Tayech Berhanu, 50, resides in Hawassa city of SNNP State. She is now serving as deputy chair of a Union composed of 35 women associations (Self Help Groups). She sat down with The Ethiopian Herald and talked about her success within the Self Help Group (SHG) which has 12 teams and 263 members.
The members were previously living in poverty. Most of them were also marginalized and sought the assistance of others. Right after they received assistance from The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO), Tayech and her friends have got life-changing training which inspired in them a sense of ‘I can do’ mentality.
Now, they are able to develop the capacity of women, provide assistance for children who are living with HIV and AIDS, assist the orphans and facilitate conditions to improve access to education. The association also facilitates a loan for the caretakers to engage in income-generating activities. In addition, it has also provided various training for street children and helped them to be productive citizens.
The SHG has empowered women and rendered special support for its members who are living with HIV and AIDS. In order to stop stigma and discrimination in the society in its 35 members, the association has
been raising awareness using various platforms. The rest of the members have been engaged in various income-generating activities.
Since its establishment in 2008, members of the SHG have been contributing and saving money every weekend. After standing by its own feet, the association is working to assist others by identifying hurdles the community has been facing. Accordingly, it has provided training for 30 auto-rickshaws drivers, helped families to reunion families and assisted girls who are victims of rape and made the wrongdoers liable by law.
The members have also established children care center to provide support for destitute children facilitating irregular education. For this to happen, the association is generating income selling handmade products.
The association has also organized the youth who were previously engaged in unlawful activities so that they become productive members of society. Particularly, the association is working closely with the youth to deal with unemployment which is the main reason for them to engage in crime.
Previously, Tayech made handicraft
products, but, following the death of her husband, she faced difficulties to properly run her family. The only choice she had was to engage in begging or be employed in very menial jobs. Then after, the mindset training which was offered by JEDCO enabled her to change her attitude. Then she developed a sense of belief that she could change her life and that of her families. The training gave her the opportunity to look for means to change her life of poverty.
“First, the organization has recruited us and offered life-changing skill training. The training was focused on improving the livelihood of marginalized women,” she said.
In the past, poverty has made her feel bad and she was treating people very badly. She had also sold all her property to survive. But, now a day, things have changed so much for Tayech, who is a mother of three. Following the training, she now owns a small business.
Recalling a time when nobody was willing to greet her in the streets, she said that she has now become a model for women to become economically independent after her success in small business.
Accordingly, Tayech and her friends in the association have saved the lives of girls aged between 12 and 15 who were forced to engage in prostitution. They have also reunited 120 children with their families.
In addition, the association is also assisting university students who were on the verge of dropping out due to financial constraint.
The association also owns various machines for their small business including baking, weaving, washing, and wood (bamboo) crafting machines.
By continuing their success, Tayech said the association wishes to support the empowerment of women and youth in the area. “For instance, my two sons now own a small business in the printing industry,” she said.
The Ethiopian Herald July 11/2019
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
