Our history and vision

After a summer volunteer trip to a Don Bosco school in Zway, Ethiopia in 1999, Greta Sebald and Chris Carroll Collinet returned to their homes in Minneapolis, MN USA and formed Fill a Mind & Heart.  In subsequent years, they have devoted time and energy to sharing stories of children and communities in need, and have built a strong network of friends, relatives and donors who are now actively involved in the organization.  Volunteers have since travelled to Ethiopia to deliver supplies, assess local conditions, and expand relationships with the Salesian Sisters that help run the schools.  And, of course, play with and learn from the children.

Fill a Mind & Heart continues to grow, and is now represented by a Board of Directors who are actively working to identify further areas where we can make a difference in the lives of children in Ethiopia.  We are currently working with Don Bosco schools in Adwa, Addis Ababa, Zway and Dilla, with special emphasis on providing education to young girls, who are often denied the opportunity to attend school due to poverty or social status. 

While Fill a Mind & Heart is not affiliated with any religion, we have found that the Sisters share our vision and are fantastic partners in helping identify and fulfill the needs of the local community.  They are dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor, and have a real vision for a better future and a drive to make it become a reality.

Fill a Mind & Heart is a 501(c)3, non-profit.  Because our organization is run entirely through the kindness, time and talents of volunteers, we are able to ensure that 100% of your contributions go directly to serving children in Ethiopia.
 

 

How your donations
change lives

Classroom Supplies

The Sisters in Ethiopia have had success in refurbishing or building new schools, but often cannot find supplies to furnish them.  Fill a Mind & Heart  provides classrooms with  books in English, instructional videos and games, science materials, posters and visual aids, and other teaching necessities which help create a positive and fun learning environment. 

You can donate online today by using our secure payment partner.