The goal of all GTLI programs in Hamar woreda is to interrupt the current downward spiral of polluted water, preventable disease, poverty and dependence on food aid and transition the community from passive recipient to active catalyst for change.
Immediate relief comes from Income Generating Activities (IGA). It also motivates community participation in GTLI’s long-term, behavior change initiatives: Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene; Mother and Child health; and Orphan and Vulnerable Children programs.
In order to participate in IGA, individuals must . . .
This integrated approach provides significant benefits for women
And, the community at large
Miza Wele has been a widow for about 8 years. She is a star student in GTLI training, proud that she and all 8 of her children now use their pit latrine. Miza is eager to earn money for food. Her eyes are too tired for beading but they light up when she talks about raising chickens. She will sell eggs, her children will eat eggs, and when times get really tough, they will also eat the chickens!
The Hamar do not traditionally raise chickens, however when GTLI tested several income generating activities in 2010, chicken farming “made the grade.” Interest was strong, hardy chicken breeds survived in the arid environment, and families expressed interest in eating eggs which would provide a needed source of protein.
So GTLI began a chicken farming program.To enroll in the program, a head of household must demonstrate that the entire family is regularly using its pit latrine (rather than practicing open defecation), and must attend GTLI's Functional Adult Literacy school where he or she will learn Amharic (the Ethiopian national language) along with basic business skills that will enable him to successfully run a small business. The head of household will then receive intensive training in chicken farming as well as coop building materials.
Excitement about chicken farming is high and today “entrepreneurs” in several Hamar communities are on their way to becoming sustainable chicken farmers.
Literacy. Income generation. These new opportunities are helping Hamar women feed their families.
But they’re also producing another positive change – helping women gain a voice. Traditionally, women are considered property in Hamar culture. They do all the work but their opinions are not consulted. Today, that is changing. Last year, women were not permitted to speak at community meetings. Now elders are starting to include them in decisions. Elders are urging husbands to send their wives to school and over 90% of new students are women.
Since going to school and earning money, women have been permitted to speak at community meetings
Graduation: Ama Oita and Gulu Bola graduate from Level 1 of GTLI's Functional Adult Literacy school. GTLI staff present their graduation presents: a blanket and a cooking pot.
The Hamar are known for their abundant beadwork – chokers, bracelets, anklets, necklaces. . . as well as beaded adornments on their goatskin clothing. Now women in GTLI’s microenterprise program are taking those products to the "outside world." They are learning to produce beadwork that meets western quality standards, learning to access western markets, and developing the literacy and basic business skills that will enable them to run successful beading businesses. They use the money they earn from beading to buy food.
Below: Eso works with Margaret Mueller, GTLI's beading consultant, to learn western quality standards 
Purchase Hamar beadwork at our Gift Shop. Proceeds go directly to Hamar beaders.
Because Gulu Bola, Ama Oita and Dina Didu learned Amharic (the Ethiopian national language) and basic math, they are operating the very first Rural Trading Center in the region. They are earning money and providing critical supplies to their extended community.
Members of the Minogelti Women’s Coop sing a song of thanks during the dedication of their new Rural Trading Center
Gulu, Ama and Dina are members of the Minogelti Women’s Cooperative, 12 entrepreneurial women who wanted to earn money long before they had a plan – or skills – to do so. Traditionally, the Hamar do not use money; they barter among themselves. But in this time of worsening drought, money is needed to purchase food from “outside.”
So Gulu, Ama, Dina and the other Coop members began attending GTLI’s Functional Adult Literacy school where they learn Amharic, reading, writing, math, and basic business skills such as record-keeping and inventory management.
Once they demonstrated proficiency in these skills, GTLI (funded by the US Embassy of Ethiopia) helped them open the Rural Trading Center –modern concrete building that has a store for commodities (such as soap, hygiene and sanitation supplies), a secure place for sacks of maize and sorghum, and an office for meetings and record-keeping. The center serves 4,000 Hamar in their immediate area – and up to 8,000 additional people from neighboring communities.
Ama Oita, Gulu Bola and Dina Didu
Because of the trading center, demand for education has skyrocketed. When Gulu started school in 2010, her husband threatened violence. Now elders are urging men to send their wives, and men, themselves, are coming.
“Teach us first. Then, after we have the skills to run it, help us build a trading center.”
- Aykee Letam, Hamar elder
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Global Team for Local Initiatives is a U.S. based 501©(3) organization.
Our funding partners include USAID, Rotary and generous private donors.
PO Box 11277, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 (206) 601-1776 info@gtli.us.
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