Lemlem Gugsa's two sons have been able to stay in school beyond elementary level, thanks to the money that she has made trading in livestock since she started a business with the support of her local Tesfa Edget Savings and Credit Co-Operative (SACCO),in Ethiopia three years ago.
Lemlem was one of 21 founding members of the SACCO, and admits that she is extremely proud of her own success, and of the achievements of all of the members of the SACCO, since it was started.
‘We had 21 members at the start, and were very proud when all of the women managed to repay the money that they borrowed within the first year. As a result we were able to grow and expand the enterprise, and today have a total of 81 women in the locality using loans to start themselves in business’, she says.
Lemlem Gugsa rears and fattens calves on a zero-grazing basis at her home compound just outside Marako town. She currently has two cows and two calves, and will sell all except one of them in the coming months.
‘I rent out one of my cattle to local farmers who use it for ploughing. The income that we have managed to earn from this business has made a big impact on our lives – we eat much better than we ever did, and also have access to more dairy produce than ever before’.
Lemlem says that five year old Dibora Endeshaw, the youngest of her three children, will be able to follow her brothers to school, as a result of the additional income coming into the home.
|
Self Help Africa in Ethiopia |
Self Help Africa began working in Ethiopia in the mid-1980s, and the organisation's model for integrated rural development programmes was first developed in the country.
The organisation is currently engaged in implementing a series of area based programmes, and measures to build capacity at regional level, so that communities can improve their lives and the living standards and conditions of their people. |
