Viral fundraisers in Addis raise money and questionsCEFR B1
12 Nov 2025
Adapted from Endalkachew Chala, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Gift Habeshaw, Unsplash
A series of short videos on TikTok and other channels used emotion and simple staging to attract viewers. One clip filmed near Bole showed a man named Tamru describe illness and hardship and ended with a hand pressing cash into his palm. The video was first posted on @melektegnaw_ (about 1.7 million followers).
After the clip went viral, donors moved money. More than USD 1,576 passed through a bank account in Tamru’s name and an estimated USD 2,120 to 2,425 went to accounts he says were tied to associates of a masked organiser. The funds were meant to buy a Bajaj so Tamru could work, but he says the promise did not hold and he wired USD 1,212 from deposited funds.
Other channels such as @baladeraw used similar staging and raised about USD 10,958.96 through Chapa, an Ethiopian-licensed payment gateway. Attempts to resolve the case on Eyoha Media did not produce receipts or documentation, and later the person behind @melektegnaw_ appeared on Seifu on EBS and made public claims that were not independently verified.
Difficult words
- fundraising — Collecting money for a cause or project.
- accountability — Being responsible for actions or decisions.
- scam — A dishonest scheme to trick someone.scams
- situation — A set of circumstances or a state of affairs.
- transparency — Openness and clarity in actions and decisions.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What are your thoughts on online fundraising?
- How can accountability be improved in fundraising?
- Why do you think scams are becoming more common?
- What role do social media platforms play in fundraising?
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