GlobalGiving.org: Income Generation for 5,000 Poor Ethiopian Women

6 New Women Turn Their Lives Around!

Tilahun Giday — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:12:42 GMT

Global Giving Income-Generating Activities Program

Report on activities between September – December 2011

NEW GG IGA BENEFICIARIES

Over the last four months, Pathfinder International, with support from GlobalGiving, has provided six new women with support for income-generating activities.

Yeshareg Abate Yeka sub-city August 2011
Aylush Denbel Yeka sub-city August 2011
Worknesh Teshome Yeka sub-city August 2011
Tsige Mekonnen Yeka sub-city August 2011
Meriem Kemal Arada sub-city November 2011
Emebet Abebe Arada sub-city November 2011

As a sustainability strategy, the newly selected IGA beneficiaries have been linked to a microfinance office within their respective district administration. This network enables the beneficiaries to receive legal status for their businesses, training and loan services, and assists them in securing work space. Below, please find brief profiles for the six new beneficiaries of the income-generating activities program in Ethiopia.

Yeshareg Abate lives in Yeka sub-city, Woreda 9 and is a single mother with one daughter. She was working as a daily laborer to feed her baby and herself, but through this, did not earn enough money to buy a daily meal. Since receiving the GlobalGIving IGA program support, Yeshareg has started her own business, baking and selling Enjera. She says, “I am very grateful for the GlobalGiving support, now I feel self secured, with this business I can support my family and feed my child properly.”

Aylush Denbel is from Yeka sub-city, Woreda 9. She has a diploma in hotel management, and has embroidery skills. Aylush is a single mother of one daughter. She is educated and has business knowledge and ambition like baking and selling Enjera (local bread), but due to financial issues is unable to work and support her family. Thus, after assessing her problem, the Yeka sub-city women’s association recommended her to the AAWA executive committee to become a beneficiary of the GlobalGiving IGA assistance program. After receiving the GlobalGiving IGA support, she started working on a small business, baking and selling Enjera bread and she also prepares embroidery products in her spare time.

Worknesh Teshome is from Yeka sub-city, Woreda 13. Her husband abandoned her and their two children, leaving Worknesh with no support. She was working as house maid to support her family; however she makes very little money in this work and cannot properly feed her family. As a result of the GlobalGiving support, Worknesh has no now started a small business baking and selling Enjera bread in order to sufficiently feed and care for her family.

Tsige Mokenen is from Yeka sub-city, Woreda 13. Her husband recently died and she is now the sole supporter for her three children. As a daily laborer, she makes a very small amount of money and is unable to feed her three children and herself.

Though Tsige strongly believes that baking and selling Enjera bread would be productive and profitable work, she had insufficient funds to start the business. The sub-city women’s association reviewed Tsige’s application, assessed the extent of her problems, and as a result, recommended her for the GlobalGiving IGA program support, which was approved by the AAWA executive committee. After receiving the financial support, she started a small business of preparing and selling Enjera as she had hoped.

Merima kemal lives in Arada sub-city, Woreda 7. She has limited education, as she stopped going to school in 9^thgrade. She is widowed and has two daughters and one son who all attend school. However, as a single mother and housewife, supporting her family is extremely difficult. She has the desire and drive to work, but has lacked sufficient funds to run any kind of business. As a result, she was provided with a seed grant from GlobalGiving to start up a small business. She is now running a poultry business with her friend who has also received the GlobalGiving support. She is extremely pleased with the GlobalGiving financial support as it enabled her to start a business and in turn change her life and the lives of her children.

Emebet Abebe lives in Arada sub-city, Woreda 7. She also stopped going to school in 9^thgrade, so has limited professional skills. She is a divorced and has 2 daughters and one son, all of whom attend school. As she had no income and no one else to help support her children, it was incredibly difficult for her to properly feed and educate her children. As a result, the sub-city women’s association recommended her for the GlobalGiving seed grant. After receiving the support, Emebet started a small business running poultry in collaboration with Merima Kemal, another GlobalGiving beneficiary. Emebet said, “I am very much delighted and grateful for the GlobalGiving seed grant support, and I am confident enough that, I would work hard, so as to bring a change in my future life and properly educate my children.”

Attachments:

GG_IGA_report_12_29_11.doc (DOC)

Women start life-changing businesses

Tilahun Giday — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:23:43 GMT

GLOBAL GIVING IGA PROJECT Update

Introduction

Pathfinder International’s recruitment committee in Ethiopia selected the four women below to support them in starting income-generating activities (IGA) in the last quarter. All IGA beneficiary women were given seed money to start small businesses.

Profile of current IGA beneficiaries

1. Ayahulush Dembel is living in Yeka sub-city, Woreda 9. She has a diploma in hotel management, and also has embroidery skills. Her husband left her and her daughter with no income.

Ayahulush is compelled to find ways to support her family, and is interested in baking and selling enjera (local bread). Due to lack of funds, she has been unable to start this business. As a result, the Yeka sub- city women’s association recommended her to the Addis Ababa Women’s Association (AAWA) executive committee as a prospective Global Giving beneficiary of IGA funds. After being approved as a beneficiary, Ayahulush received seed money from Global Giving and started her small business, selling enjera and making embroidery products to sell in her spare time.

