Help agricultural families increase crop yields to improve food security and nutrition. Help farmers protect their land against environmental degradation. Increase access to safe water, public health services, and education in rural communities. Provide women with microloans which enable them provide for their families and enrich their communities.
Ethiopia is the most populated landlocked country in the world and the second most populated country in Africa. Because Ethiopia’s plentiful water and land resources are used inefficiently, the country still struggles with extreme poverty and famine. The economy relies heavily on agriculture, but frequent droughts and few irrigation systems have kept production low. In rural areas of Ethiopia, farming is the main source of employment. Those living in underdeveloped, rural areas lack access to basic needs. Many areas are experiencing chronic food shortages and malnutrition. Two-thirds of the population do not have access to potable water, proper sanitation and hygiene, basic education, and health services.
Women are disproportionately affected by poverty, especially those who are the sole-supporters of their households. HIV/AIDS related deaths have impacted families, resulting in many single women left to care for their children, and sometimes for the children of ill or deceased family members. These women do not have the means necessary to provide for their families.
We partner with Ethiopian non-profit, EECMY-DASSC, to work with 14,500 households in six communities in the Aleta Chuko region of the Sidama zone, one of the poorest areas in the country. Our local partners provide us with invaluable insight and knowledge that help us to be as effective as possible. Together, we are working to address some of the toughest problems in the area. The women, farmers, and families, who are trained are the main teachers of the project. Our goal is that local knowledge will continue to spread after a project is finished, ultimately, empowering the entire community. We also hope to establish a health center and school in each of the six communities in which we work. By the end of 2015, we expect to make a positive difference in the lives of over 50,000 people in the Chuko region of southern Ethiopia.
Agriculture
One of the goals of our project in southern Ethiopia is to help subsistent farmers increase their crop yields so they can protect themselves against food insecurity. We work with them to improve agricultural practices and techniques to build resiliency against periods of drought. To combat the effects of regular water shortages, we are helping to develop efficient systems of irrigation. We also provide seeds and seedlings to farmers so they can grow more food. In addition, we offer trainings that teach efficient breeding techniques and ways to improve the health of livestock. By encouraging sustainable farming methods, both traditional and modern techniques, we hope to mitigate soil erosion and land degradation and improve the health of entire ecosystem.
Female Entrepreneurship
Another aspect of our program is improving the social and economic standing of women by providing business training and microloans. We work with single women, many of whom are widows, who are the sole providers of their family. The goal of our project is to help these women acquire the skills and capital necessary to improve their livelihoods. With access to capital, many women opt to start their own small businesses. We help female community leaders organize various self-help groups that offer business and self-empowerment classes. We provide training in animal husbandry to women interested in the raising and selling of goats and sheep. The first newborn of every herd is donated to the project, ensuring that another woman will have the opportunity to grow her own herd. The project receives powerful local support and is seen as a sustainable way to improve the lives of the women who participate, in addition to strengthening the regional economy.
Water
Our project also works to address access to water, healthcare and education. We build latrines to improve communal waste disposal and stop the spread of germs and diseases. Additionally, we are working with local partners to build new wells, tapping into underground springs and providing clean, safe drinking water for communities. This helps women and children greatly, as they are responsible for walking long distances to retrieve water from rivers, which is often polluted from industrial and organic waste.
