PRESS RELEASE

Maryland, United States – August 23, 2025
New nonprofit based in Maryland bridges local and global gaps, amplifies voices, and builds resilience

With pride and deep gratitude, Empowering Civil Societies and Humanitarian Outreach – ECHO officially launched today, marking the beginning of a new movement to strengthen grassroots organizations, respond to humanitarian needs, and advocate for justice.

“ECHO was not born out of convenience; it was born out of necessity,” said Henok Melesse, Founder and Executive Director of ECHO. “We exist to amplify communities, empower civil societies, and build the bridges needed for dignity, resilience, and sustainable change. Today, we aren’t just launching an organization, we are launching a movement.”

Where does ECHO intend to operate

Anchored in its two fundamental pillars, ECHO works:
Locally: by addressing the social and economic needs of communities, particularly immigrants, through support services, community programs, and advocacy. Immigrants have diverse humanitarian needs amongest which health & well-being, legal & protection Needs, economic & livelihood needs, education needs, community & social integration can be mentioned. With no agenda of self-interest, ECHO is committed to amplifying voices and protecting those civil rights advocates, media professionals, and human rights defenders continuing their work in exile, having been forced to leave their countries due to threats, repression, or persecution.

Internationally: by empowering civil societies in the Global South to respond to crises and build capacity for long-term development. This work will start from Ethiopia, the second most populous nation in Africa, with about 126.5 million people. Since 2018, communities across Ethiopia have been grappling with a series of relentless shocks that have devastated households and undermined basic survival. Millions have had to cope with persistent droughts, flooding, locust infestations, and violent conflict, often facing more than one of these at the same time. These overlapping shocks have severely impacted people’s lives, leaving families with little to fall back on. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 added another layer of hardship. It overwhelmed already fragile health systems, disrupted local economies, and deepened the struggles of those who were already vulnerable. Meanwhile, the conflict in the Northern region (Tigray) has resulted in large humanitarian and reconstruction needs estimated at $20 billion, and the ongoing violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. There are widespread reports of atrocities, including mass killings and sexual violence, with millions of people displaced and forced to seek refuge in neighboring countries. The rippling effects of these crises have disrupted supplies, further aggravating humanitarian conditions and worsening food insecurity. This is exactly why ECHO came into being.

A Founder’s Story

For Henok, the launch of ECHO is deeply personal. “August 23, 2025, marks exactly two years since he left his home country, his family, and all he had ever known. Those years were difficult but purposeful; today that purpose unfolds, Henok said during his speech at the launching event

Call to Action

ECHO invites donors, partners, volunteers, and the public to walk together in solidarity:
Donors: Your support is an investment in dignity and empowerment.
Partners: Let’s build together—hand in hand, not just side by side.
Volunteers & Friends: Your voices and actions can help amplify those too often silenced.
As the African proverb reminds us: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

About ECHO

Empowering Civil Societies and Humanitarian Outreach-ECHO is a nonprofit organization based in Maryland, USA, envisioning communities empowered, resilient, and self-sufficient, leading sustainable and fulfilling lives. ECHO exists to strengthen civil society, respond to humanitarian needs, foster sustainable development, and protect those who are at risk through advocacy, capacity building, and community partnership. ECHO recognizes that empowered civil societies are the foundation of resilient communities. We also believe that change begins when we actively invest in human potential.

Contact

Henok M. Shishige
Founder / CEO
Empowering Civil Societies and Humanitarian Outreach - ECHO
Phone: +1 301 233 6348
Email: info@echoforchange.org
Website: https://echoforchange.org/

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