2. Tsige Mokenen is living at Yeka sub-city Woreda 13 and is a daily laborer. She does not have a steady job. Her husband died recently, leaving their 3 children with no support. Tsige holds the burden of caring for her family, and without an income she could not feed her children and herself. Even with the courage to start a small business she did not have the finances to start a profitable business.

The sub-city women’s association understood her problem and recommended her to the Global Giving project. Thus, the AAWA executive committee considered her problem, and provided her with Global Giving IGA seed money. These funds gave Tsige the courage and support to start a business with great enthusiasm.

3. Worknesh Teshome is living in Yeka sub-city Woreda 13. She has 2 children, and her husband left the family to go to the rural area and left Worknesh and her children with no support.

She currently has the sole responsibility to care for and support her 2 children. With no income, it is very hard for them to get even a daily meal. Worknesh tried to support her family by working as a house maid, but the money she earned was not sufficient to feed her children. Very discouraged, she then applied to be considered for Global Giving IGA support. Worknesh received the IGA support and has since started baking and selling enjera as a means to provide for her family. She is extremely grateful for the Global Giving support; these funds have changed her life.

4. Yeshareg Abate is living in Yeka sub-city Woreda 9. She has a baby and her husband left her. Yeshareg worked as a daily laborer roaming from place to place trying to find work. This work was not consistent, so Yeshareg felt insecure. She did not have sufficient funds to live, struggles to survive, and cannot feed her child. She hoped to prepare and sell enjera, but did not have the funds to support starting this business. The sub-city women’s association recommended her for the Global Giving IGA support. Yeshareg was approved and now receives seed money to start her desired business, and finally support herself and her baby.

Attachments:

IGA beneficiaries (DOC)

Update on IGA Beneficiaries

Tilahun Giday — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:21:02 GMT

GLOBAL GIVING IGA PROJECT Update

Over the life of this project, About 109,370.00 birr seed money has been distributed for a total of 58 IGA beneficiary women.

Please see attached word document for full report and details on new beneficiaries.

New beneficiaries assisted during the reporting period:

1. Woinshet Addis

2. Kassech tadesse

3. Bizuayehu Tilahun

4. Tsehay Deboch

5. Tseah Hailu

6. Meaza Mengistu

7. Tsige Hilawi

The new selected IGA beneficiaries are linked to their respective district administration microfinance office. Through this connection, they get legal status for their business in order to access:

· Training and loan services

· Secured workplace and other relevant support like market assessment services, which is crucial for the sustainability of their business.

NEW IGA BENEFICIARIES PROFILE

1. Buzayehu Tilahun is living in Addis Ababa, kolfe sub city, woreda 9. She is a widow and living with her 3 children. Buzayehu is able to send only 2 of her children to school and one of her children dropped out to help in the household. Buzayehu used to prepare and sell Enjera, but because of financial problems she stopped her business. Hence, the sub-city women’s association identified her problem, and nominated her to get the GlobalGiving grant to run her former business again. Buzayehu is very pleased to restart and run her business again; she is very grateful for the GlobalGiving generosity, she said “now I can work and will properly feed my children and send them all to school.”

2. Kasech Tadesse is living in Addis Ababa, kolfe sub city woreda 8. She has 4 children, 3 of whom are male. Her husband tries to send 3 of their children to school, but his salary is very low. Kasech tries to support her family through small business, preparing and selling homemade food items, but stopped due to a shortage of finances and family problems. Thus, the sub city women officials recommended her for the GlobalGiving fund, and she has started working her previous income generating activity again.

3. Woinshet Aragaw is living at Kolfe sub-city, woreda 1. She has 5 female children, 3 of whom are attending school and the rest of whom are left at home because she is unable to afford schooling for all 5 children. Woinshet is a widow and is working as a house maid to support her family. Woinshet had a small business, selling vegetables and fruits, but stopped due to lack of finances. As a result, the sub- city women association executive committee chose her to be a recipient of the GlobalGiving income generating activity grant.

4. Tsehay Deboch lives in Gulele sub-city, woreda 8. Her husband is pensioned and they have 5 female and 3 male children. Because of their economic problem they send only four of their children to school. Tsehay used to sell food and tea, but as a result of financial struggles, she is unable to run her business. Her family faced problem to the extent that they have no daily meal properly. As a result of this, the sub city women’s association selected her to receive the Global Giving seed grant. She is very happy and promised to continue her former business effectively and be able to support her whole family and send all of her children to school.

5. Tsehay Hailu is living at Gulele sub-city, Woreda 7. She is a widow and has 6 children 2 of whom are attending school. She cannot afford the school fees and materials for the other 4 children. Thus, she is given the GlobalGiving seed grant to be able to support herself and her family. After getting the GlobalGiving fund support, Tsehay is effectively working on food preparation organized with her 3 friends who are engaged in the same small income generating business.

6. Meaza Birhane lives in Gulele sub-city. Her husband is pensioned and does not have a job. They have 9 children, 3 of whom are attending school and the rest could not go to school because they cannot afford to send them all. As a result of this, the sub city women’s association selected her to get the GlobalGiving grant as seed money to enable her to run small income generating activities, and be able to support herself and her family. After receiving the grant support, Meaza is organized in a group with her friends and engaged in preparing food and tea.

