Success Stories from the Horse's Mouth

Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Dec/2015 Addis Ababa AboutSuccess Stories from JeCCDO the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Vision Mission JeCCDO envisages an Ethiopian JeCCDO facilitates community society where all citizens development process where the promote the wellbeing of wellbeing of children is effectively children. promoted in all its target areas.

Development Goals Development Approaches  Strengthening communities’ JeCCDO’s main development approaches are: institutional and operational Child centred, family focused and community based capacities development intervention; and Working in partnership with Community Structures  Promoting communities’ better access to basic services Within these broad approaches, the following specific approaches are employed:  Motivating communities’  Using integrated and holistic community development engagement in productive livelihood approach activities  Child safeguarding and inclusion  Enhancing communities’ knowledge  Community empowerment and participation and adaptive capacity to climate  Capacity development of community structures change and disaster risk reduction  Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS, gender, and disability issues  Strengthening JeCCDO to become  Collaboration, networking and partnership among various a learning and changing organization stakeholders  Promoting social accountability approach  Result Based Project monitoring and evaluation approach  Using flexibility and learning approach  Promoting social enterprise approach. Thank You! Where We Work JeCCDO operates in three National Regional States: Amhara; Oromia; South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples; and two City Administrations: Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. It has Community Development Program Offices in Bishoftu, Bahir Dar, Debre Birhan, Dire Dawa and Hawassa. Debre Berhan Through its partner CBOs, JeCCDO also Addis Ababa works in Addis Ababa, Wolkite, Emdibir, Bishoftu Butajira, Dire Dawa, Shinille, Debre Birhan, Debre Sina, Debre Markos, Bahir Dar, Hawassa Nefas Mewucha, Bishoftu, Adama, Ajie, Shashemene, Jimma and Hawassa towns. Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth

The Experience of JeCCDO

Dec/2015 Addis Ababa a Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Stories Collected and Written by: Elisabeth Getachew Helina Abraham

Stories Edited by: Anteneh Berhanu

Design and Layout: Eyob Abera

b Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Contents

Acronyms...... II Introduction...... 1 Relief for All...... 2 Self Help Incites Others’ Help...... 3 Strengthening Academic Roots...... 5 Head Up!...... 8 Peace and Life...... 10 The Soonest the Best...... 12 Acting Out the Name...... 14 Brighter Everyday...... 16 A Stride to Better Identity...... 18 Heading Requires Head...... 20 Saving Natural Bond...... 22 Beyond Personal Achievements...... 24 No Support is Too Little...... 25 Hidden Treasure in the Backyard...... 26 Never Too Late...... 27 Getting Rid of the Dust...... 28 Building Up One Another...... 30 How On Earth, For Death?...... 32 Compensation Exceeding The Loss...... 34 How to Make Use of Opportunity...... 35 Dependable Unity...... 36 Labor Pain < Pain of Poverty...... 38

I Acronyms

BIG Bio Intensive Gardening CBO Community Based Organization CMDRR Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction CSSP Civil Society Support Program FAL Functional Adult Literacy IGA Income Generating Activities JeCCDO Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization OVC Orphan and Vulnerable Children OVY Orphan and Vulnerable Youth PTA Parent - Teacher Association SHG Self Help Group TB Tuberculosis

II Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Introduction

Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO) is a local non-governmental and not-for-profit organization which was established in 1985. It was re-registered as an Ethiopian Resident Charity Organization by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Charities and Societies Agency in 2009. JeCCDO operates in a number of regions: Amhara National Regional State (Bahir Dar City and Debre Birhan Town); Oromia National Regional State (Bishoftu Town); Southern Nations Nationalities, Peoples Regional State (Hawassa City), and City Government of Dire Dawa. It also reaches out more than 21 towns through operational arrangement with Community Based Organizations(CBOs)

As a learning organization, JeCCDO firmly believes in documenting achievements, lessons learned and challenges encountered. Through such documentation, the organization attempts to demonstrate that it lives up to expectations. Moreover, it shows directions on how to sustain, strengthen and improve limitations in its modalities of interventions in the future. Keeping that in mind, in this publication, JeCCDO presents its success stories for fiscal year of 2014.

This publication comprises success stories of the organization’s target beneficiaries under its three core program areas: Access to Basic Services; Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Livelihood Promotion and Capacity Development and Grants Management. The stories chronicled in this publication are based on numerous field visits held in JeCCDO’s intervention areas. Data were gathered through interviews conducted with target beneficiaries. Prior to the interviews, written consents were secured from participants.

JeCCDO would like to extend its heart-felt gratitude to individuals and organizations that committed their resources for the betterment of its target communities, especially for children in need. It is also thankful to Government sector offices for pursuing common goal of community development. JeCCDO is equally appreciative of its target beneficiaries who managed to show the worth of resources invested on projects involving them. Staff members of the organization, partner CBOs and volunteer community Development program facilitators also deserve appreciation for their effort in realizing positive changes in the lives of target citizens.

Having said that, we invite you all to enjoy your reading! 1 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 1 Relief for All

Mrs. Birtukan Hailemarian and Mr. Jemal Aman are two residents of kebele 06 in Bishoftu town. They don’t have good memories about the ‘toilet’ they were using a few years back. Since they had to share a single toilet communally among eight households each consisting of a minimum of five family members, they suffered a lot. Children in particular had the worst experience. They would go there just because they had to. Mrs. Birtukan pitifully recalls, “Previously, we had a toilet. But, it was over used and unhygienic. Especially, when our children got in the toilet, we used to stand outside and guard them until they finish because we could Mrs. Birtukan Hailemarian and never be sure of their safety there.” Mr. Jemal Aman

Fortunately, Mrs. Birtukan once had an opportunity to report toilet problem of her locality while kebele officials passing by her village. Following her complaint, the kebele administration subsequently contacted Ziquala Aboye Idir, JeCCDO’s partner CBO and asked them if they could do anything about the problem. In conjunction with JeCCDO, the Idir was responsive and acted promptly to manage the problem. Appreciating serious health and sanitation problem of the residents, the Idir selected this compound for construction of new toilet that includes service for the disabled.

Now residents of the kebele tell a story full of relief and joy. They say, “This time, we have got a nice toilet. We don’t have to guard our children anymore when they go to toilet. It is now safe. What a relief!

Mrs. Birtukan with their Children

2 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 2 Self Help Incites Others’ Help

Gende Tesfa is one of the kebeles in Dire Dawa City. Most of its residents have very low economic status and they are marginalized. A considerable number of parents earn their living by selling fuel wood. Some also work as daily laborors. Poverty in Gende Tesfa is aggravated because of the residents association with leprosy. Though there is an encouraging trend, labeling people as “leper” is still there and some find it demeaning.Poverty, marginalization and parents’ little or no awareness about sending their children to school had kept children from this community out of school. Despite having limited resources, Sabian Number 2 Elementary School took the initiative to help Gende Tesfa’s children join school. It started its task by working on raising parents’ awareness regarding the benefits of educating one’s children. That was done in collaboration with the Education Bureau of Dire Dawa City and JeCCDO.

Mr. Wondu Fekade, Director of the School says, “Since residents of Gende Tesfa live in extreme poverty, it is a must to work on their children’s academic career. Otherwise, they will end up inheriting the existing poverty, and life will stay rough on them.” He further noted:

Only rich parents can afford private school of up to standard preschool service. At the same time it is obvious that children from low income families equally deserve the chance. So, we started preschool service from scratch. When we began the service, we didn’t have the necessary facilities. We only had two narrow classrooms and two volunteer teachers. Since the teachers had no experience of teaching preschool classes, they were given short term training on this particular field. Back then, what mattered most was to start the service with what we had. Had these children still remained out of school, all they could have inherited from their parents was destitution.

