Voices of Women
These success stories are from women who have benefited directly from being involved in the activities of Arat Kilo Child Care & Community Development.
Abebech Wodabo / June 2009
My name is Abebech Wodabo. I live in Addis Ababa in a place called Arat kilo. I have ten children and two of them have received sponsorship benefits from AKCCCD Family Helper programme. I am among the active participants of the AKCCCD MED programme. I joined the MED program three years ago and currently I have a pass book for my monthly saving and loan transaction record.
I received intensive BBS (Basic Business Skills) Training and based on that I started to run my own small shop. In addition to saving, I am a share holder of the cooperative. As a cooperative, we received a grant of 183,513.00 birr from AKCCCD (£10,700 approx).
Around 400 mothers are active participants and shareholders. Our saving reaches around 47,500.00 birr.(£2,800 approx) So from this money and our saving every interested member of the cooperative can get loan and business skill training. I myself have got a loan of 1,000.00 birr (£80 approx) during first round and after repaying this, I am now planning to get a second loan of 2,000.00 birr (£160 approx)
Now my monthly income has risen to between 300.00 - 400.00birr. My children are not worried about not having any food to eat for their breakfast and lunch. This is very great change for my family. I would like to thank AKCCCD because they have given me a bright hope for tomorrow.
Shewaye Hile / June 2009
Shewaye Hile is a 52 year single mother who lives in Addis Ababa. 16 years ago her husband died leaving her responsible for bringing up their 4 children and two cousins.
Before joining the MED programme and receiving a loan from AKCCCD Shewaye was only able to feed her family once a day, and she was always worried about the future and how she would provide food for her family.
Shewaye joined the AKCCCD co-operative 3 years ago. Through it, she was able to receive a small loan and basic business skill training. Now Shewaye’s future is much brighter: with the loan she was able to open her own small cosmetics shop enabling her to earn a regular income. Today Shewaye is proud that she is self-sufficient and can support her large family by herself.
Shewaye says "I would like to thank AKCCCD for the bright hope they have given me for the future"