By Mrs. Woderyelesh Ashebir Belay | Executive Director
PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT
Voice and Choice: Empowering Youth and Women (Project No. 70446)
No One Down Relief Organization (NODRO)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Registration No.: 7509
Our Ref. No.: NODRO/Global/Oct/2026/L.No.01
Reporting Period: June – September 2026
Report Date: October 6, 2026
Dear GlobalGiving Community,
Warm greetings from No One Down Relief Organization (NODRO).
We are pleased to share this progress update on “Voice and Choice: Empowering Youth and Women” (Project 70446). During this reporting period, NODRO continued working to strengthen the confidence, leadership capacity, life skills, economic opportunities, and community participation of women and youth in Ethiopia.
The project responds to barriers that prevent women and young people from fully participating in social and economic life, including limited access to skills, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, unequal participation in decision-making, and social and economic vulnerability.
Progress and Key Results
Building on the achievements reported in the previous period, NODRO continued to provide leadership development, life-skills support, mentorship, entrepreneurship guidance, community engagement, and awareness activities.
To date, the project has:
During June–September, NODRO placed particular emphasis on follow-up, mentorship, strengthening participant confidence, connecting beneficiaries with opportunities, and encouraging participants to apply the knowledge and skills gained through the project in their families and communities.
A Story of Change
One young participant described the change she experienced through the project:
“Before joining this program, I lacked confidence to express my ideas. Through the training and mentorship I received, I have developed leadership skills and now actively participate in community discussions and initiatives.”
Her experience reflects an important objective of the project: helping women and youth move from being passive recipients of support to becoming confident participants and contributors within their communities.
What We Are Seeing
The project is contributing to several positive changes among participants, including:
The project also continues to demonstrate that practical skills combined with mentorship and community support can create stronger conditions for sustainable empowerment.
Community Engagement
Community participation remains central to NODRO’s approach. Local stakeholders, community members, families, mentors, and volunteers have contributed to awareness activities, dialogue, participant follow-up, and encouragement of women and youth.
This collaborative approach helps strengthen community ownership and creates an environment in which participants can use their skills beyond the training setting.
Challenges and Adaptive Measures
The project continues to operate in an environment where many women and young people face economic constraints and limited access to employment and startup opportunities. Demand for entrepreneurship support remains greater than the resources currently available. Gender stereotypes and social barriers also continue to affect the participation and economic independence of some women and youth.
In response, NODRO has:
Monitoring, Learning and Accountability
NODRO continues to monitor project implementation through participant registration and attendance records, training completion tracking, beneficiary follow-up, mentorship records, community feedback, activity documentation, and periodic project reviews.
The information collected is used to understand participant needs, identify implementation challenges, improve support, and strengthen accountability to communities and supporters.
Looking Ahead: October 2026 and Beyond
In the next phase, NODRO will continue to:
Our Long-Term Vision
NODRO's long-term vision is to contribute to communities where women and youth have the knowledge, confidence, skills, voice, and opportunities to shape their own futures.
We believe empowerment is most sustainable when participants are equipped not only with knowledge, but also with practical skills, supportive networks, opportunities to lead, and meaningful opportunities to participate in their communities.
Appreciation to GlobalGiving Supporters
NODRO sincerely appreciates GlobalGiving and all supporters of Project 70446 for helping create opportunities for women and youth to develop their skills, strengthen their confidence, and participate more actively in their communities.
Your support contributes to a future in which women and young people are not only beneficiaries of development, but also leaders, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and agents of positive change.
Together, we are helping build stronger communities where every woman and every young person has a voice, a choice, and an opportunity to thrive.
With sincere appreciation,
Mrs. Woderyelesh Ashebir Belay
Executive Director
No One Down Relief Organization (NODRO)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email: nodeethiopia.org@gmail.com
Tel: +251-967-105-147
“Empowering youth and women today, creating stronger communities tomorrow.”
By Mrs. Woderyelesh Ashebir | Executive Director
By Mrs. Woderyelesh Ashebir Belay | Executive Director
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