Pleased with the school’s initiative to assist the poor and the marginalized, JeCCDO came in to strengthen their effort. More specifically, it provided the school with television set and playing materials including see-saw, swing and toys. By constructing separate latrines for girls and boys, JeCCDO made life easier for students of regular classes. Female students have in particular been more beneficiary of this recent move because they are no more discomforted as result of sharing common latrines with boys. 3 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Students Playing at Gendetesfa School

Though not as good, the case of children from Gende Tesfa is quite encouraging. Though separate latrines for boys and girls are not in place, the latrines they are quite presentable.

As a whole, Sabian is now reaping the fruits its bold initiative of starting a preschool service with what it had. The self help started by the school leadership has now incited others to help out. Children who joined regular classes after availing preschool service do not frustrate because they have already got used to the school environment. Besides, as they had already acquired literacy and numeracy skills, they no more struggle to pursue their lessons. That has made life easy for teachers who deliver classes in regular classes. And that has made the job of teachers much easier., “ Previously, let alone Grade 1 students,” recalls Mr. Wondu, “even Grade Two students had problem of reading, But, now the preschool service has enabled students to have fertile academic base to attend regular classes.”

4 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 3 Strengthening Academic Roots

Since 2012, Bakkalcha Elementary school (a school found in Bishoftu town of Oromia National Regional State) has been conducting tutorial service for students with support from JeCCDO. Previously, students who were not academically active because of various hindering factors were not able to obtain support to improve their academic performance. That was particularly true of female students. Not only did they remain less active academically, but they also had other socio- cultural problems affecting their overall performance.

Thanks to the tutorial service and Life Skill Training they were given, all female students were promoted to 9th grade in Ethiopian academic year of 2013. In 2014, too, it was easy to witness how Eight Graders were confident enough about their promotion. And that is partly attributable to one to five peer learning introduced in the school. The school is using the government policy of organizing students in one-to-five scheme in which high achieving students are put with less achieving student Through this mechanism, the school puts five students together with more responsibility assigned to high-achieving students to encourage less able students. To keep the strength of the team, team leaders inspire team members to stay successful by tracking their results and encouraging them for improvement.

In addition, tutorial services are closely followed up by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The Association plays active role by way of encouraging parents to create conducive home environment for their children’s learning. It also motivates parents to make their children attend other related matters helpful to make tutorial service successful. Below are testimonies of three students speaking warmly of tutorial service.

Habiba Dula Habiba is an Eighth Grader in Bakkalcha Elementary School. She began to attend tutorial classes in 2013. She stood 10th in first semester of 2013; 7th in second and 5th in first semester of 2014. “I have kept on improving my academic rank since I started to attend tutorial classes,” says Habiba, “Before joining tutorial classes, I was not used to studying hard though I had the time.” Motivated by her growing success, Habiba wishes to be an engineer when she grows up.

5 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Wubit Kebede Wubit affirms that tutorial service has enhanced her academic commitment. She also says it is different from the regular class for teachers take more time to help students. As a result of her attendance in tutorial classes, Wubit exhibited encouraging progresses. In 2013, while Wubit was in Grade 7, she stood 20th in 1st semester; 19th in 2nd and 11th in first semester of 2014. Speaking of her academic progress, Wubit underlies,

Apart from improving academic performance, tutorial service has helped students, especially girls, develop confidence. Because of Education on Gender that I attended through tutorial service, I have, for example, stopped feeling embarrassed during menstruation. I have now accepted it as a natural process. My parents have also become aware of the tutorial service by attending PTA meetings. Thus, they encourage me to attend tutorial class regularly.

Wubit wishes to become a doctor and a writer. Indicative of that, she presently writes poems and takes part in the School Mini-Media Club.

Kibruyisfa Mesfin

Kibruyisfa is an Eighth Grade student. He has not, however, had convenient atmosphere to study at home. At the same time he is doing very well in his studies and he attributes his academic success to tutorial service the school provides. More encouragingly, he has started to enjoy friendly home environment to study after his father attended a meeting organized by PTA. Due to tutorial service and encouraging home environment, Kibruyisfa’s progress has been quite remarkable. In the first semester of 2013 academic year, he Mrs. Firehiwot and Mr. Solomon th rd Commended their Students, and stood 10 ; 5th in second semester; and 3 in Affirmed that they have Taken the Path the first semester of 2014. Leading them to their Vision.

6 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Comparing his past and present academic performance, Kirbruyisfa says,, “I was busy at home last year because I had to replace my mother to work as a cashier for a family business (butchery). I had to do that until she gained her strength after giving birth. Though I am still assisting my parents with her business, I am no more forced to compromise my time to study. As a result, I am doing well with my education and wish to be an engineer when I grow up.”

Mrs. Firehiwot and Mr. Solomon are both happy for being instrumental in guiding these students in the right direction.

Establishment of students’ squad of development is another fruit of tutorial classes. A class has five groups of squads that oversee effective utilization of free times and other matters in the school. For instance, when a teacher is absent, members of the squad assist their classmates to discuss the specific subject that should have been handled by the absentee teacher. The students chose the word “squad” thinking of military bravery. As soldiers are expected to have brave squads in defending their country, so are squads of students prepared in ensuring better academic achievement.

The squad has five members: Chair Person, Secretary, Vision Attendant, Result Attendant, and Ethics Supervisor. Whereas the Vision Attendant checks whether students are good at subjects related to professions they want to acquire, the Result Attendant watches whether students’ results are promising enough to realize their wishes. (Kibruyisfa whose story we have read is Result Attendant). On the other hand, the Ethics Supervisor is in charge of disciplinary matters in the school.

This way, teachers, students and parents work in concert to strengthen academic roots. As a result, successful generation has started to blossom.

Beneficiaries of Tutorial Classes: Wubit, Kibruyisfa and Habiba (left to right) 7 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 4 Head Up!

Alongside with regular classes, evening Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) classes are conducted in Bakkalcha Elementary school. Here are some of the stories taken from the FAL students.

Mr. Fikadu Worku, resident of Bishoftu town, regretfully narrates a sad moment he had because of his ex- illiteracy. He recounts his experience as follows:

Ato Fikadu, Attending FAL Class

Many years ago, I had Iqub [traditional saving in which people contribute money and take the collected money by lot]. One fateful day, a friend of mine won a lot, and I was supposed to be one of his three guarantors. Given my elegant dressing style that gave me the look of an educated man, how wouldn’t I be a guarantor? However, I began to be embarrassed when my fellow guarantors were asked to sign their names. I knew I would soon be asked to do the same. Tragically, there was nothing I could do other than offering my thumb print for a signature. I was illiterate and I couldn’t sign my name in writing. The Chair Person angrily said, “If it were not for pity’s sake, it would be fair to cut this thumb of yours.” One of the Iqub members too mocked my elegant appearance not accompanied by my literacy.

This time, however, Ato Fekadu continues his story, I am learning at the age of 74 and have been able to write and read. No more embarrassment! So, now I tell a different story with my head up! This is my experience”:

A bajaj [a three wheel vehicle] driver once killed my sheep in a hit-and-run accident. But, he could not get away with it. Thankfully, I was able to trace him by the plate number of the bajaj which I wrote with my very fingers that were laughed at for failing to write years ago. I then took the matter to a Law Enforcement Organ and received compensation for the loss.

