Abebech Gobena is an Ethiopian humanitarian, and the founder and general manager of AGOHELMA, one of the oldest orphanages in Ethiopia. She is often called the Mother Teresa of Africa.Dr. Abebech Gobena, a prominent humanitarian in Ethiopia, was born in 1938 in the then Shoa province, Selale Awraja in small rural village called Shebel. Her father was killed during Ethio – Italian war and she was brought up by her grandparent until she was nine. She was married at the age of ten in traditional marriage system without her consent which mad her unhappy with the marriage. She left to Addis Ababa where she scraped basic education and later gained a job as quality controller in a company. Dr. Gobena is the founder and General manager of AGOHELMA, one of Ethiopia’s oldest orphanages. Her accomplishments stem from an act of faith. She was on a pilgrimage to Gishen Mariam in the Wollo region of Ethiopia, an important site in the Ethiopian orthodox faith. The area was famine stricken and on her way back home she found a baby laying next to her dead mother, at a feeding center. She picked up the baby and brought her home. She subsequently brought a second baby home, who was lying next to his dead father. In one year’s time, she brought home 21 children. This simple act of love grew and grew over the last three decades. Gradually she got help and, in 1986, her orphanage was registered by the government. The Abebech Gobena Orphanage and School now have over 200 resident and 482 non-resident pupils, the government provids some teachers. AGO pays school fees for over 1,000 children from poor families at other schools. Over 1,800 benefit from a child-sponsorship scheme. Over 2,000 malnourished children and mothers receive food. In 1990 AGOS launched its first project outside Addis Ababa, at Guder 90 miles away. Initially, this was a farm to provide food and raise income for the Addis Ababa orphanage. AGOS has since established a primary school and a kindergarten for poor children at Burayu, on the outskirts of Addis, and a training centre in Fitche, 70 miles away, where trainees learn weaving, sweater-making, carpentry and masonry.