The pandemic has been hard on everyone — but how much harder is it in a country that's not your own, in a language you may not speak fluently or at all, in a system that may not understand your challenges? When COVID hit the Ethiopian community in Seattle, many immigrants found themselves without the social programs they relied on. The Tesfa program was created to help people stay informed about how to protect themselves from the disease.  In this podcast, the founder of the Tesfa program interviews members of her community about how they were affected by the crisis, and how the community came together to support one another.  About Us: The Tesfa Program is a grassroots initiative that supports Ethiopian immigrants and refugees. Visit <a class="in-cell-link" href="http://www.tesfaprogram.org/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">www.tesfaprogram.org</a> to learn more about our work! The Southeast Seattle Education Coalition (SESEC) is our nonprofit fiscal sponsor. Donate and support our community work <a class= "in-cell-link" href="https://www.sesecwa.org/tesfa-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a> This project was funded by King County Public Health COO.

Episode 1: Introduction to the Tesfa Program

When people immigrate from Ethiopia, "the land of 13 months of sunshine,” to Seattle, they expect rain while seeking opportunity in the U.S. 

But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the local Ethiopian community struggled to understand how to navigate social services. 

Founded by Selam Misgano, the Tesfa Program is a grassroots initiative created to help Amharic speakers better understand the info and resources available. 

Join us as we listen to community stories on 13 Months of Sunshine.