Roza under safe roof Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Head Up! Mrs. Debritu Nigussie

Alongside with regular classes, “Previously, my petty evening Functional Adult Literacy trade involved frequent (FAL) classes are conducted in argument with my Bakkalcha Elementary school. Here customers who used are some of the stories taken from the to buy items from me FAL students. on credit. I also used to face similar argument Mr. Fikadu Worku, resident of whenever I purchased Bishoftu town, regretfully narrates a items on credit. We sad moment he had because of his ex- frequently argued illiteracy. He recounts his experience because I had no recorded as follows: proof for the payment I claimed and for what I am supposed to pay” says Many years ago, I had Iqub [traditional saving in which people contribute Mrs. Debritu, who earns money and take the collected money by lot]. One fateful day, a friend of a living by running petty mine won a lot, and I was supposed to be one of his three guarantors. Given trade. my elegant dressing style that gave me the look of an educated man, how wouldn’t I be a guarantor? However, I began to be embarrassed when my fellow guarantors were asked to sign their names. I knew I would soon be Mrs. Debritu, Attending FAL Class asked to do the same. Tragically, there was nothing I could do other than After attending FAL classes and attaining literacy and numeracy skill, however, offering my thumb print for a signature. I was illiterate and I couldn’t sign she started recording credit sales, income, expenses etc. “There is a big difference my name in writing. The Chair Person angrily said, “If it were not for pity’s between running petty trade as an illiterate and literate person” she now says, “For sake, it would be fair to cut this thumb of yours.” One of the Iqub members the literate, transactions are peaceful and fruitful while the opposite holds true for too mocked my elegant appearance not accompanied by my literacy. the illiterate.”

Other participants too are happy with FAL program for it has enabled them to This time, however, Ato Fekadu continues his story, I am learning at the age of 74 identify names of places, read prayer books etc. and have been able to write and read. No more embarrassment! So, now I tell a different story with my head up! This is my experience”: All FAL students express their gratitude to their teachers for their patience to deal with their previous illiteracy. They are equally grateful are for their teachers’ A bajaj [a three wheel vehicle] driver once killed my sheep in a hit-and-run initiation to let them join Self Help Groups (SHGs) In addition to giving them accident. But, he could not get away with it. Thankfully, I was able to trace additional opportunity to practice their newly gained literacy skills, joining SHGs him by the plate number of the bajaj which I wrote with my very fingers has helped tem strengthen their solidarity with fellow students and discuss socio- that were laughed at for failing to write years ago. I then took the matter to economic problems. a Law Enforcement Organ and received compensation for the loss. 9

Roza under safe roof Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 5 Peace and Life

Godino Jitu is a kebele,, 10 kilo meters away from Bishoftu town of Oromia National Regional State. Its residents were suffering from shortage of potable water for a long time. Particularly, women and children had to travel for over an hour to fetch drinkable water from individuals who have tap water. Women recall the difficult time of fetching water with heavy ceramic pots. Though the introduction of jerry cans later made life a little easier, they still had toil a lot to bring water. And the water they had to bring travelling long distance was never enough to carry out the then seemingly luxurious activities such as washing clothes and taking shower. Priority was always given to drinking and cooking. Hence, residents had to go a long way to Balbala River every weekend to wash their clothes.

Differently from other residents, problem of potable water in this kebele had dual adverse impact on children. Because they had to fetch water on daily basis, they were not able to attend classes regularly. It was only children of families who could learn in different shifts, who somehow managed to pursue their studies. While siblings attending in the morning shift fetch water in the afternoon, those who attend in the afternoon shift had to provide the service in the mornings. However, even this was problematic for the children because after such tiresome task, it was

10 Residents Godion Jetu Kebele Fetching Water from Recently Inaugurated Water Point Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO too hard for them to attend classes attentively. Normally, they would go to school simply because they had to.

Due to serious shortage of potable water, Godino Jitu became one of the target areas of JeCCDO under its Access to Basic Services Program, WASH Component. For residents of Gufti village in Godino Jitu kebele, be selected for this intervention was good news. So, they happily contributed their labor. Water and Energy Office of Ada’a Woreda also collaborated with JeCCDO in realizing access to clean water for the community.

As shown in the picture below, February 14, 2014, inauguration of water point for Gufti Village was quite a day even for the neighboring kebele, Bubisa. Community elders, women, children, village Level Water and Sanitation Committee members were so happy to welcome Woreda officials during the inauguration.

Residents of the kebele could not wait to express their joy. During the inauguration, they kept on chanting, “Water is life! Water is Peace! We now have both.” “Contrary to previous hard times when clean water was only for drinking and cooking,” others residents exclaimed, “we now wash clothes with clean water.” Children were even happier. “We will no more interrupt our classes to fetch water,” they joyously proclaimed.

While enjoying the relief, residents thanked God and vowed to work more for the fulfillment of other basic services.

Inauguration of Water Point In Godino Jitu Kebele 11 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 6 The Soonest the Best

Genet Gezu and her daughter, Arsemawit Fanos, were totally dependent on Genet’s parents because the child’s father was unsupportive to them. Genet had no job. As a young single mother, she had the potential to work hard but job was hard to come by. “Even if I had the intention to engage in some business,” she says, “no one was willing to lend me money for I had neither reliable collateral nor successful background.” To make matters worse, her parents’ income from pension and sale of tella was hardly enough to be stretched to respond to the needs of her 2 year old child.

That made her eligible for support by JeCCDO under its program component for Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Their guardians were also entitled to the support. So that she could start her own business, Genet received business skill training and startup capital of 5,000.00 Birr. Added to that, her daughter, Arsemawit was given a monthly stipend of 200 Birr for a year.. By the time Genet took the loan, she could borrow up to 7,500 Br. Genet, however, thought even 5,000 was too much.

Genet’s parents had a room rented as a shop Genet Gezu and her Daughter, Arsemawit Fanos for another person because there was no one in the family to use it. Once Genet became ready to run business, her parents refrained from renewing the rental agreement with the lessee. From then on, the room was meant for their daughter.

12 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

With the 5000 Birr she had borrowed, Genet bought a scale and began selling pepper. The more Genet engaged in business, the more she found it interesting. Later on, she regretted for overestimating 5,000 Birr. With a sense of surprise, she remarked, “As I work and gain more, 5,000 Birr appeared 5 Birr to me. It took me only a month to pay it back. Hence, I really found it too small to run high volume of sales I later had in mind. So, now I am looking for a loan of 50,000 Birr from Amhara Credit and Saving Institution.”

Genet narrates results of business skill training and active engagement in business like as follows:

The Business skill training I took equipped me with better negotiation and customer handling skills. Because of the training, customers who come to my shop do not leave without buying. Even if they leave, I am confident that they will come back the same day or another since I know how to attract them. This time, not only have I reaped fruits of working with passion, but I have also become addicted to work. Since I need more time for my business, I now send my child to a day care center for which I pay 300 Birr per month.

Genet believes that investing more in business makes one more dedicated and cautious, especially if the money is obtained by loan. Presently, she is looking forward to taking a loan again and going to Gojjam and Mareqo (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples National Regional State) where red pepper is produced and purchased on whole sale.

Unsurprisingly, Genet is a little wary of potential decline in business because of the seasonal nature of red pepper trade. She has joined Iqub where she weekly saves 1,010 Birr expecting to collect a total of 100,000.00 Birr. With this money, Genet seeks to buy bajaj and deliver transportation service in case red pepper is out of season. With this in mind, she has now started attending training to get her driving license.

Genet’s fast progress surprised not only her neighbors but her parents as well. Her success story appears to defy the age old saying, “The sooner, the better.” Her pace proves, “The soonest is the best.” Yet, she is not carried away by her massive and quick success. She says, “We are in a very demanding and dynamic era; children’s needs are endless. Hence, as a mother, I am supposed to respond to these needs. For many other reasons too, I should work harder and prosper using the opportunity I got.” 13 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 7

Acting Out the Name

The Amharic word Temsalet“ ” means “Exemplary” in English. Reflective of its name, Temsalet Women’s Dry Waste Disposal Association is an exemplary association worthy of its name. The Association was established in December, 2005 by 14 members who were extremely poor. The meager income they would make by washing clothes and baking injera for their fellow residents was barely enough to fulfill household needs. Because of her dire poverty, one member was, for example, forced to have her daughter drop out of school. She was not able to afford the cost of school uniform.

