Yesterday I had another opportunity
to visit with a couple Sustainable Living Groups in an area of Ethiopia called
Woliso. Woliso is about 120 kilometers
outside of Addis, and despite it’s close proximity to the capital city it is
definitely a rural area. I went and
visited with these SLGs with some folks from the US who had come to see some of
our projects and with a few staff members from the Kale Heywot Church.
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| Our group for the day |
I had never visited Woliso before,
and there’s something so striking to me that over the course of a two hour van
ride we could be transported to a completely different world! We left behind the traffic jams, tall
buildings, and bustling streets of Addis and were soon out in the countryside
sharing the road with donkeys and goats and looking out over a landscape of
rolling hills dotted with traditional round huts. I’ve learned that Ethiopia is a country of
great diversity, and in many cases inequality, and yesterday was a poignant
example of that.
I’ve written many a blog post about
Sustainable Living Groups, and I’m sure there will be many more in the future,
but man, I gotta tell you there is just something about being here and experiencing
SLGs that really helps you to understand the transformational effect of these
groups (yes, I’m saying come visit!). It’s
hard to understand how a weekly fellowship group could mean so much to a
woman-until you see the hut that is her home and understand how isolated she
could be there. It’s nearly impossible
to grasp that a $10 loan could have a great impact on a woman’s financial
situation-until you hear of the incredibly low price of tools and see the woven
baskets she has begun to sell for profit.
And finally, it’s difficult to comprehend the significance of a woman
paying for her children’s school fees for the first time in their lives-until
you’re immersed in a cultural context that says that only men can provide for
their families.
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| Some of the women in the 'Burka' SLG |
One of the groups that we were with
yesterday is named “Burka” which means ‘Spring’. Truly this group is a spring of life for the
women involved, for their families, and their community! The women prepared a traditional coffee ceremony for us, and we listened as they shared their
personal stories of how their SLG has transformed their lives. The women shared with us that in their
community there are loan sharks who lend money, but then take exorbitant
amounts of interest-up to 120% over one year.
Because of their SLG, the women are now able to take loans at a
reasonable rate within a safe and supportive environment. With these loans they have been able to do
many things! Some have started small
businesses of selling coffee and household items; others have used their money
to pay for their children’s school fees and supplies; and still others have been
able to purchase smallstock such as chicken and goats. Here’s what one woman (through translation)
had to say in her own words about what the Burka SLG means to her (turn up
the volume-it’s a little soft).
Now that these women have been empowered,
they are looking around their community and wanting to do more to help their
friends and their neighbors. The Burka SLG has the vision to start a co-op within their community where they import
in bulk basic household goods (such as flour, sugar, coffee, etc.) and sell
these to their community at fair prices.
In a rural location like Woliso this would greatly benefit the community
with access to goods they can’t always find in the local market. The Burka SLG will continue to not only be
a spring of life for the members and their families, but also to their
surrounding community!
After the meal we had coffee for the
adults and desserts, and the kids did an egg hunt! Don’t be confused-an Easter egg hunt is
certainly not part of Ethiopian culture and tradition, but we farenji have no
problem mixing traditions :) The kids
had a blast, and of course loved the candy.