History and Mission

Mission

Africa

To assist the poor communities of the Liban Zone of Southern Ethiopia in their struggle for self sufficiency by enabling them to gain access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene education economic development, education and health care.

United States

To assist immigrants and refugees from East Africa in their struggle for self sufficiency by enabling them to gain access in their new country to housing, education, health care, and economic development while retaining their culture and their community.

History

In 2004, after returning to Seattle from his first trip back to Southern Ethiopia since age 19, Mohamed Moalim Aden formed 21^st Century Basic Human Services dba Global Poverty Action (GPA). He was appalled at the poverty in the Liban Zone of Somali Regional State; it seemed that conditions had worsened seen he lived in the region. Mohamed started the nonprofit with the conviction that in the 21st Century, everyone should have access to basic human services such as water, food, shelter, schools, and basic health care. With non profit status in the US and Foreign Charity status in Ethiopia, the organization has been working with villages in the Liban zone, specifically the Moyale and Hudat Woredas.   GPA is forming collaborations with other local NGOs in Ethiopia that focus their development efforts on the pastoral communities of the Liban Zone.  (Program Services –Ethiopia)

 In 2009, 21^st Century Basic Human Services expanded its focus to include assisting immigrants and refugees from East Africa, now residing in the United States.  These new residents of the United States face many barriers and challenges.

With funds from community members, grants and contracts, 21^st Century Home is providing culturally competent case management, referral services and housing placement for this vulnerable population.  Clients receive extensive case management to help them overcome cultural, linguistic, social, financial, health, employment, educational, and system barriers to attain self-sufficiency and achieve permanent housing.

21^st Century Youth and Family is meeting an emerging need in these communities; the loss of teenagers to risky behaviors including truancy, drugs, and criminal behavior.  This is particularly evident in single female households which comprise 80% of 21^st Century clients. This behavior is resulting in increased numbers of family supported teenagers becoming homeless and/or involved with the criminal justice system.

21^st Century Youth and Family, sited at one of the public housing projects in Seattle, Washington, is providing mentoring and after-school programs for these at-risk youth.  

Both in the US and in Ethiopia, 21^st Century Basic Human Services is there to serve the East African family.  We hope you will join us! Giving

Founder and Executive Director

Mohamed Aden's personal history has profoundly shaped his dedication to positive change in both Africa and the U.S. Born in the Southern Ethiopian bush land, his education and career eventually led him to Somalia and Kenya, where he worked as a protection assistant for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Even as the hardships and injustice he found in those places led him to become a vocal advocate for social justice, he never lost site of his connection to his birthplace in the Liban Zone.

In 2002, Mohamed was finally able to travel back to Southern Ethiopia and, in response to the dire conditions he witnessed, he formed Global Poverty Action. Mohamed started the nonprofit with the conviction that in the 21st Century, everyone should have access to basic human services such as water, food, shelter, schools, and basic healthcare.

For the past 11 years Mohamed has also served the refugee and immigrant community in the Seattle area as a social worker and as the co-founder and director of the nonprofit housing entity, Muslim Housing Service. In 2009 he was the primary organizer of the Muslim Leadership Council, a collaborative effort bringing together leadership of 14 Mosques in the Seattle area to address the emerging needs of the Muslim immigrant community, specifically the needs of the youth. 

TESTIMONIALS

Global Poverty Action is a humane organization spearheaded by very professional civil society activists with the aim of putting the last first and turning the dreams for the poor millions in Africa into a reality. - Abdul Ibrahim Haro, Project Coordinator, Conflict and Disaster Mitigation Project, Intermediate Technology Development Group, East Africa.

“You are the first NGO to come to us to ask our opinion. We have been trying to get someone to hear our story” Saadia Osman, Deputy Speaker Moyale Districts, Moyale, Ethiopia and leader of the Salom Women’s Group. Read morere