In search of a better future, these women formed an association and started giving door-to-door dry waste disposal service in kebele 02 of Dire Dawa City—an area with a reputation of careless waste disposal. Yet they used to charge only 5 Birr a month. They knew the amount they charged was too small considering the invaluable service they provide. But they were not discouraged. Rather, they kept on delivering Members of Temsalet Women’s Dry Waste Disposal Association the service and gradually on Duty increased the service fee to 15 Birr. Still, too trivial of a payment compared to this hazardous and demanding task.

Fascinated with Temsalet’s endeavor for waste-free environment, which is in congruence with its effort, JeCCDO stood on the side of the Association. It began its involvement by training the Executive and other Members of the Association on Financial Management and Precautionary Measures. It then provided them with cleaning materials like clothes, pairs of shoes, gloves, masks, and carts.

14 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Witnessing JeCCEDO’s support, Mrs. Workinesh Yohanes, the Chairperson of the Association has this to say, “Had it not been for the full package of support we obtained from JeCCDO, we would have carried the waste on our backs to load it on waste carrying trucks. Even worse, we would have been exposed to the waste. If not assisted by JeCCEDO, we would have been forced to collect it without safe dressing. Hence, the support helped us avoid exposure to diseases.”

Right now, Temsalet’s members grew to 70. Taking Temsalet as a model, other poor people have followed suit. They formed another Disposing Association consisting of 70 members in Kebele 02 of Dire Dawa City. Moreover, impressed by the Association’s engagement, Dire Dawa City Sanitation, Beauty and Parking Agency has been very supportive to them. The Agency charges residents additional money for environmental sanitation fee adding it to service fee for water and sewerage service. That way, it collects 63,025 Birr per month and pays members and monthly salary of 900 Birr for each. And members save 10% of their salary.

Members of Temsalet have a very strong sense of partnership. Not only do they help one another economically, but they also resolve conflicts among spouses and settle conflicts and other social problems. Diversifying their business, they are also currently selling Moringa (a kilo for 50.00 Birr). More encouragingly, they are ready to start brick production with capital of 60,000.00 Birr and they are expecting their kebele to give them place of work. Since Small and Micro Enterprises of Dire Dawa City has promised to facilitate market linkage for the Association, members are optimistic about profitability of their upcoming business. They all are energetic and still want to work more. On top of that, they intend to engage more women by securing land for Moringa plantation. On the whole, members of Temsalet are vividly acting out the name of their Association for all to see and learn from.

Mrs. Tsehay Arege, Alerting Residents for Waste Disposal 15 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 8 Brighter Everyday

Yiheyis and his friends are visually impaired students learning at Dil Chibo Full Cycle Elementary School in Bahir Dar City. Out of 20 visually impaired students in need of support, 15 have complete impairment while the other five have partial impairments. While almost half of these students aspire to be lawyers, the other half wish to acquire various professions.

Though they all try their best to realize their aspirations, visually impaired students had serious problems related to supply of appropriate school materials. They, for example, had serious shortage of braille to take class notes on. They would thus beg other students to read out notes for them. Even then, it is too hard to memorize what their fellow students read for them. It was then that JeCCDO came in. Through its inclusive education program component, JeCCDO began making the required materials including braille available to these students.

In that regard, the story of Yiheyis who joined Dil Chibo School in 2013 is quite telling. What he encountered in his new school was a much better learning environment than the one he was in before. In his eyes, provision of braille, cane, tape recorder and slate has been very helpful for him and his friends to perform well academically. “Provision of braille and slate,” says Yiheyis, “has made feel at ease. We no more worry about not having sufficient notes and wasting space in our braille. On the other hand, the tape recorders have enabled us to record class notes and listen to them again and again until we internalize the points. Besides, as opposed to the wooden sticks we used to have , canes have become very helpful for us particularly when we travel at night. Since the canes reflect light for fellow travelers they can spot us easily.” Yiheyis is one of the outstanding students who benefited from the support. As the result of the support, he stood 2nd in the first and second semesters of the 2013 academic year. He even became the top student of his class in the first semester of 2014. He proudly witnesses that the aforementioned support has greatly contributed to his academic success. Formerly, Yiheyis would use the income he used to make out of selling lottery tickets and road-side scale service for purchasing school materials. Thanks to JeCCDO, he no more has to spend his hard earned money on educational expenses. That is covered by JeCCDO. The money he makes covers his monthly house rent of 450.00 Birr.

In sum, visual impairment of Yiheyis and his friends no more hampers their vision that grows brighter every day.

16 School, Bahir Dar City Some of the Visually Impaired Students at Chibo Full Cycle Dil Elementary

Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

17 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 9 A Stride to Better Identity

Azeb Basha Feeding her Rearing Seeps

Until Azeb Basha became one of beneficiaries of JeCCDO’s intervention in the program for Unemployed Women, she was very shy and homey. Let alone contributing for her community, she did not even use to make her own income; she totally relied on her husband’s salary. Though she has completed grade 12, that did not help her get a job. She ascribes her failure to get a job to her timid personality.

Spark of change started in her life when she happened to be present on a coffee program of Bemnet Women’s SHG established to strengthen the socio-economic solidarity of women. She was then offered to join the group. After joining the group, she started building a brighter tomorrow with the 500 Birr she borrowed from the group. Adding her own 300 to that amount, ,Azeb bought two ewes for rearing. After selling some fattened sheep, she added more of them and currently has 13 sheep ready for sale.

She is keen on diversifying her business; he has already prepared two troughs for a bull she is going to buy soon. The bull she has fattened is ready for sale.. All she wants do now is mature emotionally and economically. Spreading out her palms and looking at them strenuously, Azeb says, “My hard work has made my hands rough. But, I do not worry about that. I know today’s hard work would eventually enable me to have manicured fingers.” 18 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Since she was engaged in business, Azeb is no more timid. She interacts with traders in fodder market. She also runs injera selling business, which she started with the profit she made from the sale of sheep. She claims to have changed now and has started community service— she has volunteered as a teacher for the FAL program. Azeb, Teaching FAL Students

Azeb recalls, “I was too passive to talk to people the way I do now. Hence, I failed to get a job. I am now energetic, communicative and can even chair meetings. At the beginning, my husband was not OK with my active engagements. Gradually, he started to support me when he witnessed my meaningful contributions to the family’s progress.Azeb has also become a good price negotiator. She said, “I once declined a 3,500 Birr offer for a well fattened sheep because I felt I could sell it for a better price if I stay until Easter.” Narrating her success story and her business plans, she further says:

I have now separate bank accounts for my daughter, Firealem Getachew and myself;. I have deposited 1,000 for my daughter birr and 4,500 birr for myself. Moreover, I have been able to afford sending my daughter to a private school. Hence, my daughter has improved her academic performance and stood first in her class in 2007 Ethiopian Academic Year. I have also begun processing license for opening a small restaurant business. I have a plan to open a video shop as well. With more money I will be making out of my current business I intend to scale up the small restaurant I have in mind to a standard hotel.

