Save Your Holy Land Association (SYHLA)

Who We Are

Save Your Holy Land Association (SYHLA) is a youth-led, women-, youth-, and child-focused national civil society organization committed to advancing the rights, dignity, and resilience of vulnerable communities across Ethiopia.

Established in Lalibela in 2001, SYHLA is among Ethiopia’s pioneering organizations to adopt the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus approach, delivering integrated, rights-based programs that strengthen:

• Health, WASH, and nutrition
• Education
• Protection and gender equality
• Environmental conservation and climate resilience
• Sustainable livelihoods
• Peacebuilding and social cohesion
• Humanitarian response
• Good governance

"Lalibela was carved downward into the living rock with devotion and collective patience. We believe community development requires that exact same spirit: quiet, steadfast, and rooted directly in the soil beneath our feet." — Save Your Holy Land Association (SYHLA)

Official Motto:

"Youth are leaders of today not tomorrow!"

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Vision

A just, peaceful, and resilient Ethiopia where women, youth, and children thrive in dignity, equality, and environmental harmony.

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Mission

To empower women, youth, and communities through inclusive, rights-based programs that enhance health, protection, education, humanitarian recovery, livelihoods, environment, good governance, peace building, and climate resilience—advancing gender equality and ending all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

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Mandate

SYHLA is mandated to:

• Protect and Empower: Support women, youth, and children while advancing gender equality and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
• Deliver Integrated Services: Provide health, WASH, nutrition, education, protection, and livelihood services that strengthen community resilience.
• Lead Climate and Conservation Efforts: Spearhead environmental conservation and climate adaptation initiatives, alongside safeguarding cultural heritage.
• Promote Peace and Governance: Advance peacebuilding, social cohesion, and accountable governance.
• Mobilize Communities: Engage youth and volunteers for sustainable development.
• Drive Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with government bodies, communities, and development actors to deliver impactful humanitarian, peace, and development outcomes across Ethiopia.

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Core Principles & Values

1. Integrity and Accountability
2. Resilience and Sustainability
3. Meaningful Participation
4. Excellence and Innovation
5. Empowerment with Purpose