Institutional History

Over half a million Ethiopians have fled to the United States of America since the downfall of the Imperial Government, so to say during and after the overthrow of the military regime as well as during the reign of the incumbent Government of Ethiopia as a result of civil strife and many thousands of Ethiopians are added to this number owing to the opportunity they have obtained from the Diversity Visa Lottery.   Of them, about 200,000 Ethiopians have settled in the District of Columbia.  These immigrants have a multitude of unique needs.

In the year 2002, a group of Ethiopian intellectuals and social workers realized the need to establish a community center to serve the needs of the increasing Ethiopian immigrants in the District of Columbia as well as in D.C metro area of Virginia and Maryland.

The Ethiopian Community Services and Development Council (ECSDC) was established in the year 2002 as a non-for–profit organization.  Not long after its establishment, the ECSDC expanded its activities to serving needy African immigrants. Currently, ECSDC serves more than 5000 African immigrants residing in D.C. and D.C. metro areas.