SELAM is registered in Switzerland as a non-profit association with its headquarters in Pfungen (ZH). SELAM currently employs 4 people and has a board of 8 honorary members. In Ethiopia, SELAM operates five locations in four cities under Ethiopian leadership. There has also been an independent association in Germany for many years .
Team Switzerland
"Working for SELAM inspires me because I can help to give young people in Ethiopia access to a solid education and fundamental values. For me, there is nothing more beautiful than looking into happy and hopeful children's eyes."
"I am passionate about young people and believe their potential can do good in Ethiopia. SELAM is about giving young people a place of peace where they are cared for and 'empowered'. It is a privilege and honor for me to be part of this story."
"My own life story is very closely linked to SELAM and I am part of the SELAM founding family Röschli.
The SELAM work with the motto "help for self-help" makes sense to me and has motivated me to work for the work for almost 30 years."
Peter Seeberger
Amanuel Grunder
Genet Meier Röschli
Managing Director
Programme Director
Administration office
Member of founding family
With SELAM since 2020
With SELAM since 2023
With SELAM since 1993
"The SELAM work is
needs-oriented and supports people in various life situations.
At SELAM, you are part of a big family and experience ups and downs together - that motivates and challenges. "
"My own life story is very closely linked to SELAM and I am part of the SELAM founding family Röschli.
The SELAM work with the motto "help for self-help" makes sense to me and has motivated me to work for the work for almost 30 years."
Sarah Meier
Reta Lusser
Head of communication
Head of institutional fundraising
Member of founding family
With SELAM since 2020
With SELAM since 2023
Board Switzerland
"My voluntary commitment on the board of SELAM is based on the conviction that helping people to help themselves is purposeful. Giving orphans a home and enabling young people to attend school and receive an education so that Ethiopia as a country has a future."
"Sustainable development begins with the children. I am happy to make a contribution to enabling children to grow up well and to have prospects."
"The board work not only allows me to support this great project, but also teaches me contentment and humility, and opens my eyes to the really important things in life."
"Since I spent my childhood at SELAM myself, I was able to witness from the start how hundreds of children were given the chance of a good education and a life with prospects. I am still committed to this today."
Iwan Wüst
Beat Affolter
Ines Kullik-Stax
Henoch Yoseph
President
Vice President
Board member
Board member
Member of founding family
Board member since 2009
Board member since 2015
Board member since 2013
Board member since 2013
Business Administration BVS
Lecturer/project manager and director of sustainable financing, ZHAW School of Management and Law
Senior Medical Quality Governance Manager, Pfizer AG Zurich
IT Product Owner,
AXA Schweiz AG
"SELAM. A loving home with a housemother and siblings, good school and vocational training, lived Christian community - children's dreams come true! Working hand in hand with the team and board in Ethiopia - a privilege!"
"I consider the investment in children and young people, in the form of a home, a daily structure, education and perspectives for the future, to be a valuable commitment. That's why I support SELAM as a board member."
"It's great to contribute to a better future for children and young people. The confidence and hope of the young people is a great motivation for me."
"Help for self-help in the sense of sustainable development cooperation highly matters to me. I'm excited to share hope."
Arlette Niemann
(RA lic.iur.)
Nathalie Alemayehu
(MLaw)
Marlies Schneider-Röschli
Monika Gilgen-Keller
Board member
Board member
Board member
Board member
Member of founding family
Project team SELAM Wukrokinder
Board member since 2019
Board member since 2020
Board member since 2020
Board member since 2021
Justice of the peace
Our founding family
Marie Luise †and David †Röschli
2 pioneers whose heart beat for Ethiopia. Marie-Luise has written 8 books about the structure, life in SELAM and the history of some SELAM children.
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Zahai Röschli
Zahai, adopted daughter of Marie-Luise and David, founded SELAM in 1986 and built it up together with her parents.
SELAM Ethiopia
SELAM has four locations in Ethiopia: in the capital city Addis Ababa, in the south in Awassa, in the east in Dire Dawa and in the north in Wukro. These four locations are managed by independent organizations.
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Addis Ababa: SELAM Children's Village is an NPO (Non-Profit Organisation)
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Hawassa: SELAM Awassa Business Group is a LTD (Private limited company)
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Dire Dawa: Shalom Engineering Dire Dawa is a LTD (Private limited company)
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Wukro: SELAM Wukro Children's Village is an NPO (Non-Profit Organisation)
More information on all locations can be found here .​
SELAM Germany
The association “Äthiopische Kinderhilfe SELAM eV.” was established in 1995. The focus of the association is mainly on the dental clinic in SELAM, which was built in 2014 with the support of the initiative of the organization “Zahnärzte helfen eV.” and the Deutsche Apotheker- und Ärztebank.​