I’ve just got off the phone with Siiqqee, the grassroots feminist group who are so determined to get a new project in Ethiopia off the ground.
Here’s the idea: support women experiencing extreme poverty to form their own self help groups. Siiqqee will run training workshops and provide start-up funding to get them started. Women can pool their resources and gain economic independence, rather than being forced into exploitative work situations.
It sounds great, doesn’t it? But I’m concerned.
Because here’s the catch: to do more work like this, we need to hit our £9,000 September fundraising target. And right now, I don’t know if we will.
Women’s self-help groups like this are a game changer. If women can support each other and make money on their own terms, they won’t be forced to work in exploitative conditions. It can be a whole new start for women - they’ll have these skills, confidence, and community for life.
Marta's fresh start
Marta (pictured above) was trying to make an income through trading before Siiqqee approached her. She could only afford to buy a small amount of stock at a time and a lack of business knowledge held her back.
"I didn't know how to identify my profit margin. I could not separate the costs from the income. It was too late by the time I realised I was making a loss. I got into trouble as I used that business to send my children to school."
It was then that Siiqqee approached women in her community with the offer of business training and information on how women could save and work together.
"After we finished with Siqqee we didn't give up what we'd learnt because it was so beneficial. It's because of Siiqqee I was able to construct a house and educate my children."
Hearing about women who’ve changed their lives by getting involved in groups like these fills me with such hope. It’s the best part of my job. But the worst thing would be to say no because there’s simply not enough funding.
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