Transforming Lives, Building Hope
Empowering communities across Ethiopia through education, healthcare, and sustainable change. Join us in creating lasting impact.
Our Story
"If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness." — Isaiah 58:10
This verse is the heartbeat of our mission. Founded in 2020, Cornerstone Charity Organization exists to bring hope, dignity, and opportunity to Ethiopia's most vulnerable communities.
We tackle the root causes of inequality through five key areas: education, health, women & girls empowerment, poverty reduction & youth empowerment, and advocacy for sustainable change.
Our Vision
A future where every child learns without barriers, every woman stands in dignity, and every community thrives in health and opportunity. We envision a resilient and inclusive Ethiopia where access to education, healthcare, and economic hope is a right, not a privilege.
Our Mission
We exist to break cycles of poverty and inequity by empowering communities from the ground up. Through education, healthcare, economic empowerment, youth development, and advocacy, we create lasting pathways to dignity and opportunity.
Cornerstone & YetmAyehu Foundation
Cornerstone Charity Organization operates in Ethiopia as the local counterpart of YetmAyehu Foundation, a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Together, we are one mission-driven organization uniting local knowledge with global resources to deliver impactful programs that transform lives.
Our Values
Compassion
We see every life as worthy of care and hope.
Equity
We ensure fairness and inclusion, prioritizing those most in need so that no one is left behind.
Empowerment
We believe in unlocking the strength and potential within communities themselves.
Collaboration
We build bridges with local and global partners because change is stronger when shared.
Meet Our Co-Founder
Dr. Yetmwork Berhanu Derbew
A Board-Certified Internal Medicine physician whose journey from Ethiopia to the United States exemplifies faith, resilience, and unwavering commitment to serving others. Her vision to transform lives through compassionate service drives our mission every day.
How We Create Impact
At Cornerstone, impact is measured in lives restored, futures reclaimed, and hope reborn. We are rewriting stories of struggle—one classroom, one clinic, one community at a time.
Education – Hope in Every Classroom
Why It Matters
In Ethiopia, 1 in 4 children never completes primary school (UNICEF, 2024). For many, poverty, lack of school supplies, unsafe facilities, and poor sanitation close the doors of education far too soon. Girls face even harsher barriers, often missing school during menstruation or leaving entirely because of stigma and poverty.
How We're Solving It
- •Providing essential school supplies and hygiene kits to students in rural communities.
- •Improving school infrastructure, from classrooms and desks to clean water and safe sanitation.
- •Delivering health and hygiene education so girls can stay in school with dignity.
- •Partnering with schools and educators to create a supportive learning environment where no child is left behind.
Where We're Headed
Education is not charity—it's justice. By equipping children today, we are building the strong, educated generation Ethiopia needs for tomorrow.
Health – Health for All, Dignity for All
Why It Matters
Across Ethiopia, hospitals and health centers often face critical shortages of life-saving medicines and equipment. In some rural facilities, even basic antibiotics or emergency supplies are unavailable, leaving patients—especially the poor and vulnerable—without hope. Elderly care centers, shelters for the mentally ill, and one-stop centers for gender-based violence survivors are struggling daily to save lives with empty shelves.
How We're Solving It
- •Donating essential medicines and medical equipment that save lives every day.
- •Partnering with shelters and care centers to support the most vulnerable—the elderly, the mentally ill, and survivors of abuse.
- •Working hand-in-hand with hospitals, government bodies, and health leaders to close the gap in urgent and primary care.
- •Expanding access to menstrual dignity kits, enabling girls to live healthier lives and stay in school.
Where We're Headed
No one should die because a clinic ran out of medicine. We are building a future where every Ethiopian can walk into a health center and find care, dignity, and hope.
Women & Girls Empowerment – Empowering Her, Transforming Communities
Why It Matters
In Ethiopia, 40% of girls are married before the age of 18 (UNICEF, 2024). Poverty and lack of education push countless young girls into early marriage, exploitation, homelessness, or dangerous migration. These are not isolated stories—they are daily realities.
How We're Solving It
- •Combating early marriage and harmful traditional practices.
- •Distributing menstrual dignity kits and providing health education to keep girls in school.
- •Creating economic empowerment programs for women through skills training and entrepreneurship.
- •Partnering with local and national stakeholders to dismantle systemic barriers against women and girls.
Where We're Headed
When a girl is empowered, an entire community rises. Through future initiatives like the Women's Wellness Center, we are creating safe spaces where women can heal, learn, and thrive.
Poverty Reduction & Youth Empowerment – Breaking Barriers, Building Futures
Why It Matters
Nearly 25% of Ethiopians live below the poverty line (World Bank, 2024). Poverty strips families of dignity, drives children from school, and exposes youth to homelessness, trafficking, and despair.
How We're Solving It
- •Supporting families in crisis with food, clothing, and critical aid.
- •Partnering with shelters to provide safe spaces for homeless youth.
- •Equipping young people with vocational training and life skills to build a path out of poverty.
- •Developing systemic poverty solutions with government and community partners.
Where We're Headed
Our vision is Youth Island—a safe, self-sustaining community where vulnerable youth can access housing, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities to rebuild their lives.
Advocacy & Sustainable Change – From Awareness to Action
Why It Matters
Period poverty. Youth homelessness. Empty rural clinics. Too often, these crises remain invisible—hidden in silence and stigma. Without awareness, there can be no action.
How We're Solving It
- •Launching documentaries and media campaigns—like our film on period poverty in Kambata Zone.
- •Driving policy advocacy with local and international stakeholders for long-term change.
- •Engaging communities to break stigma and inspire collective action.
Where We're Headed
Real change begins with awareness. By lifting hidden issues into the light, we're building a movement to transform not just lives, but entire systems.