Path to change
Tehuledere woreda was one of the areas that is prone to drought, poverty, and illegal migration. Like other target beneficiaries, Zehara and her villagers are in deep poverty. Even though poverty was the problem in most communities, women’s poverty was increasing alarmingly. Poverty, in conjunction with different socio-economic and cultural factors, made women economically highly vulnerable.
The main objective of the project was to improve food security and reduce poverty through livelihood creation and diversification of the target beneficiaries like Mrs. Zehara Kebede.
A newly married 25-year-old, Zehara Kebede was one of the poorest farmers in Tehuledere Woreda, Hara Keble was included as a project beneficiary for animal provision under the LCD project.
To realize that desired outcome, Kelem, backed by its partners along with its stakeholders, has come up with subsequent project activities that are considered to bring the needed outcome. Among these project beneficiary selections by the stakeholders, making use of mutually agreed criteria was one of the intervention’s activities, which brought Mrs. Zehara and many other poor farmers into the picture. Once Mrs. Zehara and other beneficiaries were on the train, they were familiarized with why they were there and were provided with life skills and technical training in coordination with their respective woreda stakeholder offices. Following the training, Kelem delivered to all three mother goats or sheep based on the suggestion by Woreda key stakeholders. In addition to the beneficiaries, their Kebele-level agricultural office heads and animal expertise experts (Developmental Agents—DS’s or Agricultural Extension Workers—AEWs) were provided with relevant training by Kelem that will help them consult the target beneficiaries in their effort to change their economic and social status with the support they acquire from the project. Finally, on 14th May 2023, Zehara received 3 mother goats and signed the agreement to transfer those mother goats after 4 months. The goats gave birth to their kids for Mr. Ali Yousuf who was selected for the second animal restocking beneficiary.
Following receiving life skills and technical training, Zahra and her husband did not waste time; instead, they prepared themselves for proper goat herding as per the knowledge and skills they gained from training. After 6 months she received nanny goats; she got 4 female offspring. Then after the proper milking period for kids, she transfers them to the second round selected beneficiaries based on the agreement she had made. Amazingly, after one year, she had a nanny (mother) goat, two of which were pregnant, and one offspring reared from those 3 mother goats she received from Kelem, Ethiopia. This project brings different benefits for first- and second-round beneficiaries and the community in general. First-round beneficiaries have built assets that are guaranteed for their lives and enhance their social status in the community. It enhanced the psychological, social, and economic life of the beneficiaries and their family It contributes its role in reducing poverty and food insecurity.
“On 14th May 2023, Kelem Ethiopia gave me 3 mother goats, which were hope for my future life, and I was very hopeful. Then these mother goats were born with four female goat offspring after six months. And I transferred the three mothers to Ali. Now, my offspring have been rearing them with equal social status with other peers. Now I have three mother goats and one offspring. Two of them are pregnant and will give birth after four months. If my goats go to market, they will be sold for about 23,000 Birr. I am a newly married 25-year-old girl who subsidizes (supports) my new house by rearing goats and building assets. Thanks to Kelem Ethiopia, I have a big asset, which is a guarantee for borrowing money and other valuable things from the villagers.”. Said Zahara
Zehara Kebede plans to save all that she collects from the sales of the goats in the bank and seek additional opportunities that could complement her business plan of expanding rearing goats and remain a model for the rest of the villagers. She mentioned that some financial service providers could arrange loan access and speed up her business with the consultation of the experts supporting them there.
The project intervention supported Zahara Kebede to be self-reliant and become more visionary. Her social status was boosted and economically empowered. It inspired her for additional social responsibilities. Even it helped her to rate herself as one of the future successful businesspersons in the village. It means she built self-esteem towards herself.
On the other hand, the project itself learned how the animal restocking approach has significantly and positively impacted community members with the small amount at hand; such a kind of project designing had enormous and sustainable effects.
