Melkam EnKuTaTash

On behalf of the Ethiopian Community Services (ECS) Board and staff members, we wish you a prosperous, healthy and peaceful 2000.

Every year, ECS commemorates Ethiopian New Year with family oriented programming where parents, children, the youth, adults and the elderly spend a day together celebrating EnKuTaTash in the Ethiopian tradition.

We hope you will find these festivities enjoyable and reminiscent of good times in our homeland. ECS exists to serve and advocate for the interests of the Ethiopian Community in Santa Clara County.

25,000+ Ethiopians live in Santa Clara County, California

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 1980s. The funds granted by the County of Santa Clara enabled ECS to hire a highly qualified and dedicated Executive Director. Now, greatly needed services are provided by Ethiopians Community Services. More than 1,000 Ethiopian children, youths, adults and seniors are served during the last three years. ECS is directed by eleven (11) Board Members of talented, experienced, and respected community members.