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“Empower Her” – Strengthening Women’s Independence and Family Support

Overview:

Funded by Buntstifte (Crayons Ethiopia), this project works to empower vulnerable women and children in Woreda 11, Yeka Sub-city, Addis Ababa, by addressing the everyday struggles of poverty, poor healthcare access, and economic instability. It takes a holistic approach—building women’s economic independence through self-help groups and income generating activities, while improving family health, nutrition, and parenting. At the same time, it nurtures children’s learning, creativity, and emotional well-being through tutoring and artistic expression. By strengthening entire families, the project helps create a more resilient, supportive, and violence-free community.

Objectives:

  • Strengthen the economic independence of women through a revolving fund and savings-based Self-Help Groups (SHGs), vocational training, entrepreneurship development, and access to seed capital.
  • Improve healthcare access, mental well-being, and nutritional practices within households.
  • Support children’s education and holistic development through tutoring, access to the library, and creative classes including music, visual and performing arts, and crafts.
  • Promote parenting skills, family planning, gender-based violence (GBV) awareness, prevention and response. 

Target Beneficiaries for 2025: 

Entire households: women, children, husbands

Approach:

  • Women are organized into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that encourage saving practices and peer learning.
  • These groups then benefit from training in life skills, business skills, and vocational skills.
  • Following this, they are provided with seed capital to start small enterprises, tailored to their individual needs and capabilities.
  • In parallel, children benefit from academic support, including tutoring, access to books and computers, and creative classes in music (such as guitar and piano), visual arts (such as painting), performing arts (such as theatre and dance), and crafts (such as pottery).
  • Nutrition education is also provided to improve family well-being and reduce illness.
  • Additionally, mental health counseling and better healthcare access are offered, along with immediate support for those in need, especially individuals with chronic illness.

Expected outcome:

  • Women will gain greater economic stability, confidence, and skills for entrepreneurship.
  • Families will access improved healthcare, enhanced mental wellness, and better nutrition, leading to healthier lives.
  • Children will thrive academically and creatively, benefiting from holistic development.
  • The community will experience lasting transformation, with stronger family resilience and empowerment.

Timeline: 

The project began in April 2025 as a pilot year, with plans for annual continuation as families graduate and new participants join.

Call to Action:

We welcome volunteers to support creative sessions and tutoring classes for children through skill-sharing activities in art, music, wellness, or academics. Business owners can also contribute by volunteering as mentors for mothers or by purchasing their products and providing sales platforms. Companies and individuals are encouraged to donate library books, computers, musical instruments, and other materials, as well as offer technical collaboration.

Target area: 

Kotebe Area, Yeka sub-city, Addis Ababa