Difficult to find work in rural Ethiopia 

Poverty, political instability, wars and ongoing conflicts are holding back the development of Ethiopia, which with over 90 million inhabitants is the second most populous country in Africa. Ninety percent of the population lives in rural areas and more than half of the population is under 20 years old. 

The Daughters of Charity are based in Bonga in the Kaffa area, 449 kilometres from Addis Ababa, the country's capital.

They have been working in this area since the 1960s, (with an interruption of more than 20 years following their expulsion from the area by the communist regime and the confiscation of all their property). After the fall of the Derg regime in 1991, the Daughters of Charity finally resumed their activities in helping the poorest of the poor. 

In this region, the weakness of the infrastructure (roads, access to electricity, drinking water supply, hospitals and other services) and the insufficient provision of education and training make it very difficult for young people, especially girls, to integrate. Urbanisation is still too low and public services are in the early stages of development. More than 70% of rural children do not go to school.

"Unemployment is very high in this region, even those who are lucky enough to finish secondary school cannot find a job and cannot go on to higher education" says Sr Birke.

The good vocational schools are located in the big cities, thus limiting their access to the rural population, and there are too few companies that can guarantee the training of apprentices.

Vocational training for entrepreneurship

The Daughters of Charity are aware that lack of training perpetuates poverty and inequality and want to ensure that the most disadvantaged people of working age acquire vocational skills. 

They have therefore launched a training programme to improve the lives and economic and social status of women and young people to help them become financially independent.

"A significant number of youths and women in Bonga were unemployed and dependent, begging and drug addicted. Others preferred to migrate to neighbouring towns in search of work, often at risk to their health and dignity" - Sr Birke

This project will enable more than 100 women and young people to receive training in hairdressing, basic computer skills, sewing and embroidery, or in the preparation of ready-made meals to be sold in the markets according to their desires. 

The trainees will receive professional training for 6-7 months at the Bonga Keffa Centre. They will then have the opportunity to be assisted in the administrative process of registering as an association under the Ethiopian Small and Microfinance Regulation. 

"After graduating from our vocational training centre, many women and young people will have the opportunity to be employed, several graduates from the last batch have also created their own jobs." Sr Birke

The Sisters are striving to make the Training Centre more self-sufficient through bakery sales, catering, woodworking activities and livestock rearing.

Despite this, they need new resources in the short term to finance the acquisition of various materials for hairdressing and embroidery, basic computer equipment, food items for culinary training and fees for trainers.

"Thanks to the support of Rosalie Projects, we will be able to secure the future of 100 poor women and youth in our community. On behalf of Ethiopian providence and the poor people we serve, I would like to thank you for your generosity and interest in our service to the poorest of the poor." Sr Birke