19 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 10 Heading Requires Head

Tigist is a mother of twins aged 12 who are abandoned by their father. Since poverty and being a single parent has made Tigist and her children’s lives dreary, she spared no effort to maintain the family’s survival. At times, Tigist had to leave at 3:00 am for a tiresome work (roasting grain) that pays little. Often times, she had to leave her children alone requesting neighbors to wake them up for school. Then the family would meet at 8:00 pm when Tigist would be done with the day’s work. Though the work was hazardous to her health, Tigist had no option. Since she is the head of the family, she had to work as a daily laborer.

Tigist with her Twin Daughter

20 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

She thankfully remembers a woman who gave her money to buy three kilos of flour forambasha (kind of homemade bread). Yet, Tigist could not start business with it because she had to feed the bread she baked to her children. Though Tigist’s children had a chance to have lunch in a private school, they were forced to wash dishes in return. Because of that, they would be late for class. Eventually, they preferred to avoid free lunch to missing classes. Tigist tearfully recalls, “My children are wary of my emotion. If they feel that I had nothing on the table, they would never ask for dinner. They would simply go to bed. At school, there were times when my daughters had to share the lunch of other students willing to feed them out of sympathy.”

Gradually, she found her style of making a living insecure. In a word, Tigist had to use her head to come up with better way of earning life. At some point, she decided to engage in sale of injera and ambasha. In spite of her hardship, Tigist was so optimist that she could make life easier if she had the initial capital for business she intended to run.

Then came the time for JeCCDO’s intervention! Tigist was found to be eligible for JeCCDO’s support under its program component for unemployed women. She received business skill training and startup capital of 2,000 Birr. With that money, she bought grain of teff and 50 kilos of flour for ambasha. This is what Tigist had to say on how she has become a reliable family head:

JeCCDO’s support helped me set my foot on the bridge for the business I had in mind. Thank God, I make profit of 700 Birr and 500 Birr from sale of injera and ambasha respectively. Out of the profit I make, I would save 40 Birr per week; 150 Birr every fortnight, and 200 Birr per month. I have also been able to feed my children four times a day. I owe my success to the business skill training and startup capital I was provided with. The training has made me cautious of saving and effective spender of money. I never waste money because every penny matters. I even had to watch my daily coffee consumption.

With a bright face depicting high spirit, Tigist added, “ As I work harder and gain more profit, I will expand my current business into a restaurant.”

21 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 11 Saving Natural Bond

Roman Eshete had been engaged in petty trade before she underwent a deteriorating health condition due to HIV. Roman was unaware of her HIV status until she saw symptoms like loss of weight, diarrhea and wounds on different parts of her body. Since she was busy managing her extended family life, she was not mindful of her situation When she grew weaker and weaker, Roman finally decided to get tested for HIV/AIDS. When she found out about her positive HIV status, she fainted. Then, with assistance of the health post staff, she came to her senses and got convinced to go for further medication and use ART.

Though she was advised to encourage other family members to get tested, she did not have the courage to tell them for fear that she would feel guilty if they tested positive. And it was after four years of using ART that Roman even told her sister about her HIV status. Following that, Roman’s mother and sister got tested. To Roman’s relief, they both tested negative. Pitifully, however, her husband deserted her upon finding out her HIV status. Adding up to Roman’s pain, students started stigmatizing and ridiculing her son at school as a son of an HIV positive woman. It was too touchy to see her son embarrassed.

After that, Roman got her son tested and found out that he was HIV negative. That was good news until she realized she was unable to bring him up in her dilapidated house with no energy to make money. “Though my wish to live revived after I received medical treatment,” says Roman, “I had no idea about how to live.” At the time Roman was so helpless and depressed, coincidentally, the kebele administration invited HIV positive parents that were unable to raise their children to give their children for adoption. Horrified with a consequence of separating from her beloved son, she went to the kebele with her son on her back. Recounting on that fateful day Roman said,

It was a terrible scene to see mothers confused about which evil to choose: keeping their children in poverty or giving away them to adopters. Grown up children, who were able to appreciate what was going on were crying for their biological parents while younger chidren awaited for their fate in silence. Though my intention was to give my son for adoption and disappear, I could not bear the pain of seeing off my 2 years old son in tears. Therefore, I decided to keep him with me even if he may die because of this.

22 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

After deciding to keep her child with her, Roman kept struggling to feed her him, her mother and herself. The house they were living in became no more habitable. “During cloudy weather, my son would ask where we would spend the night in our house because the roof could never protect us from rain,” Roman recalls, “And I used to tell him that one day we might win a lottery and have a better house.” Continuing her story tearfully, she says, “During heavy rain, we used to spend the night in our neighbor’s house. So, with no sign of ending my misery, I started longing for death.”

“After all this hardship the lottery I joked about became true in the shape of JeCCDO’s support,” says Roman. Since she was able to renovate her house through the support of JeCCDO, it became good enough to live in. With some furniture she got from her cousin, she made it more habitable. Soon, Roman took training on Positive Living, and that helped her to aspire for a better life. No more longing for death afterwards! On the contrary, she is currently teaching SHGs and other community members voluntarily about HIV/AIDS. She has also settled the dispute she had with families of children at school who were making a fun of her child for being a son of HIV carrier Most of all, the idea of disappearing or dying no more crosses her mind. She is now making money working as domestic servant; she renders laundry service, injera baking and the like. She is also grateful to all who were by her side in those bad days. Most importantly, Roman is happy and grateful that her natural parenthood was saved.

23 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 12 Beyond Personal Achievements

Bizunesh Yofe is a young girl striving to earn a living by selling avocado at the gates of tearooms or by the road side in Hawassa City. However, these places were not convenient to run her business and there was no room for her to expand her petty trade to a better scale. Yet, Bizunesh never stopped doing what she could. Fortunately, her effort attracted attention of Fetno Derash Idir, Bizunesh Yofe, Serving her Customers with Avocado a CBO that facilitated things for Sandwiches 20 youth including Bizunesh to get organized. As a result, the 20 young people formed an Association named Baleraey, meaning “Visionary” in Amharic. As a member of Baleraey, Bizunesh was able to enjoy support from JeCCDO under its program component for unemployed youth.

After becoming one of JeCCDO’s target beneficiaries, Bizunesh took business skill training and was given a loan of 1,500 Birr. With 500 Birr, she rented a house where she is working in. With the remaining 1,000 birr, she bought avocado and some furniture. Presently, Bizunesh sells fast food such as avocado sandwich and hot drinks. She happily said, “Thank God, now I am running my business in a very friendly environment. Because of the business skill training I got from JeCCDO and the constant visit from its staff I am managing my business well There were times when I had losses particularly at the beginning, but I have survived all that and I have stayed on track.”

She has also involved her in the business. Bizunesh is now in charge of bringing up her niece. As a whole, this family lives in a rented house on the income made from the business she owns.

It has only been six months since Bizunesh started business. Yet, in pride, she claims, “I have weekly saving of 20 Birr with Baleraey. I also save more than 500 Birr per week in my personal bank account. So, as I grow more, my vision goes beyond personal achievements. I will scale up my little fast food service to a big hotel. Then, I will create job opportunity for unemployed youth.” 24 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 13 No Support is Too Little

“In 2007, when I got married to my wife, she never complained about my disability,” says Ashenafi. “Eventually though,” he continues his story, “she became unhappy with our marriage and divorced me in 2009.” Since his wife left their 2 years daughter with him, Ashenafi had to take care of the child. As he was jobless then, he could not even feed his child. There were times when he even had to beg.

Though Ashenafi has hair dressing skill, barbershop owners were not interested to hire him because of his disability. Nor did he have the capital to open his own barbershop. Even if he eventually succeeded in working for barbershop owners, his salary was too meager to cover different expenses including basic needs of his daughter and himself. Covering expenses relate to houses and costs associated with social affairs like Idir was simply unthinkable. Even worse, he was highly stigmatized because of his disability.

