Ethiopia - Supporting projects that advocate against gender-based violence
In the economically depressed slum area of Kebele 04 in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, the Good Shepherd Sisters have undertaken various community support programmes. These promote and encourage a rights-based approach to development through targeting the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society, in particular women and young people.
At the Good Shepherd Sisters’ Centre, established in 1976, they believe in advocating for the rights of women through the provision of non-formal education and training programmes.
In 2009, the Sisters started to move towards a familyfocused community development programme. To do this they began planning the ‘Self-Reliance’ project which was aimed at 150 mothers, 90 young people and 300 community members.
With the assistance of funding from Misean Cara, this three-year programme aims to work towards the eradication of all forms of gender-based violence against women by encouraging their empowerment through education.
The programme includes intensive, non-formal training for women that incorporates basic literacy and vocational training workshops. Women are invited to register to take part in courses in Basic Business Skills training; Saving, Credit and Creative Thinking training; and Marketing.
Other courses examine the topics of gender, maternal health and child care, and reproductive health. For young people in the district, the project provides informal education through vocational skills training and apprenticeships. Courses include hairdressing for men and women, day-care teaching and food preparation and catering.
The empowerment of women and young people through training and skills-development offers an opportunity to encourage economic development in the area, as well as increasing the social wellbeing of its inhabitants.