Mother Empowerment
“I never thought I would get to this point. But here I am, praise God.”
— Tsinat, Empowered Mother
**We will email you information about the woman you empowered after we receive your donation.
Meet Tewlign.
Tewlign lives in the community of Korah with her two children. She was sponsored in 2015 and has been working hard to improve her life ever since. Before she was sponsored, Tewlign was collecting recyclable materials from the local trash dump.
After being chosen for our Empowerment Program, she received a small business loan and began creating raw materials for weavers. Tewlign shows a lot of promise in business, as she has already hired someone and has vision to grow.
Her children are proud to see their mother working and are enrolled in school. Tewlign will eventually graduate from sponsorship and be able to provide for the needs of her family.
Because of you, we have empowered over 50 women
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to empower a mother?
We have over 700 families sponsored and receiving monthly food support throughout many communities in Ethiopia. Of those 700, there are many cases of single mothers who are able to work but do not have the means to do so. Empowering a mother means providing them with a small business loan. Our social workers facilitate the loan, helping the mother you choose get set up to start the business of their choice, and then follow up once the business is started. All mothers on our waiting list have been vetted and deemed ready to work.
How long does it take for a mother to graduate from sponsorship?
Each case is different, so we do not have an exact timeline for graduation. However, when the loan is provided, it is explained to the mother that she will eventually graduate from sponsorship and no longer receive monthly food support. Because many of the women did not receive a formal education, the jobs they choose take time to become profitable. There are also occasional setbacks, such as health issues or needs that arise within the family. We aim for women in our Empowerment Program to phase out between 1-3 years of running their small business.
What types of businesses do you teach them?
The most common businesses are those that do not require a high amount of training or education. These include baking and selling bread, buying bulk items such as charcoal and wood and selling within their communities, weaving, clothes washing services, opening a small coffee shop, or selling a variety of vegetables. All of these businesses allow mothers to make income for their families, and not have to resort to things like begging, prostituting, or working at the local trash dump. In some cases, once the loan is paid back, they may apply for a larger loan to expand their business.
What is the cost to empower a mother?
The cost ranges between $100 - $300, as the needs of each community are different. For example, the cost to start a small business is much less in rural Ethiopia than it is in the city of Addis Ababa. This is why there is a range. The amount needed is included in each woman’s profile above, and you may give accordingly!