Recognizing his problems the Idir finally exempted Ashenafi from paying monthly payment. More rewardingly, leaders of the Idir told him that they would link him to an organization that may support him. “I felt the offer as a God-given opportunity, ”says he. Ashenafi then met JeCCDO and got a business skill training and startup capital of 4,000 Birr. The JeCCEDO people advised him to think of a more realistic business thinking the money was not enough to open his own barbershop. But, that didn’t bother him. He reassured them saying,” Just give me the money and you will see what I will do with my hair dressing and social skills.”

After obtaining 4,000 Birr startup capital, ,Ashenafi made a deal with his friend, who recently bought furniture of barbershop and rented a shop with 16,570 Birr. He offered to pay down payment of 4,000 Birr out of the 16,580 and pay the rest while working. Since his friend agreed with the deal, Ashenafi hit the road. A week after he started the business, he joined iqub in which he saved 400 Birr a week. Then, he collected 8,000 Birr; paid his remaining debt, and he is left with 4,580 Birr.. Given his thriving business that kept him too busy to narrate this story, Ashenafi is confident to pay back the remaining debt soon.

In order to save money that could have been spent for a house rent, Ashenafi and his daughter live in the barbershop rented for 700 Birr per month. He now comfortably pays a monthly school fee of 120 Birr for his daughter and covers other expenses necessary for their life. Speaking of his future, Ashenafi says, “I want to learn more to be a professional hair dresser. I will then have a larger and modern barbershop and will hire a lot of people to help me with the business.” 25 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 14 Hidden Treasure in the Backyard

Mr. Alemayehu Asmamaw is a pensioner who worked for 42 years in Bahir Dar Textile Factory. Five family members, including two children of 8 and 11 years old were dependent on his pension fee. With his meager pension, it was really tough to have bread on table three times a day.

While Mr. Alemayehu’s family was in critical living condition, his backyard was left unused for years despite its potential to be a source of food and income. Interestingly, Mr. Asmamaw’s focus was on his plantation located at far place from his house because it was bigger in size. At the same time, he knew that the land could be taken away from him any day. And eventually it was given to an investor.

It was then that Alemayehy began to realize that there was a hidden treasure in his very backyard. After taking some training on Bio Intensive Gardening (BIG), he and his wife, Mrs. Amaled started producing vegetables at their backyard. Here is how he reflects on how they benefited from their backyard farm:

I lack words to tell how my family has benefited from vegetables. We have variety of food on table. We get monthly income of at least 1,500 Birr out of it. The house furniture the family owns now was bought with the income made from sale of vegetables. Even if we use tap water for the vegetables, we can hardly call it a cost because it only takes a sale of half day to pay monthly water consumption. As a matter of fact, using tap water has increased demand for our products because people need organic vegetables produced with clean water.

Speaking more on how their sale has improved, Alamayehu says, “Previously, we used to take vegetables to the market. This time, however, people come to our residence and buy fresh vegetables in larger quantity loading them on vehicles.” He winds up his success story saying, “Finally, my challenging past urged me to take the best out of my abandoned backyard, and I am reaping its fruit.”

26 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 15 Never Too Late

Mrs. Beletu G/kidan, a 70 year old woman, had no pension or any other permanent source of income to live on. She said, “I had only a cow I bought with the money someone gave me as a condolence when my son died.” After some time, Beletu obtained support from JeCCDO through Idir leaders. With that financial support, she bought two sheep for rearing. Besides, she received training on sheep rearing. Mrs. Beletu also prepares fodder for the sheep herself Her son assists her taking fattened sheep to the market for sale. Presently, Mrs. Beletu owns 10 sheep.

Recounting on the advantage of taking training on sheep rearing, Mrs. Beletu said, “Previously, we used to rear sheep traditionally. Unsurprisingly, it would take us about a year to fatten a sheep and make it ready for sale. Thanks to the training, we have now been able to fatten and sell sheep in six months.” In the future, Mrs. Beletu wants to buy a bull to fatten and sell. Closely following her success, women SHG is ready to lend her the money because she is a member and has a saving in the group. Age has not thus limited Mrs. Beletu from upgrading her sheep rearing business into a greater scale and more profitable venture i.e. bull fattening. Old as she is, she feels it is never too late to run one’s own business.

27 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 16 Getting Rid of The Dust

Workinesh Assefa is an HIV positive woman who bears responsibility of raising her two children and a grandson. She sells tella (local alcoholic drink) as a means of livelihood. Though she provides tella of fine quality to her customers, she could not maintain them because they were unhappy with her dilapidated house, whose roof could not even save them from burning sun and rain. Genet’s family members had, however, no other place to turn to. They would tolerate sunny days and had to wear plastic sheets during rainy nights.. Sometimes, they would even watch debris of the wall falling over while Workenesh Assefa on Duty they were inside.

Whatever the circumstance,, it was a must for Genet to manage a family even with meager income she tried to make. Often times, she had to purchase grain to make tella on credit. Besides, she had to roast the grain in smoky kitchen though it would worsen her poor her health,, particularly her TB problem. These problems made the family’s life very miserable. Recalling those sad days, Genet says, “I used to complain every day because I was empty-handed even though I toiled day and night to make money and take care of my family.”

In spite of the discouraging environment she lived in, Workinesh never lost hope. She tried every possible way out. She used to collect discarded plastic bags from market places and tried to plant vegetables in them at least for household consumption.

28 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Eventually, Workinesh started to take a different life course. That happened when she became one of JeCCDO’s beneficiaries in its intervention for supporting PLHIV. The support she got from JeCCDO included integrated support of house renovation, Bio Intensive Gardening (BIG), provision of business skill training and startup capital of 2,500 Birr. 40% of the start capital was given to her as a loan and she was required to be a member of women’s Self Help Group (SHG). All that brought Genet’s dawn of hope closer. With the startup capital, she bought equipment and grain for making tella and she stopped purchasing on credit. She was thus lucky enough to start a profitable business free of debt.

After the renovation of her house, Workinesh’s business started flourishing. The new environment has begun attracting more customers. She also started making more profit and higher volume of sales that enabled her to hire someone for grain roasting. Moreover, with the money she saved in daily Iqub, she bought a CD player for 2,400 Birr and other furniture for more than 1,000 Birr. Speaking of the advantage of owning assets, she notes, “It is good to have such assets, not just because they give good look to the house, but they are also treasures for my children.” She also got personal saving account at Amhara Credit and Saving Institution and group saving in SHG.

Vegetable production from bio intensive gardening is the other means of livelihood for Workinesh. In addition to household use, she sells a variety of vegetables for 50 to 60 Birr per week.

Presently, Workinesh confidently asserts,

I am living a happy life now because I have been able to respond to the needs of my children and grandson. Poverty is like dust. It does not stick to people forever; it can be got rid of through hard work and endurance. Now, my dreadful days are over; my friends ask me to lend them money, and I do lend them. It feels great to improve one’s life; it is far greater to be there for others when they are in need and that is what I am now.

At the moment, Workinesh’s concern is to secure residential house because she now lives in a government-owned house. And she believes that is quite achievable. “I will work hard and save more,” she vows, “so that I will buy or build my own house which I can put as legacy for my children.”

29 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 17 Building Up One Another

“Yishalenal” is an Amharic word meaning “Better for us.” Here is the story of one of the young women who joined women SHG and saw how her life has improve after joining the group. In 2007, Genet Ayele dropped out of school because she was an orphan under custody of her uncle, who could not maintain friendly home environment for her to attend school. As she was just an eighth grader then, there was no way she could get a well-paying job. Thus, she immediately got married, and became a home maker with small amount of income she would earn by selling areqe (a local alcoholic drink). That was, however, a very challenging task. She had to pay extra cost of 50 to 60 Birr to buy grain and fuel wood on credit for she had no money when she started the business. Genet with Her Husband and Son Later, her life took a different route when she joined a self-help group (SHG) known as Yisahlenal. As a literate member, she soon became the secretary of the group. After that, the SHG grew to a cluster level association (CLA) where Genet continued to serve as a treasurer for three years after. Eventually, she became a Chairperson of the association.

