For many of us, visiting a doctor, attending a family gathering, or traveling from one town to another is routine. For many Eritreans living with physical disabilities, leaving home can be an enormous challenge.
Imagine needing medical attention but having no accessible vehicle to reach the hospital. Imagine relying on family members or neighbors to physically lift you into a vehicle because there is no wheelchair lift or suitable transportation available.
For many people with disabilities in Eritrea, these are real barriers that can limit independence, access to essential services, and participation in everyday life. At HabenEri, we believe that mobility is not a luxury. It is a fundamental part of human dignity.
The Challenge: Limited Accessibility in Eritrea
Eritrea has a proud history of resilience, sacrifice, and community solidarity. Yet people living with disabilities, including those who sacrificed so much for their country, continue to face significant challenges.
Accessible transportation remains limited, particularly for people who use wheelchairs or need assistance traveling to medical facilities. Uneven roads, buildings without suitable access, a shortage of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and the distance between communities and healthcare facilities can create serious obstacles.
These barriers affect more than physical movement. They can prevent people from receiving timely medical care, joining community activities, maintaining social connections, or pursuing greater independence.
A person’s disability should never determine whether they can reach a hospital, visit loved ones, or participate fully in society.
HabenEri and Relevant Associations in Eritrea That Support Persons with Disabilities: Working Hand in Hand
HabenEri, a volunteer-led nonprofit organization established by Eritreans in North America, is committed to improving quality of life for Eritreans living with disabilities.
In collaboration with relevant associations in Eritrea that support persons with disabilities, HabenEri is helping address critical needs through financial assistance, medical support, mobility equipment, and community-driven initiatives.
By combining our partners’ local understanding with the generosity, professional expertise, and commitment of the Eritrean diaspora, we can turn compassion into practical solutions. One of our most important initiatives in 2026 is the Medical Transportation Project.
Two Medical Transportation Vans. One Life-Changing Mission.
HabenEri is raising funds to purchase and deliver two specially equipped medical transportation vans to Eritrea. They are intended to make travel safer, more accessible, and more dignified for people with disabilities, particularly those who use wheelchairs or need assisted medical transport.
The planned vehicles will include wheelchair lifts, secure wheelchair restraints, and provisions for supported patient transport. We aim to:
- Help people with disabilities reach medical appointments more safely and comfortably.
- Reduce the physical burden on families and caregivers.
- Improve transportation access for war-disabled Eritreans and others who need assistance.
- Promote greater independence, inclusion, and dignity.
Two vehicles cannot solve every accessibility challenge. But they represent a practical step toward a future in which accessible transportation is within reach.
“For someone who has struggled for years to get medical care, an accessible vehicle can mean far more than a ride. It can mean freedom, dignity, and peace of mind.”
We Have Raised 72.8%. The Finish Line Is Within Reach!
Thanks to HabenEri members, donors, volunteers, and supporters across the Eritrean diaspora, the campaign has made meaningful progress. As of October 2026, we have reached 72.8% of our $300,000 fundraising goal.
MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECT
72.8% RAISED
$218,400 raised toward $300,000
$81,600 to go · 72.8% funded · 27.2% remaining
Our progress shows what this community can achieve together. Only 27.2%, or $81,600, remains. With renewed support, we can close the final gap.
A Call to the Eritrean Diaspora: Let’s Finish What We Started
Eritreans around the world have long demonstrated generosity and solidarity. Today, we have another opportunity to make a lasting difference. Our fellow Eritreans living with disabilities, including those disabled in war, deserve practical support that improves everyday life.
Every Eritrean, every friend of Eritrea, and everyone who believes in the dignity of people with disabilities can take part:
- Make a donation. Whether it is $25, $50, $100, or more, every gift brings us closer to our goal.
- Become a monthly supporter. Consistent giving strengthens HabenEri’s work beyond this project.
- Share our mission. Tell family, friends, and your community about this effort.
- Be an ambassador or volunteer. Help with fundraising, outreach, and awareness.
You do not have to make a large donation to make a meaningful difference. When each of us contributes time, resources, skills, or a voice, the combined impact can be extraordinary.
The Last Mile: Turning Compassion Into Action
We are closer than ever. Our supporters have helped raise $218,400 toward two medical transportation vans. The final $81,600 is our opportunity to complete this mission together.
Let us remember those who sacrificed so much for Eritrea, and every Eritrean living with a disability who deserves the opportunity to move safely, live independently, and participate fully in community life.
Mobility is dignity. Accessibility is opportunity. And together, we can make both possible.
Let us turn compassion into action and make the final stretch of this project a reality.
Help Us Reach the Final 27.2%
Donate today. Share our mission. Become part of the change.
HabenEri | Together, we can strengthen dignity and build a more inclusive future for Eritreans with disabilities.