In April I was able to return to Ethiopia after being away for nearly a year. I was somewhat apprehensive not knowing what I would find left of the many projects we started when we were there. Amazingly all the projects were going as well and in some cases better than when we were there. There is way too much to try and update you with all the exciting developments- something like trying to drink from a fire hose. In order to keep this email brief I will only talk about one thing or project for now and then will send you an update every month with details on each of the other projects.
I'll start with the smallest project. This goes to show how "little can be much". This project was started by a donation from Sarah and Rachel's best friend Anna, who went door to door selling cards she had made. Sarah and Rachel also raised money by rolling coins donated by family members and friends, and selling their custom greeting cards. A small micro-loan project was started with members of Sue's Bible study group. When they became Christians they wanted to do something for their communities. One of the lead members stated that previously she would not think of giving anything to her neighbours. Even if she had extra clothes she said she would hoard them and never consider helping anyone. She said that before she felt dead inside, but since she became a Christian she said she now feels a real love and desire to help others. With the help of some dear friends and funds that Sarah and Rachel raised, they were able to start to give small loans to the most needy in the community. We've come to feel that loans to start small businesses are much better than outright gifts. One of the first recipients was Adamu who wanted a loan for a shoe shine kit so he could help provide for his mother. Adamu not only paid the loan back and provided monthly income for his mother but started contributing monthly to a local community savings plan where every month a recipient is selected to win the jack pot. He has already won the jackpot once and is contributing to the second savings plan.
They also started a spiritual lending library in the community so neighbours can borrow books, Bibles and spiritual resources. Emabet one of the leaders has now moved to Addis and is starting the same program there as well as a local Bible study in her home. This project has really taken off with dozens of benificiaries now. Silinat has taken over for Emabet in her community in Bahir Dar as well as Demelesh is on fire coordinating the loans, reporting and expanding in his community. The micro-loans are making a huge difference- Demelesh says there is hardly a family not affected in his community. He spends a great deal of time visiting their projects and sitting in their homes witnessing and talking about life issues. Once they repay the loan a larger loan is possible if they have a plan. Some have expanded their business starting out by simply selling tea to having multiple streams of income from things like seed distribution, basket weaving etc. The little shoe shine boy says that one day he hopes to be a merchant with a large store. He has definitely shown his ability to make the most out of little. I expect he will go far.
Future projects I will update you on are- the People Living With AIDS project (it is going unbelievably well). Vocational Training for young women at risk, The Multi-purpose centre, the Gumuz agro-forestry project, Scholarship projects as well as new partners with a host of new projects. There is much to write about but I'll have to save it for later.
