Of the millions forced to flee Ethiopia in the 1980’s due to the political change, Santa Clara County has become home to approximately 25,000 Ethiopians. In addition, in the 1990’s hundred more recipients of the diversity visa lottery have made San Jose their home largely because of the already existing large population of Ethiopians, opportunity of employment and weather.
To begin meeting some of the needs of these impoverished people, Ethiopian Community Services, Inc. (ECS) was established on April 5, 1991 as a not-for-profit organization. The effort to establish such an organization goes back to the early 1980’s. The limited funds granted by the County of Santa Clara enabled ECS to hire a highly qualified and dedicated Executive Director.
ECS is governed by nine (9) Members Board of Directors. These Board Members are volunteers who do not receive compensation for services render to ECS. They are talented, experienced, and respected community leaders from varied ethnic background. The other volunteer group is the Advisory Committee. The Advisory committee consists of selected community leaders and experts. As an advisory Committee, they serve to the Board of Directors and various ECS programs. Its membership is composed of an ad hoc group of individuals assembled for a particular reason.
TARGET POPULATION
The Ethiopian Community Services provides community services to all Ethiopian refugees, immigrants and citizens within the Santa Clara County
regardless of sex, religion and ethnic identification. ECS has provided services to diverse groups of Ethiopians including Amhara, Oromiffa and Tigray origin.