveness mean delivering results on
issues you deem important. Many worthy charities suffer cash flow problems ,poorly developed
finance ,management and fund rising systems .and inadequate training of board and staff in
essential skills(2). Clear mission and purpose, is the most fundamental quality of an effective
charity organization, its mission should communicate all its stockholders, board, staff, donors,
volunteers and the general public clearly. All the charities programs and operations should be
aligned to advance its mission. Effective charities should document their services .it should vivid
to the community.

Charitable organization should perform important skills so as to communicate vision and

mission, engage and seek stakeholders ,achieve results ,manage and informed governance
structure ,secure resource and plan for the future appropriate to its needs (4)..It also flows good
practices and become learning organizations based on its assessment on financial leadership and
organizational and program development, strong leadership runs the organization .It properly
handle governance issues(5). The organization is recognized as an institution if staff can
articulate key accomplishments, lessons learned and have future direction as well as if they able

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to demonstrated tangible result besides, skilled and talented board members, staff and
volunteers should encompass. The people are key to performances ability to mobilize others and
engage volunteers, business and government agencies is an essential skill for charity
organizations that bring about long term change and development(6)

The charity organization should assess and clarify the value and what to achieve with limited
human and financial resources. It should also identify the field for potential or scanning the
landscape for your chosen field of interest and use effective strategies. Visiting the organization,
observe how staffs members interact with the constituents talk with the organization’s staff,
board members, and volunteers. Above all, commitment in finding effective charity organization
comes first it will pay off in greater results.
Religious organizations in the Western World historically have been major sources of both
funds and services for social welfare (West Hues, 1971, P.60).Many of the original foundations
of benevolence and charity have their beginnings in religious institutions.“The desire to help
others and, therefore, the beginnings of social welfare appears to have developed as a part of
religion” (Langar, 2003, P.137).

Religious and traditions have greatly affected the development of American social welfare
(Casio, 2003). This concern for others is motivated by a spirit that has a religious character and
not merely one designed to preserve a particular social order (Brodman, 2009,P.1). Religious
institutions like the church have continued to be a prominent context for social work practice
(Graland, 1992, P.1). As Holt (1922), maintained that the early church grew out of the necessity
of greater efficiency in ministry to physical needs of others. The church continues to be a
significant and influential institution for good or for ill in a nation’s formal social services and to
a greater extent, in the informal support and services available to persons and their families
(Graland, 1992, P.4).

In the history of charity there are/were people that are/were charity providers. Among these, one
was Mother Teresa. She was born on August 26, 1910 and died on September 5, 1997. She was
known as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (birth name) (Meg Greene, 2004). Offers an extensive
selection biography and emphasis on fact, it provide in depth information about the subject’s life

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from birth through childhood, the ten years, and adulthood. A through account relates family
background and education, traced personal and professional influence and express struggles
accomplishment and contribution.

On the contrary, (Christopher Kitchens, 1995) investigate the achievement of Mother Teresa in
theory and practice. He tried to assess the reality whether her reputation and her mission’s
achievement linked or not. Based on the aforementioned issues, the researcher intended to assess
the achievement of Abebech Gobena charity organization and document her biography. Ethiopia
has a long tradition of informal community-based organizations like the ‘ Idir’ and Iqub’ self-
help associations that operate at the local level and offer mutual socio-economic support to their
members (https//chilot2011/08/ngo-law-monitor-ethiopia.pdf).Since 1960s national and
international charities have been operating in Ethiopia (Clark, 2000). Swedish Save the Children
is the first international NGO that started its activities in the country in 1960s.And a number of
international charities increased after 1960s as humanitarian response. Local NGOs had emerged
like development commission of Ethiopian Orthodox church the Development Department and
the Catholic Relief and Development Society (CRDS), are respectively associated with three
major churches of Ethiopia namely Ethiopian Orthodox, Evangelical and Catholic Churches.
These churches have officially organized their own development departments or commissions in
order to carry out humanitarian activities in autonomous manner. Professional Local NGOs were
basically established by experienced groups of experts and individuals such as Emmanuel
Development Association EDA, Mekedonia and Abebech Gobena Yehitsanat Enkibkabe
(Zekarias, 2010). There are a variety of reasons why these people set up these charity
organizations.

