<p> Selam, Tesfa Program Founder, gets two different perspectives on how COVID-19 impacted small businesses in Seattle. First, Selam speaks with Seifu, a taxi cab driver, and then with Mirtnish, owner of the Ethio Market.  Learn More- Amharic is one of the official languages spoken in Ethiopia. "Tesfa" translates to "hope" in Amharic. "Injera" is an Ethiopian flat bread made out of teff flour. Ethio Market is located at 8432 Rainier Ave S in Seattle.</p> <p> 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.</p>

Episode 5: Helping the Ethiopian Community in King County

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.