Genet says that she has got a multi thronged support from JeCCDO. For example, Amanuel, her 5 year old son was given a monthly stipend of 200 Birr a year, sanitary materials and clothing. As a guardian, she also has got support of loan service, business skill training, and conducive atmosphere to get organized in women SHG.

Genet is so systematic in handling financial support that she saved 50 Birr out of the 200 monthly stipend for her son. With the remaining 150 Birr, she purchased grain and fuel wood for areqe preparation. That way, she saved the extra cost of 50 to 60 Birr she used to incur resulting from a purchase on credit basis. Added to that, she made her business of areqe sale profitable enough to enable her to join Iqub and furnish her house. This time, she has managed to let her son, Amanuel Reta, watch television at home because the family owns one. 30 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

With loan access facilitated for guardians, Genet took a loan of 5,000.00 Birr with which she bought sheep and grain for areqe making. She sells the areqe during Ethiopian rainy season. Since she sells her areqe on wholesale, she does not have to host individual customers in her house. Unfortunately, she could not continue with the sheep fattening business for the kebele took some space from her compound for public use. Yet, she has made profit of 700 Birr from a sale of one sheep she has fattened. Add to that the extra 600 Birr she got from the sale of other two sheep. Currently, she has paid back 2,250 Birr of her debt, and is paying back 275 Birr per month. She expects to be paying back her debts in 10 months.

Explaining the various advantages of joining an SHG, Genet says,

All 16 members of the group build up one another’s lives; we create jobs, and as a Group we have a capital of 18,000 Birr. Members can borrow 1,500 to 2,000 Birr. There is also conflict resolution committee in the group to solve spousal disputes. So, we build up one another’s life. Personally, experience sharing visits arranged by JeCCDO has enabled me to see life from different angles. I learnt a lot from successes of women who have been involved in SHG for a long time. Previously, I never had the habit and exposure of sharing and solving my problems with others. I would simply get worried and face unnecessary loss that could have been avoided through discussion with others. But now, I have learnt how to resolve individual and group challenges. Moreover, I have got the confidence even to moderate meetings and communicate with government sector offices.

Presently, Genet has become so far-sighted that she is committed to ensuring prosperous future for her son. Even after her monthly stipend stopped, she has kept on saving in her son’s bank account. Acknowledging the support she has got from JeCCDO, she remarks, “I really appreciate JeCCDO for its support that basically focuses on building people’s attitude to gain economic and emotional independence through their own effort.”

Though Genet is currently working for an association earning a monthly salary of 500 Birr, in the future, she wants to run her own business. Striving to exercise socio-economic independence, she claims that she is looking for possible profitable businesses.

31 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 18

How On Earth, for Death?

Having failed in 8th grade twice, Aynalem Sinebo became frustrated; fled her home town, Hangecha and came to Hawassa City in 2012. Though she had relatives in this City, she had no ground to claim their support after leaving her parents behind. She had to find a way to earn money to live on. However, her limited educational background (just an eighth grader) and poor exposure to the city hindered her from getting a decent job. Thus, she desperately chose commercial sex work. As a commercial sex worker, she worked for some three years. Aynalem regretfully said, “While I was working as commercial sex worker, I was both unhappy and sorrowful. I always felt my life was in real danger because of HIV/AIDS. Deep inside, I had the enthusiasm to quit and change, but I did not know how to.do that.”

Aynalem on Duty

32 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

After that, Aynalem met a VCDPF working for JeCCDO who assisted her in realizing the change she was yearning for. She received business skill training and startup capital of 1,500.00 Birr from JeCCDO following her eligibility to be a beneficiary of its program component for Unemployed Women and Youth. And this is how Aynalem recalls her first contact:

Invitation for business skill training by JeCCDO’s VCDPF was the path that led me up to a better life. It was only after a day-long training on September 17, 2014 that I decided to quit commercial sex work and opted for coffee selling business. So, I never forget that day. But, my friends were scared that I would be in trouble because I used to make good money as a commercial sex worker and spend lavishly. They were worried that I would never be able to live on small amount of money I might make out of the sale of coffee and survive on it. Admittedly, I had a stressful time when I started the business. So, I prayed to God to take my life if this change was going to be for death because it is much better to die this way than dying as a commercial sex worker. After all I am mortal.

Although Aynalem said she was scared of making insufficient money at the beginning, she did not back off. And contrary to expectations, gradually, her new business went fine. At the moment, Aynalem makes 40 to 50 Birr per day and saves 15 to 20 Birr on daily basis. Other than covering her food and related expenses, she also pays 350 Birr as a house rent per month.

Aynalem exclaims in joy, “My current life is different; I have peace of mind now. Moreover, I have regained courage to resume my studies. Next year, I will go to school on the night shift. In the future, I believe I will be more successful if I get a place to work to run petty trade like selling fruit.”

As a matter of fact, Aynalem wants to reach more heights before contacting her relatives in Hawassa. She has decided to present herself with still more dignified identity.

Finally, Aynalem found out that the change was never for death; not even simply for life, but for a safe and decent one.

33 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 19 Compensation Exceeding the Loss

Adem Abdo was one of the peasants under threat of powerful flood roaring and running down from a hill behind his house. It was a disaster that would carry silt and stone to the household’s farm and damage sorghum plantation. The plantation was a means of livelihood for the entire family. Like other fellow residents of Gende Rigge Kebele, Adem’s family (comprising nine persons, of which 7 are the children), was beneficiary of government wheat donation under safety net program. Bearing that calamity in mind, JeCCDO intervened in this kebele through its Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) program component. Adem was fortunate enough to be one of the farmers who benefitted from the project by taking part in the training on how to deal with the long lasting disaster. After the training, the farmers united not simply to prevent flood disaster, but to take advantage of it as well. A package of training for multi-faceted results equipped Adem and his neighbors with a capacity of building stone-bund terrace, water conservation, and plantation of fruits like orange, papaya and mango. Presently, the ex-scary flood has got a different name. Adem and his neighbors call it, “Bishaan Taliiloo” In Oromoifa it means “pure water”—meaning it no longer brings stone and silt. Rather it is diverted for watering the farm. So, the previous threat has become a resource, which compensates more than the loss it causes. In the words of Adem, “Before the training and community mobilization to build stone bund terrace, I had no guarantee at all to harvest sorghum. Even if I harvested, it was not more than two or three quintals. After the intervention, however, I harvested 15 quintals.” He added, “I do not keep my farm idle anymore when sorghum is not in season. At this time, I have planted papaya, mango and orange till sorghum is in season. First I took the seedling from JeCCDO, but now I have started preparing my own seedlings because I have been trained.” Adem’s wife, Mrs. Hamida Jirbril, too is a hard working woman. She planted two trees which she watered fetching water on a donkey’s back from a river that takes two hours walk. This time, the trees have become shelter for the family and neighbors to rest. To keep a long story short, the family has remarkably benefited from the intervention. It is now self-sufficient and it no more takes donation from the safety net program. Moreover, the family has succeeded in getting tap water. Mrs. Hamida does not have travel for hours to fetch water. Adem and his family still want to build on this smashing success and they aspire to garner better yields by harvesting tomato and onion on top of the fruits they are harvesting now.

