Women's Groups
Maternity Worldwide has been working in 40 kebeles (villages), via local women's' groups on community health education and income generation projects. These projects have been very empowering: Although the loans given were seen to be very little, over 90% of women have made profits through the income generating activities. A few groups have also started working on saving schemes within their communities, intended to be used for transportation for women with obstetric complications. Sheep rearing is one of the profitable income generation activities.
Here's some of the feedback from the women and girls involved in the programme, given to our Executive Officer when she visited:
"Whilst the money given by the project was small, we have been able to use the profits from the original loan, to grow the money and help ourselves"
"I was able to get a safe birth voucher from the women's group, which allowed me to give birth in hospital"
"I bought 2 sheep with the initial loan. One of the sheep was pregnant so I then had 2 more sheep. Another sheep gave birth, now I have five sheep and am very happy"
"The programme has taught me about the dangers of female circumcision, how to improve hygiene, family planning and malaria. Now I have a toilet for my family and keep my house clean, my family is less ill as a result"
"I have been taught about women's health care,
dietary needs and what my husband should be doing to care for me"
"The first time I gave birth I was in labour for 4 days. On the fifth day I had to go to hospital and have a caesarean. Unfortunately, my baby still died. This time I got a SBF voucher and delivered very easily in the hospital. I returned home and my husband was able to care for me and the baby"
"Before, our husbands wanted us to have many children,
now they understand things better they are happy with two or three"