7. Tisige Hilawe lives at Gulele, woreda 8, she is a widow and living with her child. She makes a small amount of money by making embroidery and selling food items, but the income she receives from this business in not enough for her living, moreover she faced financial problem and was challenged to continue her business. Therefore, the sub city women’s association realized her problem and selected her to get the Global Giving grant. After receiving the seed money, Tisige became a member of an organized group that is engaged in similar small scale income generating activities preparing food and tea and sells these items to the surrounding community and needy people.

Attachments:

IGA Beneficiaries Full Update and Photos (DOC)

Woman turns her life around

Tilahun Giday — Tue, 10 May 2011 18:29:53 GMT

PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL

GLOBAL GIVING INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITY

JANUARY – MARCH 2011 REPORT

BACKGROUND

In Ethiopia, as a result of traditionally constructed gender roles, a stereotyped gender division of labor between men and women places women and girls in a subordinate position in society. The lack of access to and control over resources as prescribed by culture and tradition has forced females to disproportionately bear the burden of poverty, thus making them economically dependent on men and powerless to make decisions related to their human and reproductive rights. Women’s low social standing subjects them to various types of gender based violence, thus increasing their vulnerability and risk of poor health.

The low social and economic status of women and girls is a fundamental factor in maternal mortality. Low social status limits women’s access to education and good nutrition as well as the economic resources required to cover the cost of health and family planning services. For most women, employment choices are extremely limited due to various gender-based factors. Many women have come to rely on commercial sex as a means of sustaining their families. Abandoned women too often turn to urban prostitution as a means of economic relief, which rarely achieves this goal. Moreover, the low status of girls and women in Addis Ababa has forced many to dropout from schools. As a result, most women and families in this city, particularly mothers and female-headed households, are living below the poverty line.

Violence against women may be both cause and consequence of women’s low social and economic status. Women and girls are made more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, disease, and unwanted pregnancy as a result of sexual and gender-based violence, physical and psychological abuse, sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, early marriage, abduction, and rape, all of which are major acts that violate their human rights.

Through Global Giving funds, the Addis Ababa Women’s Association is helping economically poor and vulnerable women in Addis Ababa to implement income-generating activities (IGA) under the Association’s programs, the IGA beneficiaries are offered reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP) services and training as well as trainings on gender based violence and harmful traditional practices. Women chosen to participate in this program are visited frequently by program and management staff for encouragement and advice.

GLOBAL GIVING BENEFICIARIES ASSISTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

Through the generous Global Giving donations, four economically vulnerable women, selected from Kolfe sub city, were offered business management training and a seed grant of 1500.00 Birr each (USD $90). The new program participants include: Woinshet Addis, Kassech Tadesse, Bizuayehu Tilahun, and Sarra Wubshet. All four women began a food processing income generation activity.

As a result of Global Giving funds, women are organized into cooperative groups, allowing them to benefit from district government microfinance enterprise support provided for women organized in cooperative groups. The following are some of the benefits they reap:

The beneficiaries have legal status;
The beneficiaries benefit from the capacity building trainings offered by the district

Microfinance office;

The beneficiaries have the right to access loan service if they wish to expand their business;
They are accountable to and monitored by the district microfinance office on their progress.

The newly selected Global Giving IGA beneficiaries are linked with their respective district administration’s microfinance office so that the beneficiaries can access services to sustain their business. These benefits include:

Training and loan servicing
Securing of workplace
Other relevant support, such as a market assessment

PREVIOUSLY SELECTED GLOBAL GIVING IGA BENEFICIARIES

In total, 55 women are receiving support through the IGA Global Giving program. Following is an update on eleven of the women who have developed businesses through Global Giving IGA support.

Mamitu Asefa lives at Arada Sub city Kebele 16. She has a daughter and a son attending 5^th and 8^th grade respectively. She also helps her aged mother who requires a great deal of support. Mamitu received IGA funds to prepare and sell injera, a local bread. She stated, “Before receiving Global Giving support, life was tough for me and my family, but after I received the Global Giving IGA grant, I started selling tea and bread and retail reeds for coffee ceremonies”. Her new business has enabled her to take care of her family.

Getie Asfaw lives at Arada Sub-city Woreda 2. She works as a house-maid, living with her unemployed husband and 11^th grade son. Getie used to preparing injera (local bread)and living off the proceeds. However, because of financial problems, she was forced to stop her business, and her family faced great hardship. However, after receiving financial supported from Global Giving, she restarted her small business and she has been able to purchase an electric stove. This has allowed her to prepare greater quantities of injera and serve more clients. In addition, Getie is now engaged in vegetable, fruits and charcoal retail. She said, “Thanks to the Global Giving financial support, me and my whole family are food secured and I able to cover monthly house rent, electricity and water bill, and buy all necessary school materials for my son, and also able to pay the monthly community social welfare contribution and has started the weekly saving of birr 5.”