34 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 20 How to Make Use of Opportunity

Bahiru Alamirew, young man who lives in Bahir Dar City, was forced to be a shoe shiner because he could not pass the National Exam to continue higher education. With massive potential he had, what Bahiru needed was to improve his life by equipping himself with marketable skills. Hence, he applied in response to an announcement by his kebele for support offered for unemployed youth. As he was found to be eligible for the offer, he became one of the target beneficiaries of JeCCDO’s intervention to support orphan and vulnerable youth.

Accordingly, Bahiru attended a training on bajaj driving, the cost of which (4,000 Birr) was covered by JeCCDO. Then, he got a driving license and started working for one bajaj owner. He made a deal with the employer to make a minimum of 80.00 Birr per day and take any extra amount of money he makes for himself. And he happened to make a daily income of 100.00 Birr or more. So, the extra money he makes became additional income to what he gets by guarding an office.

Bahiru is good at saving and has now been able to cover his college education fees. Presently, he is a 2nd year Engineering student. What is more, he has paid down payment of 20,000.00 Birr to buy the bajaj from its owner and is going to pay the remaining 20,000.00 in a few months. After that, he will have daily income of at least 100.00 Birr. He also wishes to engage in construction business after completing his studies in Civil Engineering. That way, Habtamu showed us how to make use of an opportunity.

Bahiru, Pausing in his Bajaj

35 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 21 Dependable Unity

Kebele 05 Bekur Idir’s Union Charity Association was established in 2011. Presently, the Union has 366 (182 female and 184 male) members. During its establishment, there were people who doubted its success. It has, however, reached where it is now because of the dedication of its leadership and members. In order to respond to the needs of different groups including children, PLHIV, the elderly, the disabled and other community members in need, the Association had to enhance its institutional capacity.

In its long but successful journey of addressing the needs of its members, the Idir was not alone. As witnessed by Mr. Guta Kumsa, Deputy Chairperson of the Association, JeCCDO has contributed a lot in enabling the Association to pursue systematized operation; to have strong leadership, and to establish income generating activities such as Grind mill, grain bank, stationery and photocopy service. Since the Network provides service at lower price, it has many customers. For instance, Debre Birhan University and residents even from other kebeles are customers of its grind mill service.

With the profit the Association makes out of its IGA, it supports a number of community members like OVC and their guardians, elders with no supporters, the disabled, PLHIV and other needy community members. And yet, the association is well aware that JeCCDO’s support is not meant for ever. At the moment, the Association is confident that it can keep on its interventions in development even in the absence of JeCCDO’s support. That is why Bekur works hard on IGA to have sustainable source of funding, and strengthening of its institutional capacity. In addition to supporting needy community members with part of the income it makes, Bekur has also created job opportunity for staff who work at the grind mill, stationery and photocopy services.

As part of its institutional capacity building, Bekur has been able to design project proposals; compete with other CBOs and has won fund from two donor international organizations such as ELMA Philanthropies and Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).

36 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

Members of Kebele 05 Bekur Idir’s Union Charity Association on Duty 37 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Story 22 Labor Pain < Pain of Poverty

Unfortunate moments of dispute at home messed up the life of Roman Thomas, a young girl from Sidama Zone. Fed up with constant disagreement with her parents, Roman decided to join street life in Hawassa City, with no clear anticipation of the upcoming risk. As she had no source of income to live on, she ended up being a beggar.

Though she managed to stay alive, there came another challenge to her existing destitution. She met her boyfriend, Shibiru, who later became her husband, and they had three children from this union. The eldest one, Simegn is 6 years old; the middle one, Dagim is 4; and the youngest, Roza is 2 months old. Since Roman contracted HIV, she was not healthy and strong enough to take care of her children. Nor was Shibiru capable of playing his parental role and making enough money to manage the family. Hence, given the compelling situation in street life, in order to bring additional income for the family, the spouse had to involve Simegn and Dagim in the begging venture

Roman tearfully recalls that the support from Faith, Hope, Love Family Service Association, Local Implementing Partner (LIP) of JeCCDO in the project funded by CSSP came at exactly the right moment. At that time, her family was suffering from extreme poverty and degrading status. She said, “Different individuals used to Roman with her daughter come and register our names inciting expectations in our minds. But, none of them came back with concrete effort to help us out. But, this intervention has tangibly enabled us to change our lives to the better.”

38 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

When the LIP admitted Roman and her family as eligible target beneficiaries of the project, Roman was expecting her third child. The delivery could take place any day.. In spite of that, Roman did not want to wait the new baby idly and doing nothing. She took part in a Business Skill Training knowing a labor pain could manifest right in the training hall any minutel. In Roman’s view, labor pain was less painful than pain of poverty. As expected, symptoms of the pain started and Roman was taken to a health post with support from the LIP staff and she gave birth.

A few weeks after giving birth, Roman was provided with startup capital of 4,000 Birr. On top of that, the Kebele Administration gave her a one room house impressed by her endeavor to change. Still, Roman was not concerned about bed rest she was entitled as a new mother. Instead, she made herself busy additional small room to her house where she could sell fast foods like soup. However, the staff from LIP that frequently followed up Roman observed that Roman’s eagerness has a downside as well. She and her child were not in good health condition. So, she was advised to take some rest and resume her business afterwards .Accordingly, she paid more attention to her Anti Retroviral Treatment and her child’s health.

Quitting fast food sale temporarily, Roman bought two ewes for rearing and chicken. Now she has five sheep and 9 hens. Moreover, since she and her child are in better health condition, she has now started working as a cleaner for a Coble Stone Construction Project. She earns 460 Birr per month, out of which, she saved 400 Birr per month, and bought house furniture such as bed, cupboard, tape recorder etc. Roman has now a sense of relief and pride in being able to live in a house that she furnished with her own effort. The family has also separate saving for children’s clothes and other needs. Her husband’s effort to add up to the family’s income is not to be undermined. Working as a daily laborer, Shibru supports her to save and see more possibilities for growing by handling other household expenses.

Now, Roman is so energetic that she not only works as a cleaner for a paying job, but also volunteers for environment cleaning service initiated by Faith, Hope, Love Family Service Association.

Presently, Roman joyfully witnesses, “It is great to see my children liberated from begging, and going to school just like other children from decent families. Yet, this is not the end; I will work harder and harder for still more success.”

39 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Roza Under Safe Roof Safe Roza Under

40 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO

JeCCDO is extremely grateful for the following donors: American Embassy - Ethiopia Firelight Foundation - USA American Jews World Service(AJWS) Interkerkelijke Stitichting Ethiopia/ - USA Eritrea of the Netherlands (ISEE) The Baring Foundation-UK Kindernothilfe (KNH) - Germany Civil Society Support Programme Nike Foundation - USA (CSSP) - Ethiopia Partner for Change Ethiopia – UK Comic Relief – UK Planet Wheeler Foundation - Consortium of Christian Relief and Australia Development Agency (CCRDA) - Ethiopia Projetto Continenti - Italy Cordaid, The Netherlands Segal Family Foundation Edukans Foundation - The Stop AIDS Now! / SAN!-The Netherlands Netherlands ELMA Philanthropies - USA Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) Ethiopiaid Australia Foundation Terre Des Hommes Netherlands Ethiopian Social Accountability (TDHN) Programme (ESAP II) - Multi Trust Funding Water Aid Ethiopia Finland Embassy - Ethiopia 41 Success Stories from the Horse’s Mouth The Experience of JeCCDO Let’s Join Our Hands for Sustainable Community Development!

JeCCDO

251-11-667 54 00 251 -11-667 54 01 41742 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [email protected] www.jeccdoethiopia.org www.facebook.com/JeCCDOEthiopia twitter.com/JeCCDOEthiopia