Formal civic society that is organizations with legal personality is a recent development. Civic
society was slow to take root under the successive Ethiopian rulers(1137-1974).It was also
severely restricted under the rule of the Derg (1974-91).Modern civic society organizations were
first established as faith –based organizations in the 1930’s and beginning in the 1950s,welfare
organizations like the Red cross started to operate in Ethiopia .As a result of the 1973-74 and
1984-85famines ,many more Non –Governmental Organizations (NGOS)emerged with a focus
on relief and humanitarian services .It was the downfall of the Dreg regime in 1991 that led to
the coming of NGOs substantially (https//chilot2011/08/ngo-law-monitor-ethiopia.pdf).

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Major achievements of NGOs can be seen in the areas of health ,food security ,human rights and
poverty alleviation, just to name a few , most recently ,during the 2005 elections NGOS
supported education and monitored and observed the election process .The extent to which the
CSP will affect civil society in Ethiopia has yet to be seen .In Ethiopia ,there are (were) charity
providers .Among these ,one is Emmanuel Development Association (EDA) EDA is an
indigenous charity development association .It was established in 1996 by Tessema Bekele, the
founder and executive director of EDA (http://www.edaethiopia.org/).

Inspired by the dreams he had since his childhood, Mr.Tessema ventured to establish an
organization aimed at creating opportunities for the holistic development of orphans and
vulnerable children in difficult circumstances .He started the charity with an initial investment of
ETB10,000 ,which he founded from his own pocket .It was after this that some donors ,inspired
by his vision ,decided to extend their support ,which helped in scaling up projects and project
intervention areas, EDA started its development endeavors by addressing the education needs of
500 children through an Alternative Basic Education (ABE)program in the Akaki-Kality Sub city
of Addis Ababa.EDA, is currently registered as an Ethiopian residents charity organization by
the Ethiopian government charities and society’s agency . Under the proclamation number
621/2009 with a registration number of 0196.EDAoperates a number of project sites in the
capital city of Addis Ababa, as well as the Amhara, and Oromia regions. It works with and for
vulnerable communities to enhance their social and economic wellbeing through strategic multi –
stakeholder development programs .Since 1996 , EDA has been diligently implementing and
promoting programs for improving the situation of marginalized in its target areas.

The second charity giver (the subject of this study) is Abebech Gobena, a prominent
humanitarian lady AGOHLD is the first Ethiopian indigenous charity organization. The founder
and the general manager of the organization was born in the Shewa province, Selale Awraja in a
small rural village called Shebel (Abebech GobenaYehitsanatKibebinaLimatDirijit 2007).

1.2. Statement of the Problem

Many studies focused on the contribution of charities on saving the lives of people affected by
draught, famine diseases or gave due emphasis on rehabilitation process. For instance,
Tewhasom(2013), assess the orphanage and vulnerable children education support at Abebech
Gobena children care and development organization. Moreover, John Williamson (2000) on his

7
part tried to assess the street children and orphans component of the pact NGO sector
enhancement initiative in Ethiopia. Eric D. Wrecker and Faisal (2007), endeavor to evaluate
what NGO do.

Gave focused on economic perspective’s the above researchers, almost all of them are focusing
on NGOs and the Abebech Gobena orphanage educational, health and other related support.
However, none of these were devoted to assess the effectiveness of the organization or the life
destiny of the orphans. But, this study will intended to fill the identified gap by assessing and
evaluating the life destiny of the orphanage and documenting the biography Abebech Gobena.

1.3. Objectives

1.3.1. General Objective

The general objective of this study will to asses and evaluates the life destiny of the orphans
and to document the biography of Abebech Gobena.

1.3.2. Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of the study will be to:

 To pin point the circumstances under which Abebech Gobena set up her charity
organization.
 To discover what challenges Abebech Gobena faced on the course of changing the life of
orphans
 To evaluate how Abebech Gobena is successful in her mission and towards to bringing
self-reliant orphans

1.4. Research Questions

The basic research questions of my research will be to :

1. What were the personal and national circumstances that led Abebech Gobena to establish
the charity organization?
2. What economic, family, organizational challenges were faced by Abebech Gobenain the
course of changing the life of orphans
3. How was Abebech Gobena’s leadership pivotal in overcoming the challenges and
achieving success in bringing self-reliant orphans

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1.5. Significance of the Study
This study will have certain significance. One is that it can show the history of charity
organizations, their strength and weakness. Second it could stimulate the society particularly
wealthy people to set up charity organizations. Third it could inform the government about the
value of charity. Finally it can utilize by subsequent researchers as input or spring board for
further study.

1.6. Delimitation of the Study

Since the study will on the biography of a particular person (Abebech Gobena) it will delimited
to document her biography from her birth to the present.

1.7. Organization of the study

This study divided into seven chapters. The first chapter will treat introduction (background of
the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research question, significance of the
study, and delimitation of the study, organization of the study and research design and method).
Chapter two presents family background, tragedy and a new direction and new journey. Chapter
three covers faith, the secret of Gishen Life in Poultry House. Chapter four describes the
establishment of AGOHED’S and Development and main goals and mission. The source of
income will present in chapter five. Chapter six will elaborates achievement of the organization,
what mass media says about Abebech Gobena, awards and certificates of merit. Finally based on
the finding of the study, conclusion and recommendation as well as list of references used in the
study could be formulated in chapter seven.

1.8. Research Method

1.8.1. Research design

In this study the researcher will use longitudinal research designs in which data will collect
within three months at interval of ten consecutive days. Triangulation will employ because it
helps to increase the reliability and validity of the results by comparing the data obtained from
one source with other sources .The data obtain from field observation, secondary sources and key
informants will triangulate. The data collected in this study is qualitative in nature which is non
statistical way of describing by using in-depth interview for the intended purpose. It aims to
know how successful the organization is and document the biography of Dr. Abebech Gobena.

9
1.8.2. Data Gathering Tools

Concerning the method or tools that will employ to gather data in this study is qualitative in
character. Such as key informal interview, field observation, published and unpublished
documents.

1.8.3. Data Type and Sources

The main type of data that employ in this research will qualitative data, Moreover; primary and
secondary source of data will use to make the study reliable and valid.

1.8.3.1. Primary data:

It’s the first hand data collected for the first time for particular purpose of investigation. In due
course of this study, the primary data will collect from key informants namely, nine members of
Abebech Gobena’s Organization and herself and five out the organization. Most data that
collected in these tools was causes for the motives of the establishment of the organization the
challenge and the success of the organization.

1.8.3.2. Secondary Data:

The source in this study will investigate from various published and unpublished sources such
as compile documents, articles, audio visual and websites. An archive of the organization was
also consulted.

1.8.4. Key Informal Interview

Interview is the most commonly and widely used data collecting instrument qualitatively due to
high competence to extract depth information about the problem and direct relationship between
the interviewers and the subject’s .direct face to face interview will carry out with the aim of
making further investigation on the bases of the information received from the
respondent’s .hence to get extensive information about the personal and national circumstances
that led Abebech Gobena to establish the charity organization as well as to pin point the
economic , family ,organizational challenges and how was Abebech Gobena’s leadership pivotal
in overcoming the challenges and achieving success in bringing self-reliant orphans . the in
formal interview questions was designed and conducted with concerned bodies .this guide list

10
questions help to remember important points rise during interview .this instrument will also
provides in depth in formation and the researcher has got the chance to ask questions for
clarification as well as observing it .the key informant guide will prepare by Amharic version
to make the issue more understand able for the interviewees .the researcher was purposively
select the key informants

1.8.5. Field Observation

The researcher will undertake field observation to investigate the activities of the organization
being study .practically observation has much significant over the qualitative data collection
tools in providing supplementary and confirmative in the issue under study or investigation. It
provides a chance to the researcher to look out the entire area being study .Therefore, will Cary
outfield observation to assess the AGOHLD activities.

1.8.6. Methods of Data Analysis

Data which is collected will analyze in terms of the study objective that is design and the
finding will consider at each methodological level..Regarding to the methods of data analysis
the researcher analyzed all the qualitative type of data collect from various sources .Data obtain
from primary sources will analyze qualitatively through description by transcribe and categorize
the key issues and prominent ideas of respondents or interviewees. Once the relevant data
collect, the narration will make using chronology based cause and effect of historical research
method. A modernist historical research method is the standard to manage objectivity, source
criticism, causal attribution and related concerns of a historical research.

1.9. Reliability and validity of the study

Reliability is the degree of an assessment to produce stable and consistent result. It is the extent
to which the same finding was obtained if the researcher was repeated at another time by another
researcher (Phelan and Wren, 2005/6). In order to assure the ratability the researcher was
undertake a pilot survey prior to the actual implementation of the key informant interview guide
so as to enhance data quality .Therefore, the researcher used both primary and secondary data
sources to insure data consistency and completeness. Validity is the usefulness of the research
instrument in addressing objectives and research question. It also refers to whether the researcher

11
actually measure what they want to measure. Therefore, in order to assure the validity of the
study .the researcher was attempt theoretical principle of validity vested on reviewing quite
adequate conceptual and empirical literatures related to the problem under investigation aim to
incorporate major concept in data gathering instruments. This enable the researcher incorporate
major theme in data generating instrument so as to investigate the problem in all embracing
way. Moreover, to ensure validity, data obtained from key informants field observation and
secondary sources have been vividly triangulate.

1.10. Ethical Consideration

One of the main concept in scientific research that incorporate human subject in the study is
ethical consideration for the research subject .this ethical considerations were shading light on
issue like informed consent, beneficence, anonymity and respect for the respondents or
interviewees. Cognizant of this truth the researcher was planning to the consent of key
informants interviewees. The researcher has been requested for their voluntariness by informing
the objective and outcome of the study before embarking the real data collection process.
Therefore, all the personal information was kept confidentially or would not be publicized or
given to third party without their full willingness in case the need arises. This was vividly
expressed in the forward part of the interview booklet. The researcher informs the interviewees
that their response would be kept at most confidential level. Beyond ethics on human subjects,
research ethics was also considered acknowledgement of date generate by other and appropriate
citation of scholarly research out puts books, websites and any other related documents in order
to assure intellectual scientific integrity of the study. By recognizing this, the researcher was
tried to cite and acknowledge all the information taken from scholarly literature and data
generate by other individual.

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Abebech Gobena organization. (2007). Abebech Gobene Yehtsanat Kibkabena Limat
Dirgit Special edition for 27th Anniversary.
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Brodman.J, W. (2009).Charity and religion in medieval Europe. Washington, D.C. The
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Cascio, T. (2003). Religious foundation of Charity. New York Springfield Publishers

Charity Commission (2008).Public benefit and Fee charging : Drafting supplementary guide
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Christopher kitchen (1995). Mather Teresa the visionary, university of Birmingham, Uk.
Clark, J. (200). Civic society, NGO’s and Development in Ethiopia .Washington, D.C.: World
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CNN (2010). ‘Africa’s Mother Teresa ’On raising Ethiopia’s FamineOrphanes,June23,2010
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Garland. B (1992). Church Social Work: (P 1-17). Bots Ford. CT: NACSW

Greene Meg.2004.Missionary of Charity: Mother Teresa Biography

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Jams (2016). Economics of charity, Amsterdam business school
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Matthew .D.2009.What can we learn from History.

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Robert (2008). Educational access for orphans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Addis Lisan, (October 8, 2000)

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