Asefash Mengesham, who lives at Arada Sub city Woreda 9, is a single mother who are raising three children; two of whom are 6^th and 8^th grade students. Asefash used to sell different kinds of processed food products, but due to financial shortage, she was forced to stop her business. As a result of this she was in great difficulties to feed her children. After she was selected to receive Global Giving support, she was provided with a seed grant to restart her small business. Asefash is now engaged in baking injera (local bread). She prepares 25 injera every day and earns birr 50 through sales. Asefah states, “I am very grateful for the Global giving support. Now I am able to provide for my family and buy the required school materials. My family and I are living very happily and we have psychological relief. In the future, I am planning to expand my business and to improve my life.”

Kasanesh Belete lives in Gulele Sub-city woreda 5. Kasanesh is a widow with 3 children, who are students in the 12^th, 10^th and 7^thgrades. Formerly, she sold lottery tickets, which provided her with little profit. With this income, she was unable to feed herself and her children. Fortunately, she was selected to receive Global Giving support and was provided with a seed grant of birr 1500. Currently, she has started baking and selling injera to the canteen of weaver’s association near her neighborhood. With the profits, she is now able to properly support her 3 children and invest further in her business.

Yeshewa Mebrate Takele lives in woreda 5 Gulele sub city. Yeshewa is a HIV-positive widow and cares for her 3 children. Even though she has experience at pottery work, she could not continue working in this trade due to financial and health problems. Recently, Yeshewa was selected to receive Global Giving support and she was provided with a seed grant. With this money she purchased clay mud, wood, cow dung for the preparation of the ceramics work. She is designing and preparing various ceramic objects for sale. Yeshewa Mebrat is very grateful for the Global Giving support and is delighted to be re-engaged in the ceramics business and able to support her family. Yeshewa indicated, “with the money I got from the business I am able to improve my house and able to buy shoes for my two children, to cover the monthly house rent, and pay electricity, telephone and water bill, Although I am HIV-positive, the Global Giving support has given me the motivation and hope to lead my life peacefully and properly with my family”.

Worknesh Aygoda is living in Gulele Woreda 4. She has 2 children and was widowed when they were infants. Worknesh is engaged in charcoal, vegetable and fruit selling. Due to the economic crisis, she was having difficulty running her business and supporting her family. However, as she said, “before getting Global Giving financial support life was very difficult for my family but with these funds I am able to run my small business properly, and to support my children, who are now attending their school consistently. In the future, I am planning to work hard and expand my business to support my children’s education in a better way.”

Tsige Asmamaw is living in Gulele Woreda 2. After receiving Global Giving support she started baking and selling injera bread. In addition, Tsige sells household utensils. The combined income enables her to provide food for her family and provide her 3 children with the necessary school materials. She also is able to cover her monthly house rent, electricity and water bills, as well as other social payments. The support from Global Giving has enabled her to greatly improve her life.

Etagegn Bika is a single mother living with her 3 children. Formerly, she was trying to support her family by preparing and selling Injera bread. However, because of financial difficulties, Etagegn was unable to run her small business effectively and could not provide food for her family or send her children to school. After identifying her problem, she was selected as Global Giving beneficiary and provided with the seed grant. With this money she re-started her small business. She bought an electric stove to bake injera, which helped her to increase her output and income and improved her living conditions. Etagegn explained “Thanks to the Global Giving support, me and my family are happy and our living condition has improved. We are able to get our daily meal properly’. Etagegn is very happy with her business and she is hard working woman with very high enthusiasm.

Rawda Turaga, of Gulele Sub-city Woreda 9, lives with her five children, whose father is deceased. Previously, her life was very difficult and she was unable to feed her children. Rawda started running a small business once she was selected as a Global Giving IGA beneficiary. She is now engaged in Kotcho (banana) and charcoal sale. Her five children attend Kindergarten, 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, and 6^th grades. Rawda is self sufficient and able to cover her house rent, utilities, and the needs of the entire family. Rawda is a hard working woman with such great enthusiasm that she is also one of the role models of the Global Giving IGA initiative.

Kanchiwodia Demeke resides in Woreda 10, in Kolfe Subcity. She lives with her two children and a family member. Previously, Kanchiwodia was engaged in sewing cloth and making embroidery, but the income was insufficient to support her family. Now that she is involved in the Global Giving IGA program, she began preparing Ambasha/local bread using an electric stove, which has been very successful. She attributes her improved quality of life to the Global Giving Program. ”Thanks to the Global Giving support now my dream has come true. I bought 2 sacks of wheat flour, each worth birr 1100, this will enable me to make more bread and expand my business in a better way” Kanchiwodia is a hard working role model. Her two children are enrolled at school and in possession of the required school materials.

Elfnesh Belihu resides in Kolfe Sub city of woreda 10. Prior to being selected as Global Giving IGA support, she ran a very small business selling candies, chewing gum and biscuits. The income she received was insufficient and she was unable to support her family. Through the IGA Global Giving program, Elfnesh was able to change her business and return to baking and selling injera. Her income has increased significantly and she has begun paying back the loan. In addition, she has been able to use her income to purchase a water pipe line which provides her with a sufficient water supply. With the help of Global Giving support, Elfnesh is now leading a happy life with her family and she is grateful for the Global Giving fund.

Attachments:

Stories and Photos of your impact! (DOC)

New IGA beneficiaries - thanks to you!

