Ohio State’s Eritrean Student Association is planning to raise at least $1,000 through events, donations and fundraising efforts in support of Eritreans with disabilities in the spring semester.

Eritrea — a country within East Africa — is a relatively new nation, officially gaining independence in 1993, according to the Eritrean Embassy’s website.

According to the Repository on Disability Rights in Africa, “physical disabilities and mental illnesses caused by war and landmines are the most prevalent form of disability in Eritrea,” as the country experienced 30 years of conflict before it became autonomous.

When ESA held its first-ever Culture Night event Jan. 25, the organization announced its philanthropic project for the year: partnering with the nonprofit organization Haben-Eri.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Haben-Eri is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Eritreans with disabilities by connecting them to financial and professional resources, according to its website.

Soliana Tadesse — a fourth-year in industrial and systems engineering and vice...