history

When rains failed in most parts of former Wollo and Tigray provinces of Ethiopia in the 1970s, famine set in and reached a critical stage in 1973. The then existing government of Ethiopia finally acknowledged the existence of one of the worst famines the provinces had ever exAbout that time, Government officials approached church agencies for the latter's assistance in the relief efforts. A meeting of churches was summoned to discuss the matter. The meeting was called and thereafter participants continued to meet regularly, resulting in the establishment of the Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), in May 1973.

At establishment in 1973, CRDA had 13 members. Today this number has increased to more than 200 indigenous and international NGOs and faith-based agencies operating in Ethiopia. This number covers more than two third of the NGOs operating in the country.

CRDANA is an organized attempt to leverage the extraordinary amount of overseas Ethiopian talent and goodwill towards Ethiopia by channeling these resources to help Ethiopia maximize its potential. CRDANA was started to encourage Ethiopians around the world to apply themselves and renew their belief in the power of one person to make a difference.

Based on the timeless idea of selfless service as being service for your soul, CRDANA began as an idea in 2003. With the help of CRDA ETHIOPIA friends, family, and well-wishers, CRDANA became a reality in 2004. Each year in the making, CRDANA continues to grow and evolve. This evolution is inspired by incredibly dedicated people that we meet every single day -- people who give their lives for the community without any expectation of reward or return -- people who continue to work undeterred, no matter how impossible the task may seem -- people whose understanding of service permeates each and every one of their actions.

The CRDANA program is a collaborative effort by dozens of people in the United States of America, Canada, and CRDA ETHIOPIA who have given boundless time and energy to make the program succeed - many of whom have never received any recognition or credit for their incredibly important contributions. Our success is a manifestation of countless selfless contributions by individuals, in the true spirit of service.

CRDANA continues to refine its intensive fellowship model in an effort to collectively inspire selfless giving, spread the joy of service, and revive the extraordinary spirit of ETHIOPIA. Further, CRDANA constantly experiments with service concepts in our efforts to inspire a broad service culture. CRDANA believes that the fellowship experience will help nurture phenomenally strong leaders of Ethiopian origin who will continue to make positive contributions to the world around them.

As a cause, Ethiopians development has great potential to unite a diverse global diaspora. CRDANA programs are ultimately an effort to bring Ethiopians together by transforming the way we interact with Ethiopia .