Tilahun Giday — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:05:53 GMT

ADDIS ABABA WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

GLOBAL GIVING INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES

SEPTEMPBER – DECEMBER 2010 REPORT

BACKGROUND

Through Global Giving funds, the Addis Ababa Women’s Association is helping economically poor and vulnerable women in Addis Ababa to implement income-generating activities (IGA) Under the Association’s programs, the IGA beneficiaries are offered reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP) services and training as well as trainings on gender based violence and harmful traditional practices. Women chosen to participate in this program are visited frequently by program and management staff for encouragement and advice.

GLOBAL GIVING BENEFICIARIES ASSISTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

Through the generous Global Giving donations, ten economically vulnerable women, selected from Yeka sub city, were offered business management training and a seed grant of 1500.00 Birr each (USD $90). The stories of three beneficiaries are highlighted in this report.

The beneficiaries have legal status;
The beneficiaries benefit from the capacity building trainings offered by the district Microfinance office;
The beneficiaries have the right to access loan service if they wish to expand their business;
They are accountable to and monitored by the district microfinance office on their progress.

In addition to the business management training and seed grant provision, the beneficiaries are provided with a working house suitable to their business – producing food commodities in the cooperative.

Yeshwamebrat Kassa, Gulele sub city, Kebele

Yeshawamebrat‘s husband died leaving her behind with three children and no means of income. Although she had a work place and experience in pottery, she was unable to work without seed funds. Instead she worked as a house maid washing clothes to earn living. This was also difficult for her as she is HIV positive. Yeshawamebrat was selected as an IGA beneficiary as a result of her hardships and entrepreneurial promise.

Yeshawamebrat is currently working hard collecting clay, cow dung, mud and other raw materials for her work place. She produces various types of popular new handicrafts. She produced a new design iron (cloth ironing equipment) made of clay that attracted the attention of many. For this design, she received an award from the sub city administration for being a model business woman.

Abaynesh Tolla, Arad sub city, Kebele

Her husband died leaving her with 5 children and without a means of income. Life was very dark and difficult for her. Abaynesh is now a beneficiary of the Global Giving fund and her life has changed dramatically.

Her children are attending school and as she says “they do not have food problem thanks to the business and I know how to operate it.” She also pays her house rent, utilities, and electricity costs in a timely manner.

Abaynesh is known for her delightful and charming face by her customers which attract many customers.

Simegene Tadesse, Nifasilk lafto sub city, Kebele

Her husband died leaving her with their three children and without a means of income.

Following the Global Giving IGA assistance, Simegene is engaged in a small tea and food shop in a house offered to her by the association.

In addition to sending her children to school, paying house rent, utilities and electric costs, she also has funds for savings. She says, “I do not want to beg from others if any of my children get sick or…. Thanks to the IGA, I have money now” she says with a charming face. She has many customers working at construction sites.

Attachments:

IGA Beneficiary photos (DOC)

Progress on Income Generation for Ethiopian Women

Tilahun Giday — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:31:54 GMT

Mintuwab Ketema

Pathfinder/Global Giving

Income Generation for 5,000 Poor Ethiopian Women

September 2010

Through the support of generous Global Giving donations, Pathfinder is pleased to provide 11 Ethiopian women with start-up funds for income-generating activities (IGA). These funds are used by the new entrepreneurs to rent a shop, purchase equipment, and obtain additional materials. Previously, all of these women earned their living by collecting firewood, which is arduous and offers little financial gain. Through this initiative, these 11 women have launched a variety of businesses, including grain and vegetable trading, crafts trading and Injera bread baking. Three members of this Pathfinder/Global Giving cohort are featured in this report, which documents the transformative impact that IGA have on the lives of the women and their families.

Mintuwab Ketema formerly earned her income through the sale of firewood that she collected from a distant forest. This occupation required that she walk 15 kilometers several times a week to collect the wood. The round trip journey would take nearly eight hours and Mintuwab would return home carrying a bundle of wood on her back. For this intense effort her earning was only 10 birr (USD $0.60).

This quarter, Pathfinder offered Mintiwab a seed grant to start her own small business enterprise. With these funds she established her own shop, from which she sells firewood purchased at the local wood industry. Her shop attracts numerous clients and the profit enables her to support her family. Mintiwab now earns approximately 30 birr daily (USD $1.80), which covers her living expenses, which include food, housing, utilities, and community association fees. She is grateful to have received the IGA award and proud to be an independent business owner.

Nunu Bereket and her husband have two school-age daughters in grade 7 and 8. Similar to the other Pathfinder/Global Giving IGA beneficiaries, Nunu previously earned her living through firewood collection. Thanks to the support of Pathfinder and Global Giving, Nenu was able to launch a trading business, in which she sells wheat, maize, butter, charcoal and sugar. Nunu is very satisfied with her new business, which she plans to expand, as it provides her with increased income, as well as relief from the dangers and stresses of firewood collection. In addition to providing for the basic needs of the family, Nunu can also cover the costs of her daughters’ education.

Buzunesh Desalgne is a widow and mother of six children. Like the other Pathfinder/Global Giving IGA beneficiaries, Buzunesh used to collect and sell firewood as a means of income. With help from this IGA initiative, she started an Injera baking business and she now sells the traditional bread to nearby cafeterias. The income from this business enables her to support her entire family.

