A Woman who change her life from destitution to self-reliance

W/ro Meseret Wassie is 28-year-old woman, and she was born in Yed Wuha Town, of Shebel Berenta Woreda of East Gojjam zone. She has three children. She was illegally migrated to United Arab Emirates for the sake of livelihood improvement.  As the result she was arrested for 8 month their and deported to Ethiopia immediately after her jail term.  She settled down at Burayu town by marrying Simegnew Yeshiwas who was working as daily labor. But, due to the communal violence erupted at Burayu  town, Meseret lost her asset and fled to Addis Kedam town of Awi Zone in Amhara Region.

Because of the conflict incidence her husband becomes mentally ill and unable to get job to support his family. When the Self Reliance Project started targeting of project beneficiaries, Meseret was screened based on the selection criteria developed by the project since the project focus on returnees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities.

The project provided ‘work ready now’ training that motivates her to start petty trade and ‘Be Your Own boss’ training which increase self and Business Management Skill of the beneficiary.

After the training she engaged in petty trade and obtained profit to support her three children. Meseret always sale her commodities throughout the week including non-market days.  In the mean while Meseret developed her business plan to get access for credit and initial capital to expand her business. After her business plan reviewed and accepted by technical committee, she got 25,000 Birr as Start-up Capital financial support from SSR project to expand her business.

Meseret said, with the support of ORDA Ethiopia’s SSR project and close mentoring and follow up of the youth employment officer, Mengaw, she was able to expand her business by opening mini shop in the working space provided by Addis Kidam town with the facilitation of ORDA Ethiopia.