Hulegeb Training and Rehabilitation for Blind and Disabled Society Association
Empowering Vision, Building Futures
Transforming lives through dignity, skills, and opportunity for Ethiopia's blind and disabled community since 1952.
Our Impact in Numbers
Dedicated Employees
Committed team members serving our mission
Years of Service
Decades of empowering lives
Sq Meters of Land
Our foundational endowment
Gender Balance
Nearly equal representation
Our Mission and Vision
Our Core Values
Inclusion
We believe in a society where disability is not a barrier to participation
Dignity
We uphold the inherent worth of every individual, fostering respect and self-worth through productive work
Sustainability
We build resilient systems—financial, operational, and environmental—to ensure lasting impact
Empowerment
We equip individuals with skills, opportunity, and advocacy to control their own destinies
Integrity
We operate with transparency, accountability, and ethical stewardship in all our actions
Objectives
General Objective
To foster the lasting socio-economic empowerment and full social inclusion of blind and physically disabled individuals in Ethiopia, enabling a transition from marginalization to dignified self-reliance and active community contribution.
Specific Objectives
Our Journey Through Time
Six decades of resilience, adaptation, and unwavering commitment
The Founding Era
A Royal Endowment and a Vision Takes Root
The association's genesis dates to 1952, emerging from a pioneering national commitment to address the marginalization of persons with disabilities. Its establishment was catalyzed by a transformative act of philanthropy: a grant of 28,287 square meters of prime land in Addis Ababa from His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I.
National Stewardship
Building Foundations and Assuming Leadership
This decade marked a critical transition from foundational setup to operational expansion and national ownership. A landmark shift occurred in 1966, when management of key disability institutions was formally transferred to the Ethiopian Blind People's Association.
Expansion Era
Institutionalization Under a New Political Order
Despite the complex environment following the 1974 political shift, the association demonstrated remarkable institutional resilience. It continued to expand its vocational training infrastructure with production centers across multiple regions.
Strategic Consolidation
Challenges, Adaptation, and Resilience
The late 1980s presented profound challenges characterized by political instability and civil conflict. Faced with resource constraints, the association entered a phase of strategic consolidation.
Legal Reformation
Rebirth for a New Millennium
On July 28, 2000, the association was officially re-registered as 'Hulegeb Training and Rehabilitation for Blind and Disabled Society Association.' This represented a strategic rebirth with modern governance structure.
Governance Strengthening
Consolidation and Pursuit of Sustainability
A formal, seven-member elected Executive Committee was instituted to provide robust strategic oversight. Operational efforts centered on streamlining core vocational training programs.
Strategic Growth
Future-Focused Development
Hulegeb now operates as a matured, strategically oriented institution with 85 dedicated employees maintaining nearly perfect gender balance. The central strategic undertaking is the ambitious development of modern, multipurpose facilities.