Since we launched it on September 1, 2000, The Awate Foundation has been a self-financed labor of love. 

We have had no advertisement revenue because we do not allow advertising of any sort.  No banner ads, no merchandizing, no splash pages and no blinking casino games.  It is not that we couldn�t; we just wouldn�t.

In the last two years, we have received no external funding from any source.   A group of friends and well-wishers who, unsolicited, sent us checks on our one year anniversary were surprised (and, we are sure, frustrated) to learn how unenthusiastic we seemed about the support.    More recently, a larger group of local friends and well-wishers organized a fund-raising event and a pledge drive.  We are sure that they, too, have been surprised at our lack of follow-up in securing the pledged amounts.  

Why?  Because we wanted to earn the respect of our readers. We wanted to prove to you that we say what we say; we do what we do, not because we have financial incentives and rewards but because we believe in what we do.  We wanted to prove to you that we would not be another here today, gone-tomorrow media outlet.

Thanks to its readers and supporters, Awate.com is now, in the words of our respected critic, Dr. Kamal Ibrahim, �a phenomenal success in every sense of the word from the journalistic point of view.�  

Dear supporters,

We appreciate all the good wishes and in-kind contribution you have graced us with. We are indebted to Eritrean web designers and IT professionals who have donated their time and their resources.  We are indebted to your words of encouragement.  We are now appealing for financial help.  The projects we wish to undertake in the struggle for justice and reconciliation will require more time, more energy and, yes, more money.  We have an ambitious project.  A few months ago, we launched EHRAG, an Eritrean Human Rights advocacy group to complement Awate.com, our media outlet.  We also have plans to expand our interview, translation, publication and newsgathering services.   And we cannot do it without you.

We have partnered with Pay Pal (Paypal.com), a San Francisco Bay Area based company specializing in transferring funds on line, to help us facilitate the donations.  When you click the Credit Card logo on the front page, you will be transferred to a page to make your donation. The donation will appear as "PAYPAL*AWATE COM" on your credit card.   We are not registered as a non-profit company.  Please be aware that your donations are, at least for now, NOT deductible for tax purposes.