Dear John
We have 5 days left in this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge and £20,368 still to raise!
Can you help us fund this year’s project ‘Women Leading Sustainable Cooperatives’ so it can go ahead in 2021?
A problem shared is a problem halved
Today, I would like to tell you a story that perfectly captures the power of women coming together to make change in their lives.
When Womankind partner Siiqqee Women's Development Association first approached Yeshi (pictured below) about working and saving with other women, she was sceptical.
“A woman came and invited us to come to a meeting. We insulted her, saying
“What can you do for us?”
We just thought she was wasting our time.”
Yeshi and the women in her community were earning just enough to get by each day. They didn't believe saving would be possible for them. This has been the way of life for women in Nekemte, Western Ethiopia for generations.
“We we living from hand to mouth. Everyone was struggling for themselves. There was nothing to save, no information.
There was no improvement in sight.”
Siiqqee started holding training on saving and basic literacy for women in the local area. They started off by saving tiny sums each per day. To their surprise, it wasn’t long before the group had saved over 60,000 birr. (£1,183). Siiqqee then started holding workshops on how the group could use their savings to start an income-generating business.
Yeshi's women's cooperative are now engaged in spice production and have secured a shop front which they trade from (Nekemte, Western Ethiopia)
The group didn’t stop there! Together they started an additional saving scheme which acts as an insurance policy for cooperative members.
“After just a few months, we started a social savings, separate to the Siiqqee saving scheme. We use this for medical emergencies or to support a member when she gives birth.“
After feeling the social and financial benefits of working with other women, Yeshi is keen for Siiqqee to extend the training she received to other women in the community.
“The biggest challenge for women in this community is money. Many women see me and ask me where I am going and what I am doing. They ask if I know someone who can organise and teach them how to save so they can get the same chance as me.”
This year’s project in the Big Give Christmas Challenge wants to do just that - establish and expand women-led cooperatives in Ethiopia so more and more women can directly feel the benefits of coming together to make change.
Can you help us make this a reality?
A reminder that all donations made via the Big Give website will be DOUBLED until next Tuesday (Dec 8th) Click the links below to make the most of match giving.
Thank you, John.
Hannah Little
Fundraising & Marketing Officer
Womankind Worldwide
P. S. Go one step further with your support in our Big Give Christmas Challenge this year by sharing our campaign page on social media via the links below:
