Mohammed Abdella left Ethiopia 25 years ago, a young man seeking opportunity in the Gulf. Today, he runs a successful trading business in Dubai, but he has never forgotten the country he left behind.
"I grew up in Addis Ababa, in a neighborhood not unlike the ones Babul Keyer USA serves," Mohammed explains during a visit to the feeding center. "I remember what it was like to be hungry. I remember the shame my mother felt when she couldn't put food on the table."
Five years ago, Mohammed learned about Babul Keyer USA through a friend in the diaspora community. He was immediately drawn to the organization's transparency and its focus on the poorest of the poor.
"I had been giving Zakat for years, but I never really knew where the money went," he admits. "When I visited Babul Keyer USA and saw the operation – the thousands of people being fed daily, the training center, the elderly care program – I knew this was where my Zakat belonged."
Mohammed now gives his annual Zakat exclusively through Babul Keyer USA. His contributions have funded a bread-making machine for the women's enterprise program, provided seed money for five young entrepreneurs, and supported the eye care program that restored sight to 15 elderly individuals.
"Last year, I received a letter from a woman named Tirunesh," Mohammed shares, pulling a worn envelope from his pocket. "She wrote to thank me for the cataract surgery that restored her sight. She said she could finally see her grandchildren's faces. That letter means more to me than any business success."
Mohammed has also inspired dozens of other diaspora Ethiopians to support Babul Keyer USA. The organization now receives regular contributions from Ethiopians living in the US, Europe, and the Gulf.
"Zakat is not just an obligation – it's an opportunity," Mohammed reflects. "An opportunity to transform lives, to give hope, to invest in the future of our country. When I see what Babul Keyer USA does with my contributions, I know my Zakat is making a real difference."
