Women empowerment changing lives

BY MULATU BELACHEW

 Agraduation and farewell ceremony was held recently at Meseret Humanitarian Organization Rehabilitation Center (MHO) for homeless women whose children are kept under the wing or support of the organization.

In recognition of their successful accomplishment of a training necessary and a pre-condition for the re-integration process, certificates were issued to 40 women graduates who have children. On the occasion, the graduates had received dressings, household materials, and foods. They had also got money for rental house with accommodation that covers expenditures for 90 days.

Founder of MHO, Meseret Azage said “This is just a move forward not the destination of MHO’s targets. But changing the mind and attitude of the people is not a stress-free job. However, as part of the organizational success, recently, it has graduated and organized a farewell program for some 40 women who are interested to commence their own business independently.”

MHO is lucky and happy in assisting, empowering destitute women and children from every corner of the country. It is in charge to make follow up for some 18 months about the successfulness of the graduated and farewell women, she underscored.

Abeba Eshete is the Deputy Head of Addis Ababa Labor and Social Affairs Bureau. She encouraged the graduated women to be strong in life, productive and self-reliant citizens that will contribute their share for the country’s development. She further stated that streets should be just pathways not residences.

This is the collective outcome of both the organization and all concerned bodies. This kind of program is really supportive of all sides. It is strategic as MHO is in charge to coach up till the graduates become self-reliant. This could be taken as a lesson by other development actors and concerned bodies, she urged.

“You don’t have to worry about your kids because the organization has responsibility to care for them until you get back to home from work. Kids are leaders of the future world so MHO has continued providing care. Women have a lot of burdens than men so that doing investigation on this issue is not a job to be put on the back burner,” she said.

 The Ethiopian Herald has approached some graduates so that they share their views regarding their stay and future plan at MHO.

Among them is Emebet Kebede. “This is the house MHO rented to me and I am happy because I am starting a new life. I am a mother of two. I stayed for eight months at MHO and got some vital skills. Accommodation for three months was secured and I am really ready to cover everything for myself after 90 days,” she noted.

She was trained in handcraft skills and has continued practicing it. But she has a plan to engage in handcraft work at night if she gets better jobs to work at day time.

Woyneshet Bekele witnessed that Meseret is more than a mother. MHO has assisted the women to be empowered and strong these days, she said.

“I planned to bake Injera and distribute for customers but everything is expensive. Getting shelter is my fundamental problem which particularly having kids forces me to live on the street. If the government me offer us free lodgings, covering our daily expenditure will not be hard.”

“You have to use your utmost effort to run your life independently after 90 days and experience saving right now. Don’t expect everything from the government even the lodging because the government has over 100 million citizens. Hence, it is incapable to provide house to all,” Abeba stated.

Working shade is in our heart and graduates have to firmly strive to overcome problems by working hard in every circumstance without waiting the government’s support. Hence, don’t be late to work and build your own future because MHO is with you for coaching, Meseret noted.

Ashanafi Mulgeta was born at Bole Bulbula, Addis Ababa. She was picked from Estifanos Street. Before she went out to the street due to addictions she was living with her family. She gave birth on the street. Now she is a mother but separated from the father of her baby since he went to the countryside. She expressed her readiness to live together if he comes back to the city. “It was when I was at grade five I dropped out. As such I can read and write. I have taken various trainings here at MHO. That helped me how to exercise social life with the people besides to developing some life skills. Hence, it is my plan to engage in dressmaking business.

Meseret Tola is another woman assisted by MHO. She was born and brought up in Selale. She came to Addis to work but got married of her volition without notifying her family members. Then she got pregnant but abruptly her husband became sick critically. Thus, his parents took away the child from her for treatment . Hence, she is incapable to handle things and went to street. She stayed there for three years, she told The Ethiopian Herald.

She is a mother of three children. The eldest is eight, the youngest two, while the middle one is four. The eldest has begun going to school. She is a grade one student. Meseret is trained in handcrafts and wants to engage in this business and it is her ambition to live with her husband and share life if he rejoins them.

To wrap up, the former member of MHO and the current employee Frehiwot Gulilat shares her experience and current status in a bid to enthuse graduates. She said “I am a mother of two. Now my eldest child is a third year college student and the second one is a 10th grader. My previous life was a painful one but thanks to the skill and lesson I have got from MHO, downtimes are behind me now.

“Besides caring for my kids I was providing care for my mother and brother who are deaf and dumb. When I left the organization eight years back, the organization has provided me 1500 Birr. Using the money I commenced selling cloths, and voluntarily serving MHO in my free time. Relatively speaking, yours farewell is unique because you are surrounded by wide opportunities than me to change yourself and others life, she addressed the graduates.

Today, she has got a job at MHO. She had also won a condo lotto house and owns her house. This couldn’t be realized if she wouldn’t pass through different struggles. “So, I wish to advice others to struggle hard. Don’t give up to open new chapter in your life and write a new history. For this to happen focus on your future via working hard any kind of works that can be a means of income for you.”

The Ethiopian Herald March 10/2021

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