Pathfinder is deeply appreciative of the continued generosity of Global Giving donors. This IGA initiative in Ethiopia is an important component of Pathfinder’s global effort to empower women so that they can support their families, educate themselves and their children, and engage themselves in the community.

Nunu Bereket

Buzunesh Desnalge

Pathfinder Supports Income Generation in Ethiopia

Tilahun Giday — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:36:34 GMT

PATHFINDER ANNOUNCES TEN NEW LOAN GRANTEES FOR INCOME GENERATION

Thanks to the generous support from Global Giving donors, Pathfinder is pleased to announce the addition of ten new entrepreneurs to its project in Ethiopia. With the ability to generate income and save profits, these women can better protect themselves and their families against health emergencies and changes in food security. They are now able to make investments for the future, including the education of their children.

Name: Etagegn Bika Background: Etagegn is a widow and the sole provider for her family. She is supporting three children and is very poor. She is engaged in the injera business. With support from Pathfinder, she has the initial funds to begin a business.

Name: Simegne Tadesse Background: Simegne is a widow and is very poor. She is planning to launch an injera business. With support from Pathfinder, she has the initial funds to begin a business.

Name: Worknesh Aigoda Background: Worknesh is a widow and the sole provider for her family. She is engaged in the injera business. With support from Pathfinder, she has the initial funds to begin the business that will support herself and her two children.

Name: Rawda Turga Background: Rawda is a widow and the sole provider for her five children. She is planning to launch an injera and local bread-making business. Without support from Pathfinder, she would not have the initial funds to begin a business.

Name: Abaynesh Tollo Background: Abaynesh is a widow supporting her five children. She has attempted to run a business to support her children but lacks the seed money. Support from Pathfinder will enable her to begin a vegetable trading business.

Name: Woinshet Sisay Background: Woinshet is also engaged in the vegetable trade, but is struggling to maintain income-generating activity due to lack of capital. She is the head of her household and her livelihood is based on the profits from the small business. She is supporting four children.

Name: Mulu Agi Background: Mulu is a widow and a single mother of seven children. Support from Pathfinder will help her succeed in the vegetable trade.

Name: Ketsela Mengistu Background: Ketsela is a widow with four children. She is engaged in the vegetable trade.

Name: Neima Mohamed Background: Neima is engaged in the grain trade, but is struggling to maintain income-generating activity due to lack of capital. She is the head of her household and her livelihood is based on the profits from this business.

Name: Etenesh Yalew Background: Etenesh is a widowed single mother with three children and is engaged in the vegetable trade. With support from Pathfinder, she will have the initial funds to begin a business to support the family.

PATHFINDER CONTINUES TO SUPPORT INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES

We are also pleased to announce that 13 Ethiopian women have begun income generating projects with support from generous Global Giving donors. Overall, the funds have enabled many of the women to leave the dangerous and exhausting business of firewood collection to pursue more lucrative, safe, and sustainable businesses in a variety of areas, including making and selling Injera (a traditional Ethiopian bread) and selling charcoal, grain, butter, and other items. As a result of their new ventures, many of the women are recording profits and have since been able to open savings accounts, which offer increased security for the women and their families. Moreover, the women report that their ability to yield profits in their new businesses has helped them to play a more active role in their communities. By demonstrating their capabilities, they garner respect in society and develop the confidence to address their needs and pursue opportunity.

Alemush Girma, a 40 year old divorced mother, began a charcoal selling business through Global Giving donations. She has radically improved her living conditions since leaving the firewood business. She states “These days I am very happy, I am very motivated for work as I am able to move here and there and feed myself with the grant I got... I am able to use my capacity for such work.” She now has savings, which she deposits in a bank account, and has become involved in the social affairs of her community.

Pathfinder Supports New Entrepreneurs!

Tilahun Giday — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:59:32 GMT

PATHFINDER ANNOUNCES EIGHT NEW LOAN GRANTEES FOR INCOME GENERATION

Thanks to the generous support from Global Giving donors, Pathfinder is pleased to announce the addition of eight new entrepreneurs to its project in Ethiopia. With the ability to generate income and save profits, these women can better protect themselves and their families against health emergencies and changes in food security, and are more able to make investments for the future, such as in the education of their children.

Name: Worknesh Aigoda Background: Worknesh is a widow and the sole provider for her family. She is engaged in injera (a traditional Ethiopian bread) and local bread making business. Without support from Pathfinder, she would not have the initial funds to begin a business.

Name: Rawda Turaga Background: Rawda is a widow and the sole provider for her family. She is planning to launch an injera and local bread making business. Without support from Pathfinder, she would not have the initial funds to begin a business.

Name: Abaynesh Tollo Background: Abaynesh is a widow and she supports her five children. She has attempted to run a business to support her children but lacks the seed money. Support from Pathfinder will enable her to begin a vegetable trading business.

Name: Birhan Demewoze Background: Birhan is a single mother with four children. She is engaged in the used cloths trade to support her children’s education.

Name: Etenesh Yalew Background: Etensh is a single mother with five children and is engaged in the vegetable trade. Without support from Pathfinder, she would not have the initial funds to begin a business to support the family.

