organisation
Eshet Children and Youth Development Organization (ECYDO) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation with a goal of improving the opportunities for children and young people. ECYDO cares about the social and economic development of the youth in Ethiopia, and believes that young people are the best hope and investing in them is an investment for the future. ECYDO was initially established as a Theatre and Music Club in 1987 employing the artistic talents of street vendors and other vulnerable children to convey messages on HIV/AIDS. Since then, ECYDO has passed through a range of organisational development processes.
In 2000, it was formerly registered under the Addis Ababa City Government (AACG) as Youth Association. Currently, ECYDO is registered as a local civil society organisation operating in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, SNNPR, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions. Since its beginnings, the organisation has reached over 80,000 young people in Ethiopia with the same strategy – tapping the young talent in the fight against poverty and unwanted phenomena in SRH, and in challenging rooted men-centred attitudes in the society. ECYDO focuses on young people both from urban and rural areas and other disadvantaged groups. It co-operates with other NGOs via umbrella organisations’ Consortium of Reproductive Health Associations (CORHA) and the Consortium of Youth Development Organization in Ethiopia (CoYDOE). This enables the best practice sharing and efforts coordination throughout Ethiopia and contribution to the worldwide women empowerment, SRHR, and poverty-reduction movements.
