Entrepreneur Stories

A small loan. A steady path. A ripple of community impact. When Abdulaziz Kenfelcha arrived in the United States in 2009 with his wife and two children, he stepped into a new chapter filled with hope and uncertainty. He had come through the Diversity Visa lottery, grateful for the opportunity and determined to build a stable future for his family. Like many new immigrants, he entered a world where every system was unfamiliar and success depended on starting over from the begi

Finding Purpose, Building Confidence, and Creating Opportunity This week’s Building Hope story features Yeroon Addisu, a 23-year-old entrepreneur who is shaping his own future with determination, creativity, and support from AEDS. After high school, I was searching for direction. My parents encouraged me, supported me, and helped me explore different training programs, but I still felt unsure of where I belonged or how I could contribute in a way that felt meaningful. Then we