Name: Beletu Baineso Background: Beletu has four children and is the head of the household. She has no other source of income and is certain that the Pathfinder-supported vegetable trading activities she begins will enable her to support her family.

Name: Woinshet Sisay Background: Woinshet is also engaged in the vegetable trade, but is failing to maintain income-generating activity due to lack of capital. She is the head of her household and her livelihood is based on the profits from the small business.

Name: Neima Mohamed Background: Neima is engaged in the grain trade, but is failing to maintain income-generating activity due to lack of capital. She is the head of her household and her livelihood is based on the profits from this business.

PATHFINDER CONTINUES TO SUPPORT INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES

We are also pleased to announce that 13 Ethiopian women have begun income generating projects with support from generous GlobalGiving donors. Overall, the funds have enabled many of the women to leave the dangerous and exhausting business of firewood collection to pursue more lucrative, safe, and sustainable businesses in a variety of areas, including making and selling Injera (a traditional Ethiopian bread) and selling charcoal, grain, butter, and other items. As a result of their new ventures, many of the women are recording profits and have since been able to open savings accounts, which offer increased security for the women and their families. Moreover, the women report that their ability to yield profits in their new businesses has helped them to play a more active role in their communities. By demonstrating their capabilities, they garner respect in society and develop the confidence to address their needs and pursue opportunity.

Update on Income Generating Activities for Poor Women

Tilahun Giday — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:56:27 GMT

PATHFINDER ANNOUNCES TWO NEW LOAN GRANTEES FOR INCOME GENERATION

Thanks to the generous support from GlobalGiving donors, Pathfinder is pleased to announce the addition of two new entrepreneurs to its project in Ethiopia: Atsede Wake and Simegn Tadesse. Now, Atsede, Simegn and their families are no longer resigned to lives of destitution and powerlessness. With an ability to save, these women can better protect themselves and their families against health emergencies and changes in food security, and are more able to make investments for the future, such as in education.

Name: Atsede Wake Background: Atsede is 47 and has experience in the fruit and vegetable trade and has already identified a location where she will run her business. Without support from Pathfinder, she would not have the initial funds to begin a business and would be unable to support her children for whom she is the sole provider.

Name: Simegn Tadesse Background: Simegn has strong business experience and has identified a place where she will set-up her business. Previously, her lack of start-up support prevented her from starting a business, and therefore she was unable to support herself and her family.

PATHFINDER CONTINUES TO SUPPORT INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES

We are also pleased to bring you an update on the activities pursued by the 11 women who have begun income generating projects with support from generous GlobalGiving donors. Overall, the funds have enabled many of the women to leave the dangerous and exhausting business of firewood collection to pursue more lucrative, safe, and sustainable businesses in a variety of areas, including making and selling Injera (a traditional Ethiopian bread) and selling charcoal, grain, butter, and other items. As a result of their new ventures, many of the women are recording profits and have since been able to open savings accounts, which offer increased security for the women and their families. Moreover, the women report that their ability to yield profits in their new businesses has helped them to play a more active role in their communities. By demonstrating their capabilities, they garner respect in society and develop the confidence to address their needs and pursue opportunity. A selection of the women’s stories are highlighted here:

Desta Alemu has started a new business making and selling Injera, as well as other miscellaneous items for which there is local demand. Her seed money has been used to purchase an energy-saving stove, grain, and maize. Currently, she is selling between 40 and 60 pieces of injera daily, yielding a profit of 15-20 birr/day (approximately USD $1.50). In the future, Desta would like to expand her business to include vegetable sales. Thanks to her new endeavor, Desta no longer must endure the longhours and great travel distances in her previous job collecting and carrying firewood. Additionally, she has been able to enroll her two children in school and is now able to pay rent, water and electric bills without feeling constant worry and fear. Desta believes that after 20 years of hardship this new business has enabled her to start a new life.

Nunu Bereket has been able to escape the business of firewood collection to begin a new business selling grain and butter, which she purchases from wholesalers and sells to people in her village. For the start up of her business, she has bought one sack of wheat and one sack of maize. On average, she is able to sell 25 kg of each item daily, yielding a net profit of 20-25 Birr (approximately USD $2), which she can reinvest in her business. According to Nunu, her new venture has helped her to cover the educational costs of her two children to attend school, has helped her to feel physically stronger, and enables her to participate in civic society, such as attending community meetings. She says this of her experience with the income generating activities: “Now I have money so I can work day and night and improve my family’s life”.

Abaynesh Degero has started a new business selling charcoal, grain, and other items in her village, profiting 15-20 birr per day. Thanks to this new venture, Abayinesh was able to enroll three of her children in school and is receiving medical care for a longstanding health condition which has continuously affected her mobility. Moreover, she reports that she has more time to participate in social gatherings in her community and in awareness raising events. She has expressed extreme gratitude for the funding she has received and is looking forward to expanding her business in the future.

Ehetehun Derebe is using her seed funding to start making and selling Injera. Support from Global Giving helped Ehetehun to purchase an energy saving stove, grain, and other accessories needed to start her business. A true entrepreneur, Ehetehun has already attracted a sizeable clientele, including a few contracts with local hotels. Thanks to her business, Ehetehun is now able to pay rent and other bills on time and attributes her business to providing her with time to participate in community social affairs and attend various events, such as local administration meetings.

