In Ethiopia only 1 in 5 girls reach secondary education, 74% of women live with FGM and almost half of the female population experience violence and abuse. Women and girls deserve better.
A prolonged and obstructed child labour can cause an obstetric fistula – a hole torn in the bladder, vagina or rectum. The injury can have devastating physical and social consequences for women.
Accessing quality education remains a challenge for so many in Ethiopia. There are many barriers to overcome; uniforms, food and equipment expenses, parental attitudes, and stigma of menstruation. Every young person should be able to fulfill their potential.
People living with disabilities are routinely denied their most basic human rights, and are cut off from education, employment and healthcare. In Ethiopia, many live in extreme poverty.
We focus on the needs of vulnerable Ethiopians at grass roots level. This hinges on sustained relationships with trusted Ethiopian partners.
The Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) was created with local Afar leaders who felt their needs were not being met by formal government services. Today, in addition to life-changing work in water harvesting, mobile health and education, APDA is dedicated to ending harmful traditional practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and the lack of rights for women in marriage.
Atsede’s Maternity Clinic’s ‘Midwives on the Move’ project provides home visits to pregnant women living in the mountainous terrain of the Gurage Zone – where many of the women they work with either aren’t able to travel to health facilities for antenatal appointments, or do not think they are important enough. Alongside the antenatal, delivery and postnatal care they provide, they are working to change attitudes in communities, emphasising the importance of maternal health care and empowering women to make informed decisions about their own health. Atsede’s Maternity Clinic was founded by 2019’s International Midwife of the Year, Atsede Kidane, and British midwife Indie McDowell.
APIDO work to prevent and treat podoconiosis (podo), a debilitating condition caused by barefoot exposure to irritant minerals in the soil, resulting in the painful swelling of the feet and legs. APIDO work within communities, educating people on prevention, treatment, self-care and providing custom-made shoes, so that people living with the impact of podoconiosis can manage their symptoms, continue their education, return to work, and participate in their communities once again. They also raise awareness of prevention and train healthcare professionals to help eradicate podoconiosis altogether.
Hope Enterprises’ Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) equips young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across Addis Ababa with valuable practical and technical skills and helps them access wider employment opportunities. They offer courses in electronics, auto mechanics, hospitality and tailoring, adapting their curriculum based on job availability. Learning skills which are in high demand by employers means young people can more easily find jobs after graduation, earn a reliable income to support themselves and their families and confidently contribute to their communities.
Hope of Light provide obstetric fistula treatment at 3 fistula health centres in Gondar, Jimma and Assela. They were founded by Dr Ambaye, a fistula surgeon with over 27 years’ experience, who was trained by the awe-inspiring Dr Catherine Hamlin. As well as providing medical supplies for fistula care, Dr Ambaye trains doctors in fistula surgery, raises awareness with health professionals and her team provide post-operative counselling for patients.
Stigma surrounding menstruation means that many girls in Ethiopia are ashamed to ask for help, and often drop out of school. Based in Addis Ababa, Studio Samuel’s project supports vulnerable girls to stay in school by distributing free re-usable sanitary kits, and through offering extra-curricular after school courses in IT and business skills, sewing, life skills and creative arts. Studio Samuel helps girls continue their education and develop important skills for future employment. Support is also given to access healthcare, tutoring and scholarships that they otherwise would miss out on. Some of the girls also go on to lead presentations at other schools on how to use the sanitary kits, encouraging both girls and boys to break the taboo.
Wings of Healing provide free screening and treatment of cervical cancer. In Ethiopia, where most cervical cancer cases are detected late and treatment is often unaffordable, this work is saving lives. Their incluse programme also reaches women from poorer backgrounds who struggle to access healthcare. Looking forward, they aim to continue expanding their services, particularly to reach women living with HIV and ultimately prevent cervical cancer.
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