Bizunesh Desalegn used her seed funding to start a business where she sells Injera to local restaurants. Her new venture has enabled her to open a savings account, a rare opportunity for most women in Ethiopia. In the future, she plans to expand her business by hiring additional staff so that she can target a greater number of customers. In her own words, Bizunesh says of the support she received: “it is as you can see… I am happy. I am not spending my day laboring in the jungle but rather am at home doing my business and making money. Many thanks to Pathfinder International Ethiopia and Addis Ababa Women Association who saw our problem and came with such a relieving idea”.

Mewuded Kassa started a business in grain, charcoal, and fruit trade, though due to skyrocketing price of crops she has recently focused most on charcoal, which brings in 10 birr profit (USD $0.80) per unit sold. Mewuded says that her new business has helped her to improve her morale and physical strength and provides her with a strong motivation to work. In the future, she would like to focus more energy on selling grains.

Alemush Girma was able to start a charcoal selling business with the seed money she received. When asked what changes have been brought about by her start-up, Alemush says that she is now able to avoid feelings of fear and desperation, and has hope about the possibility of living a long life.

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Pictures of Women Beneficiaries (DOC)

Update on Income Generating Activities for Poor Women

Tilahun Giday — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:02:56 GMT

In partnership with the Addis Ababa Women’s Association, Pathfinder International Ethiopia has identified 11 impoverished women to benefit from the funds raised through GlobalGiving. These women all live in the areas surrounding Addis Ababa and were selected by a project-appointed committee based on certain criteria; the committee selected women who are currently earning their income through collecting and/or selling firewood, are among the poorest of the poor, have children who are attending school, and have demonstrated the potential to successfully run a more profitable business. Collecting and selling firewood is a particularly dangerous job; women are vulnerable to rape, harassment, and other gender-based violence because they must walk alone in the woods searching for firewood, often very late at night. It is not, however, a very profitable occupation, so even though they are working these women are not able to adequately provide for their families. Thus, thanks to the support of GlobalGiving donors, Pathfinder trained the 11 selected women on small business management skills and provided US $158 to each woman to start her chosen income generation project. These women can now sustain themselves and their families through safer and more reliable ways of generating income.

Below are profiles of some of the women who have participated in Pathfinder’s Income Generation Program, and the types of income generating activities that they have been able to pursue. Thanks to the generosity of GlobalGiving donors, these women have been able to improve their own living conditions, as well as those of their families.

Name: Abaynesh Dage Age: 45

Abaynesh has ten children and is a single mother. Because of economic hardship, nine out of her ten children have been forced to stop attending school in order to work and make money to support the family; only her six year-old daughter still attends school. The entire family shares a rented one-room home. As a firewood collector and seller, Abaynesh would go to the forest surrounding Addis Ababa from 6:00 AM – 4:00 PM two to three times per week to collect firewood, which would be sold at the market for less than US $1.00 per bushel. As a result of carrying so many heavy bundles of wood such long distances, Abaynesh has developed chronic leg problems, making it even more difficult for her to earn her income this way. Identified by the Addis Ababa Women’s Association as one of the most needy and poverty stricken women in the area, Abaynesh was selected to attend the small business skills training and was provided the necessary funds to establish an alternative income generating business. Now, Abaynesh sells grain and vegetables at the market, providing her with a safe place to work and enough income to support her family.

Name: Mewded Kassa Age: 30

Mewded is married, but her husband’s right hand is disabled. The couple has 2 children, the first child is four years old and the other is a 9 month-old baby. Before Pathfinder and the Addis Ababa Women’s Association identified her as a beneficiary of the GlobalGiving funds, the primary source of her family’s income was based on the money earned through firewood collection and selling. She could not, however, carry the firewood on her back because she had to carry her small baby, so her disabled husband had to accompany her on the long trips to the forest. Walking to and from the forest is approximately 30 kilometers round trip, which takes about nine hours. Mewded would collect the firewood from the forest and her husband would carry it back on his head to sell for an average US $0.65 per bundle. Thanks to GlobalGiving support, Mewded has established a small scale business of buying and re-selling fresh vegetables and she is very happy for having the opportunity to run a business that is both close to her home and more profitable so that she can support her family.

Name: Bizunesh Desalegn

Bizunesh has four children for which she is the sole provider: two sons and two daughters. Both girls were forced to discontinue their education at grades 11 and 9 due to economic hardship; the boys have completed grades 12 and 10. The eldest daughter is now working as a housemaid and the younger daughter is unemployed. Previously, Bizunesh’s means of livilihood was based travelling long distances to collect firewood, which would then be sold for approximately US $0.75 per bushel. She used to collect firewood four times a week in order to bring in more income for her family, but due to chronic leg pain from years of such hard labor, she had to reduce those trips to only twice per week; however, she would not let her daughters help her because of the danger of being raped or harassed in the forest. Bizunesh has used the support from GlobalGiving, through Pathfinder, as seed money to start a business of baking and selling injera (a local flat bread). Now that she has started a new business which offers her a better working conditions and income, Bizunesh plans to give more attention to the education of her daughters.

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